‘CORPORATE’ — the Bengali actress turns 40 today and has films like ‘Corporate’ to her credit, which portrayed her in a never-seen-before de-glam attire. Bipasha Basu let her acting and her intense performing do all the talking wearing subtle clothes and professional corporate environment work attire. Until date, this business drama film has to be model-turned-actress Bipasha Basu’s best film for which she won four major awards, including nominations for Star Screen, Filmfare and Zine Cine Awards. The film was a box office success and garnered $2.3 million worldwide ‘RACE’ — Basu played the role of Sonia Martin, who together with her boyfriend tricks her boyfriend’s rich half brother in giving away his father’s property to them. She carried the meaty role on her shoulders with aplomb and switched characters from being a femme fatale to a loyal partner. Basu’s performance and characterisation of role was memorable, winning her nominations for major awards for Best Actress at the Producers Guild Film Awards as well as the International Indian Film Academy Awards. The film was a worldwide success and garnered $29 million in the international market. ‘JUDAAI’ — the Indian actor turns 62 today and among several other characters he has essayed, the one in 1997’s melodrama film ‘Judaai’ remains the most favourite. He played the role of Harry who marries a mute girl and curses his life after that. Johnny Lever’s comic timing and dialogue delivery in this film sent us in fits of laughter. For this very performance, he was nominated for the prestigious Filmfare Award in the Best Performance in a Comic Role category. The film was a box office success and grossed $14 million worldwide. ‘GOLMAAL AGAIN’ — Johnny Lever breathed life into the film with his character Pappi. He marked his appearance after long with this one and even though the film starred many comedians, Lever held his own and sent the audience in fits. The film was a box office success, raking in Rs 311.05 crore worldwide. ‘FACE OFF’ — the American actor turns 55 today and we remember his stellar role in 1997’s box office hit ‘Face Off’ in which he plays the role of badman Castor Troy. Nicholas Cage not only connected to the audience with his convincing role of a baddie but also marked his spot as an actor par excellence that can reach out to the audience with his facial expressions. The film grossed $245.7 million at the box office. ‘CITY OF ANGELS’ — who could see this 1998 romantic fantasy film and not fall in love with Cage’s character of Seth? Cage enacted a performance that was lauded by the audience and critics alike and instantly became a worldwide star owing to his intense performance in this box office hit, collecting $198.7 million worldwide. He won the Best Actor award at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards for this role. Published in Daily Times, January 7th 2019.