Actress Diya Mirza disappeared after February, in which her in purposeful role was quickly forgotten. Esha Deol debuted in January and was continuously resurrected until post June in which she suffered a total of three flops (and counting). Her new buddy apparently Tushar, tried to repeat his initial success in the same film and failed, twice if you include his future endeavor. Raveena Tandon has struggled this year, despite it being called her most diverse with her films ranging from psycho thrillers to banal comedies. And just recently, Shilpa Shetty continued her strive towards appreciation post Hathyar in releasing not one but two films (on the same day in fact!).

Exposure can be detrimental, a word Sushmita Sen used when three of her films were set for a consecutive release (Aankhen, Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge and Filhaal). But for these Bollywood stars, the one thing in common is that they are doing the exact opposite. It is their hopes that the excess exposure will work in their favor and not against them. After all, if one film flops there is always the other one, right? Kareena Kapoor tries to bounce back from Jeena Sirf Merre Liye, a poor outing after Mujhse Dosti Karoge with not one, but two films. Talaash, the much anticipated (and postponed) Suneel Darshan action film will be releasing in 2003 alongside Khushi. Khushi being her hardest film to date (to quote the actress), both of these films are aimed at the masses and nothing else. And Kareena knows this.

Esha Deol, Kareena´s buddy re-teams with Pantaloon after the mildly boring Na Tum Jaano Na Hum in the thriller Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne. Introducing Sanjay Khanna´s son and Hrithik Roshan´s brother in law seems like quite a big task to carry on someone´s shoulder. Especially when they haven´t delivered a hit themselves. Keeping the thriller theme in mind, her other release will re-team her with Tushar after the dud that was Kyaa Dil Na Kaha, Kucch To Hai is said to be her real shot to star dom. If one fails, there is always the other.

Diya Mirza was quite forgotten post Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge. Her smarted move was dropping out of Om Jai Jagadish, though it garnered a lot of negative publicity, especially in regards to her friendly relationship to Vashu Bhagnani, the role she was meant to play had little to no use whatsoever in the film. So, the best way to remind someone that you exist is to increase the publicity you get. Just that, as her face is plastered all over the Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye promotions, a mark noted since the film features many other well known female leads. Following in tow is E. Niwas´ Dum which unfortunately does not seem like it will give her enough notice, after all, one really can´t recognize who it is with Vivek Oberoi in those promos, can one?

Raveena Tandon, though certainly the most noted of them all, is no different. Rather, her films scream ´parallel cinema´, (or certain imitates of such!). Satta has been much talked about and is for whatever reason supposed to guarantee her a critics award for best female performance. Also juggling with release dates, it is based on woman power in relation to politics. Women power indeed is the call of Raveena´s day as her other release following right behind deals with a similar subject. Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye has her leading a star cast of over five female leads, more importantly, it has her playing a role intended for the illustrious Tabu. Quite an accomplishment.

Finally, Tusshar´s signing sprees seem to have caught up with him. Being seen again with Esha in Kucch To Hai, an assumed rip off of ´I Know What You Did Last Summer´, his next release, opposite newcomer Natasha, Yeh Dil is also releasing at the same time. While the former has hype and thrills going for it, the latter has Nadeem-Shravan´s music as an USP. Funny how neither worked for Jeena Sirf Merre Liye.

It may be that the stars are playing the now you see me now you don´t game. Except in this case, when we see them, we truly, truly see them. Too much of a good thing is one thing, but god forbid these many roles are akin to what we´ve seen from the before. Increasing the odds may not give such a favorable outcome.