WILL AYUSHMANN KHURRANA AND TOM CRUISE BRING CHEER TO THE BOX OFFICE THIS WEEK?
 
Last Friday’s mega release Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 has emerged as a huge hit. It opened at Rs. 13.50 crore on Friday and jumped to Rs. 23 crore on Sunday. It has remained rock steady on the weekdays and if all goes well, it will cross Rs. 100 crore mark on Saturday, May 28. This was a much needed hit as no Hindi film had worked after Gangubai Kathiawadi in cinemas.
 
This week will see the release of two films, with limited mass appeal. The first one is Anek, starring Ayushmann Khurrana in the lead. It is directed by Anubhav Sinha, who has achieved respect thanks to his last three films – Mulk, Article 15 and Thappad. Ayushmann also featured in Article 15 and hence, the return of this director-actor duo has been talked about. Anek’s trailer is quite hard-hitting and promises thrill and a much-needed commentary on the situation in the North-East part of India.
 
However, the marketing campaign has not been effective. The film also seems niche. Hence, it’ll open at around Rs. 1-1.50 crore. The multiplex type of films has seen a small growth on Saturday and negligible growth on Sunday. Anek can reverse this trend, especially if it's loved by audiences.
 
The other major release is the Hollywood film, Top Gun: Maverick. It stars Tom Cruise and is the sequel to the 1986 cult film, Top Gun. The trailer is breathtaking and has a lot of aerial stunts. Moreover, Tom Cruise has reportedly done the stunts himself and that’s added to the curiosity.
 
However, the original film had been released 36 years ago. The present day audience is not a fan of it, like the older generation and it’s the former who forms a chunk of the moviegoing audience. Also, the content is such that despite the big screen appeal, it won’t appeal to the audiences of the dubbed versions.
 
Top Gun: Maverick had paid previews yesterday, on May 25. From today, May 26, it had a full-day release. The collections have not been encouraging. However, the public reports are positive. Hence, Top Gun: Maverick can pick up on Friday evening. Those wanting to see the film will head to the cinemas as it’s not a film that can be enjoyed at home.