MUMBAI: The feative season is just around the corner and with two big releases lined up, the stakes are high at the box office.

The industry awaits the release of Farhan Akhtar’s Don and Sajid Nadiawalla’s Jaan-e-Mann with bated breath. While Don stars Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra; Jaan-e-Mann has Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Preity Zinta.

What’s more, this will the third consecutive year that actor Akshay Kumar has had a festive season release. Last year Priyadarshan’s two films Garam Masala starring Akshay and John Abraham and also Kyon Ki… starring Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor were released simultaneously. The year before last, Akshay Kumar pitted himself in Aitraaz against Shahrukh Khan’s Veer Zaara.

This year, while he competes against Shahrukh Khan at the box office, he has with him the other Khan – Salman – in Jaan-e-Mann. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala, who is confident of the film’s success says, "Ishallah, my film will be a hit and Akshay will be third time lucky."

The last two years have been exceptionally good for the ‘Khiladi’ actor. Four of his films were released this year namely – Phir Hera Pheri, Hum Ko Deewana Kar Gaye, Mere Jeevan Saathi and Family: Ties of Blood. In 2005, films like Dosti: Friends Forever, Deewane Huye Paagal, Garam Masala, Waqt: The Race Against Time, Bewafaa and Insaan were released. In 2004, Akshay made it big with Aitraaz and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi.

What remains to be seen is whether the festival of lights will further help brighten Akshay’s stars this year.