One journalist from Aaj Tak along with a commando from Turkey combine to wipe off terrorism. No government support. Just these two guys on a mission to rid the world of terrorists and their activities. At least in Turkey and India. Whooa!! Welcome to a ‘reality show’ on cinema. Thank you Mr Lakhia for this wonderful ‘believable’ story.

It so happens that Vikas Sagar (Zayed Khan) is a talented TV journalist, he has the scoops and he even interviews terrorists in their den. He gets an offer from a television channel in Turkey (Al Johaara). These guys are so deep in their networking that they keep getting bytes from an Osama look-alike. In short, they go where no television journalists can reach. Rizwan (Vivek Oberoi) is a Turkish Commando who has lost his wife and daughter in a bomb blast and he wants to rid the country of terrorists. He follows Zayed and then lets him know that Al Johaara is nothing but a front for terrorist activities; that the channel is run by terrorists themselves. And they now want to set up office in India.

Then begins the battle to wipe off their data, download it on a pen drive (I don’t know what capacity it had) because I’m sure the data on the server will be too huge to be downloaded on a pen drive, release a virus and then kill them (terrorists) off one by one. Any journalist wanting to leave the channel is bumped off and his image hung in the ‘Hall Of Martyrs’ by the head honcho Ghazni (Nikitin Dheer) who explains that they died on duty!

MISSION ISTAANBUL unravels at a feverish pace and that’s most important for a thriller. The story travels from India to Turkey to Afghanistan to Turkey again, in the very first hour. The characters are well-established, the script is laced with incidents that seem straight out of newspapers. Coupled with Lakhia’s execution, top notch cinematography and stylish action, the film begins to grow as reel after reel unspools.

But, alas, the film goes for a toss in the second hour. Things actually stagnate as the two heroes turn into super-heroes and combat an army of villains on land, sea and air. By the way, they don’t get bruised even once! Lakhia and writer Suresh Nair seem to have substituted action for content and that’s the most glaring flaw. In fact, you feel that Lakhia and Nair must’ve decided to go on a vacation in the second hour, entrusting the responsibility on the stunt directors to conclude the second hour.

There’s not much scope for music in the film, but in terms of composition, just one track — ‘Jo Gumshuda’ — is easy on your ears. The Abhishek Bachchan track is such a waste. Even the tune is completely forgettable. Gururaj R.J.’s cinematography is top notch. Action, as mentioned earlier, is the hallmark of the enterprise.

Both Vivek and Zayed come up with competent performances. Vivek does a fine job, essaying his part with ease. But why does he sport a smirk on his face most of the times? The director could’ve avoided that! Zayed is equally charged. In fact, you witness a new Zayed in this film, the renewed confidence shows. Shriya Saran is wasted. Shweta Bhardwaj does well in stunts, but wears one expression all through.

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.

Taking stock of the lavish sets and high production values for the music video shoot – which will eventually be cut into a thirty second ad-spot for a soft drink, Vivek is clear this ad will be a one-of-its-kind ad when it finally airs.

“When you see the whole set-up with the bikes and the lights and the fact that it’s on a runway, it’s like, it’s a really grand thought. I was really excited,” he says.

“The look is for my new film Mission Istanbul. I’m playing a Turkish commando. I tried to do something different for that and created a new look,” he says, with a grin.

Nominated for his performance in Shootout at Lokhandwala, a handful of new brand endorsements, and an interesting-sounding film lined up for release, 2008 has evidently kicked off on a good note for the young actor.