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Aug 04, 2010 - 02:00 PM Front Runners [ 0 ]
<http://www.filmfare.com/articles/front-runners-1264.html#comment>Filmfare brings to you the overall *Top 10 Powerful Frontrunners* of the year! *[image: Aamir Khan]1. Aamir Khan* *Rank in 2008:* 1 *What he did:* They say the true measure of a star is how his film opens on a Friday. And Aamir Khan could teach us a lesson or two about openings. Consider this: His last flop (Mela) was 10 years ago. His last five movies have broken records at the box office. In 2009 the story continued with 3 Idiots. The biggest Hindi film grosser of all times further cemented his aura of invincibility at the box office. Whoever said that no artiste is immune to the terror of a losing streak obviously didn’t account for Aamir Khan’s creative genius. Is it any wonder he retains his numero uno position? *Future Projects: *He has three productions ready for release. There’s Dhobi Ghat waiting in the wings. Then there’s the small budget Peepli Live. Those who’ve seen it can’t stop raving about it. And of course Delhi Belly. *Filmfare Tip:* Please don’t take a hiatus from acting. We need to see you on screen more often. Filmfare Awards: 7 *[image: SRK]2. Shah Rukh Khan* *Rank 2008:* 2 *What He Did: *He maintains the status quo this year too. It was a rather staid 2009 for the Khan. Billu fared just about average at the box office. Besides a cameo in Dulha Mil Gaya, there wasn’t much to write home about. But Shah Rukh continues to loom large on the industry’s psyche. Such is his air, his stardom written in his DNA. Most of the year he was busy shooting for Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan. The huge publicity for the same film kept him in the news. Future Projects: There’s the home production Ra.One, then there’s Farhan Akhtar’s Don 2. *Filmfare Tip:* More movies please and better scripts! *Filmfare Awards:* 13 *[image: Rajkumar Hirani]3. Rajkumar Hirani* *Rank 2008:* None *What He Did:* He’s presently the guy with the Midas touch. With 3 Idiots, he scored a hat trick of sorts. Coming on the heels of the hugely successful and appreciated Munnabhai series, 3 Idiots slalomed the director into an exclusive league of his own. With a scorecard that reads 100 per cent strike rate, is it any wonder he’s on the list? The fact that he’s a brilliant screenplay writer and an editor and Mr Nice Guy above all, only adds to his allure. Truly Peerless! That’s what Rajkumar Hirani is. *Future Projects:* There are several projects in the pipeline. But talk is that he’s currently working on Munnabhai Chale Amrika. *Filmfare Tip: *Now what tip could one give someone who’s got the box office matrix right and how! *Filmfare Awards:* 9 *[image: AR Rahman]4. AR Rahman* *Rank 2008:* 8 *What He Did:* He may not be the tallest man in showbiz but when it comes to talent he towers over most of his contemporaries. He brought India an Oscar after many, many years. That could be the reason he jumped four positions to land at No. 4. He followed that up with some soul-stirring music in Delhi-6. Rehna tu and Arziyaan still ring in our ears. Music for soul? For sure. Yes, he did enough to merit a place on this list. Okay, he also scored for the eminently forgettable Blue. We’ll forget about that. *Future Projects:* There’s Imitiaz Ali’s Rockstar and Abass Tyrewala’s 1-800-Love and Shekhar Kapur’s Paani. The wait begins. *Filmfare Tip:* Get us more Oscars *Filmfare Awards: *25 *[image: Karan Johar]5. Dharma Productions* *Rank 2008:* 5 *What He Did: *As a director Karan Johar was busy most of the year filming his pet project My Name Is Khan. It was as a producer he delivered in 2009. Wake Up Sid did wonders not only to Ranbir Kapoor’s career, it also added extra sheen to Dharma Productions. Okay, so the much talked about Kurbaan didn’t live up to expectations but that didn’t matter. The entire industry stands to attention when Dharma Productions calls, now that is power. *Future Projects:* There’s Siddarth Malhotra’s We Are Family coming up in a few months. Then there’ s the remake of Agneepath and Dostana 2. *Filmfare Tip:* How about directing some more? *Filmfare Awards:* 3 *[image: YRF]6.Yash Raj Films* *Rank 2008: *3 *What It Did: *There was a time when Yash Raj Films sneezed and the entire industry caught a cold. Not any more. The production house has been losing its premiere position in the last few years. Blame some indifferent movies for it. This year the production house slipped three place to land at No. 6. But mind you, Yash Raj Films still has it in them. Even today a Yash Raj project is worth its weight in gold. In 2009 they started out rather well with New York. But Dil Bole Haddippa! didn’t do them any good. Rocket Singh was critically acclaimed but sadly it didn’t disturb the box office. Future Projects: There’s Pradeep Sarkar’s Lafangey Parindey and Yash Chopra’s next. *Filmfare Tip: *Yash Chopra and Aditya Chopra will have to get proactive when it comes to direction. *Filmfare Awards:* 22 *[image: AK Productions]7.Aamir Khan Productions* *Rank 2008:* None *What it Did: *It’s the magic of the Aamir Khan name that puts his production house on the list. The fact is there was no film from the Aamir Khan stable this year. But then most actors would treat a summons from Aamir Khan Films as no less than an award itself. That’s the awe he inspires in the industrywallahs. *Future Projects:* Of course there’s Dhobi Ghaat, Delhi Belly and Peepli Live. Small-budget films but touted to change the face of Indian cinema. *Filmfare Tip:* Keep up your love for quality cinema. *Filmfare Awards:* 2 *[image: Kareena Kapoor]8.Kareena Kapoor* *Rank 2008:* 10 *What She Did:* She jumped two places to No. 8 in 2009. Reason: She had Kambhakkht Ishq and 3 Idiots as her trump cards. Okay so critics lambasted Kambhakkht Ishq but it was a perceived hit and that’s what matters. She also had staid fares Kurbaan and Main Aurr Mrs Khanna but the success of 3 Idiots clouded everything else. *Future Projects: *There’s Dharma Production’s We Are Family, Red Chillies Entertainment’s Ra.One, Illuminati Films’ Agent Vinod and Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal 3. *Filmfare Tip:* Time you did justice to the actress in you and did a movie of substance. *Filmfare Awards:* 5 *[image: Hrithik Roshan]9. Hrithik Roshan* *Rank 2008:* 9 *What He Did:* A rather quiet year for the actor. Just a special appearance in Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance. But it was the buzz about Kites that kept him in the news throughout 2009. That it failed to dazzle is another story altogether. It’s also the projects that he has in hand that helped him maintain his status quo. Hit or flop, fact is that Hrithik Roshan can sell a project. How many stars can boast of that today? *Future Projects:* He has Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish, Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Shekhar Kapur’s Paani. *Filmfare Tip:* Yoy need to losen up, buddy. *Filmfare Awards:* 5 *10.Katrina Kaif* *Rank 2008:* None *What She Did:* If there’s anyone who’s come through with flying colours, it’s Katrina Kaif. She started the year with the hit New York and then followed it up with the super hit Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani. Even De Dana Dhan added to her coffers. Talk about luck! Is it any wonder she’s considered the industry’s lucky mascot? Okay so her acting abilities are a tad suspect. But we’ll talk about that another day. *Future Projects:* She has Farah Khan’s Tees Maar Khan, Dharma Productions Dostana 2 and Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara on her platter. *Filmfare Tip*: Go for it girl! Don’t let the critics dishearten you. *Filmfare Awards:* None http://www.filmfare.com/articles/front-runners-1264.html
