Five years back one keenly looked forward to the superstars prospects of Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan when they started off with Saawariya and Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa respectively. Whole former has taken lead by leaps and bounds, latter too has managed his place under the sun and doing extremely well. Now after a high profile beginning and finding favours amongst the bigwigs of the industry, Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor get into a battle of supremacy in 2013.
“They are the hottest rivals amongst the youngsters today,” says an industry expert, “Ranveer made a very good debut with Band Baaja Baaraat while Arjun scored a bona fide hit with Ishaqzaade. They have managed to deliver and it isn’t just the tag of being ‘promising’ that is attached to them. They have to start delivering in a much bigger way and that too outside their comfort zone. Their choice of films pretty much reflects that and next 12 months would decide whether industry would get richer with two new quintessential Bollywood stars.”
This is reflected from the fact that both Ranveer and Arjun have three films each lined up. While Ranveer has Vikramaditya Motwane’s Lootera and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ram Leela, Arjun has YRF’s Aurangzeb and Karan Johar/Sajid Nadiadwala’s 2 States. Not just that as the two have also started shooting together for Gunday which again has the backing of their common mentor, Aditya Chopra.
With such huge names involved, it is quite apparent that both are pretty much running neck to neck. Though Chopras were expected to bet their money on the duo considering they gave them both a launch-pad, the very fact that other bigwigs in the industry are very high on them already showcases the kind of confidence they have in their star abilities.
“Others high profile names like Ayushmann Khurrana and Sushant Singh Rajput, are breathing down their neck as well. If Ranveer and Arjun have to get into the league of a Ranbir Kapoor or an Imran Khan, they have to start delivering and that too at a rapid pace. 2013 is going to be extremely critical for them,” the expert adds.
We concur.
Joginder Tuteja tweets @tutejajoginder