Last Month First film:
While both the films release in the last month of the year, they happen to be the first film of their respective leads. If you can ignore the cameo that Shah Rukh Khan did in Bhoothnath (that was primarily an Amitabh Bachchan film) and his voiceover in films like Shaurya and Kismat Konnection, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi happens to be the first film of 2008 where Shah Rukh Khan will be seen in a full-fledged role. Aamir anyway is known for his ‘one-film-a-year’ policy and Ghajini fits in that bill.

Interestingly, despite having a release so late in the year, both Shah Rukh and Aamir remained in news throughout 2008 for their own good (or bad) reasons. SRK was in news for his world tour, spat with Salman, race with Akshay and things alike. Aamir remained in limelight for Jaane Tu ... Ya Jaane Na despite being only the producer of the film.

Image Changeover:
Both Aamir and Shah Rukh are experimenting with their looks in the film. Aamir was much in news for having worked out for 8-pack abs, 2 steps ahead of Shah Rukh’s 6 packs from Om Shanti Om . Apart from his well-toned physique, Aamir has also gone for a crew cut with intermediate patches for a major portion in the film. Tattoos on his body define the look more. For one song from the film, Aamir will be seen in six different getups.

Shah Rukh Khan on the other hand is going for an image changeover that shows him as a geek with a bespectacled look, oiled hair, simple shirt and trouser attire sporting a moustache.

The cross-connection here is that while Aamir who was last seen in a very simple look as Professor Ram Shankar Nikumb has now gone hot-and-hip with his new look in Ghajini. On the other hand Shah Rukh Khan who was too hot to handle in his last major film Om Shanti Om, has gone complete nerdy in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.

Fresh Female Face Value:
Both the films have new heroines opposite the lead actors. Aditya Chopra took several rigorous audition sessions to get the perfect girl for his new film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and finalized a new face Anushka Sharma opposite Shah Rukh Khan.

Ghajini too has a new heroine Asin making her Bollywood debut opposite Aamir Khan. However Aamir had it easy while searching the ideal female for the film as he cast the girl from the original Tamil film Ghajini for the same role in the Hindi version.

Interestingly, one thing common to the heroines of both the films is that they have been kept away from the paparazzi limelight and both Aditya Chopra and Aamir Khan have asked them not to speak to the media until the film releases. The men behind both the films are trying to increase the curiosity value behind their heroines.

Box-Office Business:
The producers of both the films have tasted success only in recent times. Yash Raj Films was going through a rough patch through 2007 and a major part of 2008. After a spate of flops like Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Aaja Nachle, Tashan and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, YRF got a hit with Bachna Ae Haseeno. The producers of Ghajini gained in good money with Taare Zameen Par last year. So both the production houses, though not in a bad shape by any way, want their films to click at the box-office to get them into the big league.

YRF could only ask an added share from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, which they will now look forward to cash in. PVR Pictures will expect the same from Ghajini.