For almost a decade now, Katrina Kaif has been one of the reigning queens of the Bollywood box office, even though that Filmfare Best Actress trophy has remained elusive. Her dazzling good looks and quicksilver dancing abilities have helped turn her movies into crowd pleasers. Seemingly blessed with no-flops knowhow, Katrina has almost unerringly chosen winners - and notched up to her credit a long string of box office hits like Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya (2005), Namastey London (2007), Welcome (2007), Singh is King (2008), Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009), Raajneeti (2010), Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012), Dhoom 3 (2013) and Bang Bang (2014).
But Katrina’s luck seems to have taken a surprising turn now; and her last three movies have proved to be head-scratching disappointments at the turnstiles despite being backed by some of the biggest names in show business.
Her only release in 2015, Phantom (opposite Saif Ali Khan), failed to live up to expectations set by its director Kabir Khan’s previous film, Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Often pointed fingers at for playing second fiddle to the hero in major blockbusters, Katrina took the bull by the horns and accepted meaty roles in projects with relatively new heroes. Unfortunately, this gambit doesn’t seem to have worked in 2016. She looked like a gorgeous painting come to life in Abhishek Kapoor’s Fitoor (opposite Aditya Roy Kapoor) but the film fell short despite the director’s impressive credentials - Rock On and Kai Po Chhe.
And after a decent start, the response to Katrina’s latest film, Baar Baar Dekho, has not been encouraging. Despite buzz around Katrina’s chiselled abs, her chemistry with the similarly genetically blessed Sidharth Malhotra and the catchy ‘Kaala chashma’ number, this Nitya Mehra directed film (produced by biggies Excel and Karan Johar) has been accorded at best a tepid response from viewers and critics.
Of course, given the bedrock of commercial blockbusters that her stardom is built upon, Katrina’s career is not in trouble. She’s still one of the biggest stars around ... but some contemplation seems to be called for. Will Katrina bounce back big?
The only film that Katrina Kaif has on the floors currently is the Anurag Basu-directed Jagga Jasoos. Katrina is eagerly anticipating its 2017 release. She marvels. “When you see the film, you will understand that it’s an attempt at a genre which has never been done before in Hindi cinema. This is how one attempts to make a big step forward in cinema.”
The biggest recent shot in the arm for Katrina was the announcement that she has bagged the lead role in Yash Raj’s Tiger Zinda Hai, the Ek Tha Tiger sequel, opposite megastar Salman Khan. It is a major endorsement of Katrina’s continued position of privilege in the film industry.
Unconfirmed buzz also has it that Katrina has also bagged Aanand L Rai next film with Shah Rukh Khan.
Finally, of course, it’s a truism that stars cannot control the box office ... they can only harness the potential within themselves. Fortunately for Katrina, she still looks like a million bucks, she can still can dance up a storm like few others, and she can try and tap into the aching vulnerability she gave us a glimpse of in Ajab Prem ..., Raajneeti and Jab Tak Hai Jaan.
With a refreshed arsenal on her side, maybe Katrina can regain her Midas touch in 2017.