AANKHEN

Director: Vipul Shah
Music: Aadesh Shrivastava
Lyrics: Nitin Raikwar, Prasun Joshi & Praveen Bharadwaj
Producer: Gaurang Doshi
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Sushmita Sen, Arjun Ramphal, Bipasha Basu, Paresh Rawal and Aditya Panscholi

PROJECTED RATING: *****

When it comes to the most eagerly awaited movie this year, director Vipul Shah definitely gets a mention for his forthcoming film AANKHEN (formerly titled All The Best). The project can truthfully claim to have one of the most exciting star casts of the year. Headed by Bollywood's very own living legend Amitabh Bachchan, as well as the likes of Akshay Kumar, Arjun Rampal, Sushmita Sen, Aditya Panscholi, Isha Koppikar, Paresh Rawal and a special appearance by Bollywood babe Bipasha Basu.

Aankhen is based on a successful Gujerati play called Andhala Pato (roughly translated to Blind Man's Buff), which actually starred Vipul Shah himself. The movie adaptation is a big budget affair, which has Amitabh Bachchan playing a successful and disciplined bank manager who prides himself on his excellent reputation and the respect he commands from customers. Basically an honest man, his main fault lies within his bad temper. He is so passionate about his work that he tends to be a little heavy handed towards his employees, failing to tolerate any form of indiscipline or injustice.

Things get a little out of hand when he spots one of his workers cheating a customer in the bank. His temper gets the better of him and he actually raises his hand to the employee. Once the owners of the bank find out about the incident they quickly form a committee and decide to decide to sack Amitabh.

With his good name ruined, Amitabh vows revenge against the bank. He decides that he must think of a plan that will hit the bank where it hurts the most - in its safe where all the money is kept. Therefore, he gets together a team of three blind men (Akshay, Arjun and Paresh Rawal) who will help him obtain his vengeance and make a heap of money at the same time!

Paresh Rawal is like the leader of the three men and provides some comical relief in the movie. Akshay Kumar is playing a totally different character to the types his has enacted in the past and doesn't even have any heroine opposite him in the movie. However, he is reunited with Bipasha Basu for the first time since the thriller Ajnabee hit the big screen. Bipasha makes a short and sweet appearance in a special song and dance number. Arjun Rampal is the cool and collected third member of the trio.

Although the film offers the best roles for the male cast members, Sushmita Sen is also going to get noticed with her character. She plays a teacher who is forced by the thieves to use her professional skills to help their plan. Since the three men are apparently blind, her role in the scheme is obviously very important. Meanwhile Aditya Panscholi plays a cop who is on the trail of the villains.

This movie definitely has the potential to make it big at the box office. The soundtrack has already been released and is doing quite well.

Now lets wait until the 5th April to find out whether the movie will follow suit!

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SCHEDULED RELEASE DATE: 5th April 2002

PREVIEWED BY ROBEEL HAQ