From biopics and thrillers to rom-coms and period dramas, there's plenty for cinephiles to look forward to in 2016. Here are our top 16 picks of Bollywood films
'Wazir'
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar, Aditi Rao Hydari
Director: Bejoy Nambiar
Lowdown: The story of two unusual friends — a paralysed chess Grandmaster and a grief stricken ATS officer — who are brought together by a twist of fate as part of a bigger conspiracy.
USP: The casting — Big B and Farhan Akhtar.
Release: January 8
'Ghayal Once Again'
Cast: Sunny Deol, Soha Ali Khan, Om Puri
Director: Sunny Deol
Lowdown: An action drama which is a sequel to Deol’s 1990 super hit film Ghayal. USP: The actor's comeback plus the fact that the story will take off from where the original. ended. Release: January 15
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'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story'
Cast: Sushan Singh Rajput, Kiara Advani
Dir: Neeraj Pandey
Lowdown: A biopic on the Indian cricket captain, highlighting his struggles and journey so far.
USP: Revelation about certain unknown facts of MSD’s life.
Release date: September 2
'Sarbjit'
Cast: Randeep Hooda, Richa Chadda, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Dir: Omung Kumar
Lowdown: Based on the true story of an Indian farmer, Sarabjit Singh, who was convicted of espionage and terrorism in Pakistan for several years, until a brutal assault by fellow prisoners ended his life.
USP: The story and Ash’s ageing, de-glam avatar.
Release: May 20
'Fan'
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan
Dir: Maneesh Sharma
Lowdown: Based on the life of the superstar himself. It will have the star essay a double role — as himself and his biggest fan.
USP: SRK as his own fan
Release: April 15
'Aligarh'
Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkumar Rao
Dir: Hansal Mehta
Lowdown: A reel account of a real life incident where
Dr Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras was suspended from his university job because of his sexual orientation.
USP: The subject; acclaim at various film festivals.
Release: February 26
'Fitoor'
Cast: Aditya Roy Kapur, Katrina Kaif
Dir: Abhishek Kapoor
Lowdown: A desi retelling of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations.
USP: Unusual pairing of Aditya-Kat; adaptation of a classic.
Release: February 12
'Neerja'
Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Shekhar Ravjiani
Dir: Ram Madhvani
Lowdown: Cinematic version of the 1986 Pan Am hijack episode in which flight purser Neerja Bhanot saved hundreds of lives before falling to the terrorists’ bullets.
USP: Replication of the real-life story of a braveheart.
Release: February 19
'Jai Gangaajal'
Cast: Priyanka Chopra
Dir: Prakash Jha
Lowdown: It is about a firebrand cop, who is appointed as the first female SP of a Bihar district. She goes against the Local MLA and his henchmen and all hell breaks loose.
USP: PeeCee as a gritty cop
Release: March 4
'Do Lafzon Ki Kahani'
Cast: Randeep Hooda, Kajal Agarwal
Director: Deepak Tijori
Lowdown: A romantic drama based on a Korean movie titled Always. It is about an ex-boxer who has closed his heart to the world and a telemarketer who remains spirited despite slowly losing vision.
USP: Randeep’s look and character
Release: March 4
'Kapoor & Sons'
Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt and Fawad Khan
Dir: Shakun Batra
Lowdown: A romantic comedy drama in which Sid and Fawad play brothers.
USP: The ensemble cast, especially the boys.
Release: March 18
'Udta Punjab'
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Diljit Dosanjh
Dir: Abhishek Chaubey
Lowdown: A dark thriller on rampant drug abuse among youth in Punjab.
USP: Shahid and Kareena feature in the same film for the first time since their not-so-amicable split.
Release: June 17
'Rangoon'
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Kangana Ranaut
Dir: Vishal Bhardwaj
Lowdown: A romantic drama set against the backdrop of World War II.
USP: The cast; Kangana teaming up with the revered director for the first time.
Release: October 14
'Dangal'
Cast: Aamir Khan, Sakshi Tanwar
Dir: Nitesh Tiwari
Lowdown: A biopic on wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat who trained three Commonwealth Games gold medalists, including his daughters Geeta and Babita Kumari, to success.
USP: Aamir as a wrestler and dad to grown-up girls.
Release: Christmas week
'Rocky Handsome'
Cast: John Abraham, Shruti Haasan
Dir: Nishikant Kamath
Lowdown: An action thriller loosely based on Korean film 'The Man From Nowhere' in which a man sets out to take revenge against the drug mafia after they abduct an eight-year-old girl, with whom he shares a special bond.
USP: The plot of intrigue.
Release: March 25
'Ki and Ka'
Cast: Arjun Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor
Dir: R Balki
Lowdown: A rom-com centered on a married couple and the challenges they face in their day-to-day life.
USP: Unusual pairing; the director.
Release: April 1
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