Can Akshay relase beat 'January jinx' this year?

With his previous releases in the first month of the year failing to set the cash registers ringing, bollywood hit machine, Akshay Kumar's starpower at the box office will be tested by 'January jinx' when his film 'Chandini Chowk To China' hits theatres on January 16.

Though considered as a jinxed month as most of the bollywood movies releasing in January have doomed at the box office in last decade, Akshay is worst affected with this old nemesis as 'Talaash', 'Khakee; and 'Family - Ties of Blood' starring him had a poor run.

Numerologist Neeraj Mancchanda fears a gloomy performance for 'Chandini Chowk To China' (CoC) at the box office. "Cost of the film is too high and it has to go houseful for two weeks to recover it," he says.

Being touted as Akshay Kumar's biography, the movie is bollywood's first Kung-fu comedy in which a chef is mistaken for a martial arts expert. CoC is one of the biggest releases of 2009.

Deepika Padukone stars opposite Akshay in a double role and will be seen doing some breath taking scenes. Chinese actor, Gordon Liu will also do a major role in the film.

Warner Brothers Entertainment has distributed their first bollywood movie alongwith Ramesh Sippy Films. Producer Rohan Sippy quashes the 'jinx' rumours and is upbeat about his film.

"There is no merit in these things. Nothing can prevent a good film from a successful run. I hope that people will like the film as we have put in a lot of hard work and positive energy in making it," he says.

He is more confident about Akshay's star power and says," He is fantastic at every aspect - be it action, comedy or romance. He is unstoppable at the moment." Akshay's new found love for number 7 is a way out to see his film do well.

"The movie is releasing on Jan 16, which adds upto 7. According to numerology, that is fine," says Mancchanda.

'Rang De Basanti' was the last movie to do well after releasing in January. Trade analyst Komal Nahata refuses to believe in numerology and says that films flopping in January had a bad script and even if they had released in July or August, they would have failed.

Though he refrains from commenting on 'Chandini Chowk To China' until he sees it but he says that the initial response is encouraging for the movie.

Akshay Kumar is returning to what he does best - action after a long time. Stunt scenes in the movie have been co-ordinated by Hollywood action director Huen Chiu-Ku, whose credits include likes of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and 'Kill Bill: Vol 1 and 2'.