Anushka Sharma set to repeat history

Anushka Sharma, who made her debut opposite Shahrukh Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, would be seen on the big screen yet again in Band Baaja Baaraat. This fun flick coming from the house of Yash Raj Films is scheduled for release on 10th December. However, call it sheer coincidence or a part of the plan but the fact remains that history would be repeating itself for the pretty girl. This is because Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi too had come around the same time when it was released on 12th December 2008.

Says a trade observer, "This should be one lucky coincidence for the makers and Anushka here. After all Anushka has been enjoying a good innings so far in Bollywood. Her first film was a blockbuster while Badmaash Company, which was again a YRF production and had released earlier this year, was also an average success. She would well be looking at making a hat trick with Band Baaja Baaraat."

While one looks forward to that happening, here is a hitch. While in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Badmaash Company she had Shahrukh Khan and Shahid Kapoor respectively to spearhead the show, in case of Band Baaja Baaraat she has (ironically) turned out to be the senior-most of the lot.

"That's right", continues the trade observer, "This time around, it appears to be Anushka all the way. Director Maneesh Sharma is a first timer though he was an Associate Director on Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. As for her leading man Ranveer Singh, he is a complete fresher with no modelling or acting experience. However, he managed to impress Aditya Chopra and hence he was on board without much ado."

Still, one can't help but wonder about the sudden release announcement of Band Baaja Baaraat. While the production house always had year end target in mind for the release of their fourth film this year (after Pyaar Impossible, Badmaash Company and Lafangey Parindey), 10th December arrival means that it would be stepping into an already cluttered season.

Starting this Friday, there is at least one biggie arriving practically every week. In fact there are also weeks when more than a couple of big films are anyways clashing with each other. In the month of December itself, there are confirmed plans for Ashutosh Gowariker's Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, Anees Bazmee's No Problem and Farah Khan's Tees Maar Khan to arrive.

"Well, the situation is still better in December when compared to October, November or January'11", argues a trade expert, "December still has a reasonable breathing space. There was no point in even thinking of January since there is already a huge volume of releases in the form of No One Killed Jessica, Yamla Pagla Deewana, Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji, Game and Saat Khoon Maaf. It's better to arrive in a relatively opened up space in December. One now just hopes that there is not much spill-over of movies from October and November though."

Meanwhile Anushka can expect her lucky charm of the month of December to come handy yet again!