This year too, Akshay seems to be hell bent on proving that indeed, Singh is King in the industry. After the success of Salaam Namastey, director Vipul Shah has planned an unadulterated ode to the lions of Punjab, a film which reportedly celebrates Punjabiyat like never before. Karan Johar take a back seat, there’s somebody else saying shava shava this time.

Akshay’s other biggies are Chandni Chowk to China, Tashan and 8×10. If Nikhil Advani’s Chandni Chowk to China and Yash Chopra’s (produced) Tashan mark his rebirth as the action hero – something he’s already proved his forte with – then Nagesh Kukoonor’s 8×10 has been in the news for it’s desification of Manoj Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense.

Akshay is the hero with the sixth sense, having the power to peep into the past of dead people. Truly, an attempt to be different from an actor who has been wedded to the mainstream until now.

On the action front, it is the two Khan’s —Aamir and Salman —who might walk away with all the bravery medals this year. Both of them are playing the lead role in two re-makes from the South, Ghajini and Pokkiri (Wanted Dead or Alive).

If Aamir plays a distraught boyfriend who is called upon to avenge his girlfriend’s murder despite suffering from short-term amnesia in Ghajini, then Salman Khan does a Yojimbo in Wanted Dead or Alive as the mobster who fights against the gang despite being a part of it. Rest assured, these two films will definitely end up as major box office draws, since both Aamir and Salman have rustled up hysteria by flexing their biceps before. For Salman, there is the Indian version of Bruce Almighty, God Tussi Great Ho.

It’s action dramas and thrillers that are going to dominate the box office this year. Three other snazzy action thrillers that promise to end up as winners are Ram Gopal Varma’s take two on the Godfather series, Sarkar Raaj where the Bachchan Inc, Amitabh, Abhishek, Aishwarya, seems to be all set to outshine the Corleones. The other two adrenalin-pumpers are Abbas-Mustan’s Race with Saif Ali Khan and Apurva Lakhia’s Mission Istanbul with Viveik Oberoi and Tusshar Kapoor reprising their Shootout at Lokhandwala trigger-happy ways; this time battling with terrorists in Afghanistan, Kashmir and the rest of the axis of evil. And if that’s not chopsucky enough, there’s the debut of desi Superman- II with Abhishek donning the flying suit in Drona. Can he leave Krrish behind?

So, no romance huh? Don’t sweat. The year begins on a romantic note with Ashutosh Gowariker’s period romance Jodhaa Akbar, blossoms with the effervescent Shahid Kapoor double bonanza, Milenge Milenge with Kareena Kapoor and Kismat Konection with Vidya Balan. And before you can take a break, it catapults into the future with Love 2050, the futuristic love story that marks the debut of Harman Baweja with Priyanka Chopra. There is also Subhash Ghai’s most expensive tribute to ishq-vishq, Yuvraj, which is all set to unveil the chemistry between Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif.

For the serious film buff, the year could end up enticing too with Rakeysh Mehra’s Delhi 6, an autobiographical account of growing up in Chandni Chowk and Madhur Bhandrakar’s insights into the underbelly of the fashion industry, Fashion. And before our comedy buffs get frowning, there could just be the baap of all laughs to wash away 2008 blues. Yes, we’re talking about David Dhawan’s tribute to guru Manmohan Desai, with his re-make of Amar Akbar Anthony, starring he Khan brothers (Salman, Sohail, Arbaaz). All in all, it’s gonna be a power-packed year at the box office.

Salman Khan will play Anthony Gonsalves (a hoodlum), Arbaaz Khan will play Amar (a cop) and Sohail will play Akbar (a tailor and singer).

Himesh Reshammiya will compose the music for the film.