For Akshay, it wasn’t less than a nightmare when all his antics, jumping and hanging finally brought him to the ground, injuring his face [value] – Colgate smile – which he brings forth every time when he comes out to promote a new film after a flop. Al though Junior Bachchan and Junior Roshan too have failed to put any show on the box-office but somehow managed to escape the ire of producers and directors.

Now, let’s not talk any more about the actors but the films which have really put them into hiding.

Raavan: Next time when Abhishek Bachchan will be asked, does he know ‘Ramayan’? He will start looking around to save his face in fear of any question about Mani Ratnam’s ‘Raavan’. The film was produced on a whopping budget of 100 crore but couldn’t able to fetch half of it. The gross revenue of ‘Raavan’ was just 29.50 crore, a debacle that has put Mani Ratnam hiding in the same jungles.

Veer: A lethal warrior in the battle field, but ends at the box-office as a creepy creature that come under the audiences boot. Salman Khan as a hero sometimes do wonders like he did in ‘Dabangg’ but wielding a pen to write script needs brain rather than muscle. Veer flopped after a good opening, reason shoddy script, screenplay and dialogues.

Action Replay: Least said about Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan starrer ‘Action Replay’ will be a fitting honor one can do to the film. Vipul Shah tried to capture the picnic and romance in Mumbai of 70’s but turned out to be a visual leprosy.  He could have saved himself after watching – if he has watched – ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbai’ where Milan Lutharia’s imagination of Mumbai of 70’s was a treat to watch, even when the film was set up to show the other side of city.

Tees Maar Khan: The only saving grace for Farah Khan’s ‘Tees Maar Khan’ was the item song ‘Sheila ki Jawani’ that becomes a rage among the DJs across the country. ‘TMK’ has also broken the myth – for Akshay Kumar – that Katrina Kaif is his lucky charm. And moreover, the debacle has put Shirish Kunder’s ideas of taking all credit on the back burners (he will never try it again).

Khatta Meetha: Let us hope Akshay will not go jittery or his fans after seeing his third film making the list of the biggest flops of the year 2010. Now, he should bid adieu to celluloid and move permanently to ‘Chef Shows’ on small screen, because he is yet to find the right ingredients for a good movie but we know that he knows the spices well to make tasty dishes.

It is really a bad idea to comment and write about flops where a lot of hard work and dedication go waste. So why to waste anymore, but few other films need a special mention here which makes the list of flops or duds of 2010; Anjaana Anjaani, Dulha Mil Gaya, Guzaarish, Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey and Aakrosh to end the wastage (bollywood needs some waste management course now).

Writer is a freelance journalist, script writer, avid blogger, poet, dreamer and story teller. Can be reached at http://twitter.com/#!/arziyaan

In a recent interview to IANS before ‘Veer’ release on January 22, Salman told that his film will be a lot different from the other period movies made in the past. “We haven’t followed the regular format. This has emotion, drama and comedy unlike other period films, which always casts an impression that no one used to laugh in those days,” he said.

‘Veer’ story revolves around 18th century ‘Pindaris’ who have a distinction of fighting till their last breath for their honor and land. Salman plays the lead role in the epic tale.

‘Veer’ is Salman’s second outing as a scriptwriter, long back the super-handsome Khan undid his writing skills in 1990 ‘Baghi’.

Salman claims to have written the story some 20 years back, but financial constrains has put him to hold script. “I had written the story 20 years ago but at that time it wasn’t possible to make the film. I thought now is the right time to make it, so I did.”

It won’t be wise to pass a judgment before watching the film, Veer could out-class other period movies of the era or it could turn out to be another dud after all the hooplas as it happened in the past.

For Vivek Oberoi that was just the beginning of his struggle  in bollywood after a hit debut ­– Company – and another successful project ‘Saathiya’ that astounded with his affair with Aishwarya Rai whose relationship and break-up with Salman needs no mention here.

Since then the duo have been on a cold war – Vivek although apologized many a times but Salman kept a deaf ear – but come January 22, 2010, their love and hatred will get a boost, as they are slated to clash, this time on ticket window.

Salman’s magnum opus ‘Veer’ and Vivek’s ‘Prince – It’s Show Time’ will be releasing on the same day.

Earlier ‘Prince’ was lined up for a december 11 release, but due to pre-production work it was delayed to a month and if the buzz to be believed, the makers of ‘Prince’ delibrately want it to clash to garner publicity out of Salman and Vivek’s earlier conflict.

However, ‘Prince’ makers Kumar Taurani denies it, “ Why would we want to clash with ‘Veer’? Salman is a bigger star.”

Let’s wait and see the outcome of the conflict but onething is for sure, Vivek would not like such a story do the rounds. After all who wishes to be forgotten!!

Few months back, when the first images of ‘Veer’ were released to press, it swept everyone off the ground with its element of surprise – looks. The ‘warrior-look’ and the skin color fetched Salman the kind of publicity he must have wanted – after Yuvraaj doomed at the box-office – but at the same time other stories popped up as a tad that ‘Veer’ is an inspiration of Salman’s flopped work [Veergati-1995] of his pink days.

But recently the story was proven wrong when sources claimed that ‘Veer’ is actually based on a Russian literary masterpiece ‘Taras Bulba’ written by Nikolai Gogol.

It’s a narration of Cossack patriarch Taras and his two warrior sons, who go on to an epic journey that ends in a battle with Polish.

How Salman fairs as one of the Taras sons is yet-to-be-seen, but images coming from the sets of ‘Veer’ are creating a lot of premonitions.

Will he be able to prove critics wrong? Is he still his ‘Mr. Most Bankable’ self? Or showbiz’s [Bollywood] controversy child will be lost in the battlefields of Veer, remains to be seen!!!

Let’s hope its other way round…