Bollywood: Down but never out

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">MUMBAI: Bollywood is in trouble. No wonder every filmwallah is pontificating on how to survive 2003, which is being perceived as a worst-is-yet-to-come year. This is my recipe for survival in 2003.<br />A complete creative death is essential in every department of the industry for it to rise from the ashes of a dead era.<br />The people to watch out for in 2003 are: Rahul Khanna provided he makes a transition into mainstream commercial cinema; Abhishek Bachchan — though battle weary, he showed tremendous depth and individuality in Anupam Kher’s <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Om Jai Jagdish</span>.He must not give up on himself. Tanisha — referred to as Kajol’s sister — is certainly going to add sparkle to the darkness that has descended. Two sensational new discoveries will be Farhan Hashmi in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Footpath </span>and John Abraham who makes his debut in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Jism</span>.<br />Among the directors, I would bet my money on Anurag Basu directing <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Sayaa</span>; Nikhil Advani — directing Yash Johar’s next; Farah Khan the girl wonder. And of course, Gurinder Chadha who is coming into full bloom with <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Pride and Prejudice</span>.<br />The line between television and films is getting blurred. I also predict a whole lot of youngsters from the small screen will make inroads into the big screen. <br />In the music world, M M Kreem will carve out a permanent niche for himself after <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Jism</span>. So will new improved Anu Malik who has come into great form lately. Two sensational lyric writers, Nilesh Mishra and Syed Quadri will outdistance the current flock of writers in 2003.<br />In short, you can not shape the future with the past. It is time for the present leaders to understand that they are but one generation out of many still to come.<br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">As told to Times of India by Mahesh Bhatt</span></div> </div>