Showing posts with label Batwara 1947. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Batwara 1947. Show all posts
After Kya Kehna, I was told my career is over, but I’ve always done my own thing-Preity Zinta
9:48 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; October 3, 2026)
From trusting her instincts to choosing the filmmakers she wanted to work with, Preity Zinta has rarely been one to follow the rulebook. On the Bombay Times Lounge, she looks back at the choices, lessons and experiences that have shaped her journey — from Dil Se and Veer-Zaara to the films she picks today. Here’s a glimpse into her candid reflections, some cherished memories and a little PZ wisdom.
‘After Kya Kehna, I was told my career is over, but I’ve always done my own thing’
TaIking about trusting her instincts over industry expectations, Preity says, “I was choosy from the start. Now there are so many more stories to tell, and OTT has a big role to play. I started with Kya Kehna and then I did Dil Se, where I had a 15-minute role. Everyone told me, ‘Your career is over. Pehle toh aap pregnant teenager ka role kar rahe ho and now this small part’. People will always want you to come across a certain way, hence, it’s very important that you cut the noise out and do what you want to do. I wanted to work with Mani Ratnam sir, Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala, so I did Dil Se. I’ve never followed what should be done, I have always done my own thing. I believe that if you find success, then it’s great. If you face failure, then you only learn from it.”
Preity on the lessons she learnt while working with filmmakers like Yash Chopra, Mani Ratnam and Karan Johar
If you’re really feeling something, then it translates. If you’re trying too hard to do a scene or manufacture an emotion, even that will show. In commercial Hindi movies especially, you are shooting something, and suddenly, you have to break into a song. And because I never went to a formal acting school, I wanted to understand the reason behind certain things. The directors used to tell me, ‘It’s not how you look when you do a scene, it’s how you feel when you do a scene’. If you feel it, it’s there. Film is a director’s medium, so over the years I have learned that when in doubt, just follow the director blindly.
Preity on how her priorities have evolved
Now I’m more instinctive when it comes to my career choices. I try to live in the present. They say, ‘Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is the future, today is a gift’. That’s why we call it the present. For me, it is about what I’m feeling currently. I recently did a film called Batwara 1947, which was very intense, and Vibe was a huge contrast. Also, whatever work I do, has to be worth my time. You have different expectations at different times in your life. When I started out, it was about survival. I had to earn that respect. Now, it is not about survival, but about how I am creatively feeling about a role. I have to leave my kids behind when I come to shoot here, so it has to be worth my time.
Preity on the one movie set she’d love to revisit
Veer-Zaara, any day. I remember when I first met Yash Chopra, I said, ‘Good evening, Mr. Chopra’. And he said, ‘Mr. Chopra? Where have you come from?’ He was so wonderful and he went on to treat me like his daughter. He would feed me such good food on set when we were shooting in Punjab and other locations. After that movie, he never called me Preity, he always called me Zaara.
Which of your characters would thrive on Instagram?
Madam H from Vibe.
Which of your characters would be totally cancelled?
Sonia from Armaan. She’s so politically incorrect that she’d be totally cancelled.
Who would make a better cricket commentator from Bollywood - Shah Rukh Khan or Saif Ali Khan?
That’s a tough one. Shah Rukh in the first half and Saif after the break. They both would be very good.
The audience played the role of PR for Hanuman Ansh-Vishal Chaturvedi
9:21 AM
Deep Saxena (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 2, 2026)
Starting at 250 theaters and coming down to 25 in a week and now running in 1,200 screens in the fourth week, doctor-turned-debutant writer-filmmaker Dr Vishal Chaturvedi’s Hanuman Ansh on Neem Karoli Baba is doing wonders at the box office.
Calling it “magical, divine and driven by the audience,” he says, “At Rs. 1.7 cr, we just wanted the audience to watch and the investment to return but it did wonders (according to data Rs. 45 Cr only in India and counting). We have stopped looking at collections and counting the blessings, appreciation and love.”
Vishal is himself surprised with the “grace.” He says, “I guess what worked in the film primarily is Baba’s divine story (played by actor Shobhinaw Satyaa), music and the actors and makers who are very emotional about the subject. We hardly did any promotion and PR as we did not have any budget, but the audience played the role of PR with word-of-mouth and posting on social media. The audience have driven the film on their shoulders.”
He recalled how August 15 big releases hit them. “Due to the big films (Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2,) our shows were reduced to just 25 screens but they kept running well. The audience wanted to watch but there were no shows, so people travelled 200-250 kms and posted on SM. There were videos that even after the film ended, the audience were so emotional that they did not get up from their seats. Probably that all worked which no PR can do.”
They did bhandaras instead on PR exercise. After the shows were reduced, they did a road trip from Mumbai. “We went to Rajkot, Surat, Ahmedabad and even small towns where we met the audience, local media and cinema owners. We did not have funds, so we amplified it on social media, and it was boosted by content creators and users with very emotional reels. It organically became viral and shows increased,” he says.
The film has been shot in Chitrakoot and has used Braj, Awadhi and Bundeli language to connect with the wider audience, he says.
A Lucknowite, Vishal completed his MBBS from Gorakhpur in 2006 and in the same year was posted in Haldwani when he got introduced to Baba and went to his ashram in Kainchi Dham (Uttarakhand) where he became a bhakt.
“In 2011, I stopped medical practice and came into writing and assisting in film. I have also worked with Anubhav Sinha for a few years and have assisted in films Hurdang (2022), Dedh Bigha Zameen (2024) and some shows too. My medical profession helps me a scientific and skeptical approach,” says the writer of TV series Fauji 2.
He also runs a Hanuman Chalisa Club which has 12,000 members.
As per Sacnilk, after 25 days it has earned gross collections to ₹53.82Cr and net collections to Rs. 45.63Cr so far.
Sunny Deol resumes Antony shoot after Batwara 1947 release
9:39 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 31, 2026)
Batwara 1947 may have slowed down Sunny Deol’s bullish run at the box office that began with Gadar 2: The Katha Continues (2023), but he has no reason to worry. The actor has four big films in his kitty. Soon after the Partition drama’s release, Deol moved on to the shoot of Excel Entertainment’s cop thriller, Antony. He will follow it up with Ramayana: Part 2, Jaat 2, and Rajkumar Santoshi’s next.
A source told mid-day that Deol resumed the filming of Antony, directed by Balaji Ganesh, in Film City on August 26.
“The unit is currently focusing on the high-octane action sequences of the film that sees Sunny as a cop trying to bust a crime syndicate. With action director Ravi Verma, the actor has been shooting car chase sequences,” shared the source.
Wrapping up Antony by October, the actor will dive into the immersive world of Ramayana: Part 2. Ranbir Kapoor has begun shooting his portions for Nitesh Tiwari’s outing.
The source added, “While Sunny, as Lord Hanuman, makes a brief appearance in the first part, he will have major action and dramatic sequences in the sequel.”
Jaat 2’s producers are keen to take their movie on floors by December. The only roadblock is said to be director Gopichand Malineni’s busy date diary. “Gopi is busy with his next film. So, the producers have to decide whether they want to wait for him or rope in another director,” added the source.
By early next year, Deol will face the camera for Santoshi’s Ghatak Ghus Ke Maarega.
In the second week, we went from 700 screens to just 24 screens-Deepak Tijori
3:53 PM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; August 23, 2026)
Deepak Tijori’s return to Gujarati cinema after nearly 25 years was meant to be a homecoming of sorts. His latest film Get Set Go, an action-adventure opened on more than 700 screens in Gujarat — a significant release for a Gujarati film. It was well received, earned positive reviews and, Tijori, who is the lead actor of the film, says, audiences were responding warmly. But in its second week, the film’s screen count fell to just 24.
‘In the second week, we went from 700 screens to just 24 screens’
For the actor, the problem is bigger than one film losing shows. He believes the incident highlights how vulnerable regional cinema remains when it comes to theatrical exhibition.
“We had more than 700 screens in the first week, which few films in Gujarat get. It was a big release and well received. Suddenly, in the second week, when you wake up, from 700 screens, we were just 24 screens. I didn’t know what was going on,” he says.
According to Tijori, the producers had invested considerably more than the usual budget for a Gujarati film. He explains, “It was expensive in comparison to other Gujarati films because it was in the action genre. The actors Bhaumik Sampat and Jhinal Belani are also the producers of the film, so they have taken every step possible to make a wonderful film and people have appreciated it.”
Tijori further adds that he was told that screens had to be given to Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Awarapan 2 and Batwara 1947, which resulted in Get Set Go being pushed out of theatres. “I was devastated by what happened. It’s a regional film. The least that you can offer is some kind of security. It’s not just about subsidy because that doesn’t really help the film make it to the screen. You make a film to show it to people.”
‘How will a producer who backs regional cinema recover his money?’
Tijori, who is half Gujarati and half Parsi-Irani, says he had been waiting to return to Gujarati cinema. “I wanted to do a Gujarati film for a long time because I did one almost 25 years ago. I wanted to come back with the new wave of cinema. It is shocking that a good film is treated this way. How will a producer who backs regional cinema recover his money? What is the fate of regional cinema? How do you expect regional cinema producers to even survive? To make good cinema, you need money and more screens. I hope the government does something to support Gujarati cinema,” he says.
He brings up the Marathi film industry, where filmmakers have more confidence to back bigger budget films. “Marathi cinema has greater theatrical priority, which gives filmmakers confidence. Don’t give us 10 shows, at least give us two shows. At least let us be there and let the audience be aware of our film.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 948
4:51 PM
AWARAPAN 2 DEFIES ALL PREDICTIONS; BATWARA OPENS BELOW EXPECTATIONS
The Independence Day weekend has begun on a bittersweet note. While Awarapan 2 is on its way to becoming a blockbuster, Batwara 1947’s opening has shocked the trade.
Awarapan 2 was expected to open at around Rs. 18-20 crores. However, the film collected a whopping Rs. 22.50 crores. Interestingly, the first part, Awarapan, earned ONLY Rs. 7.75 crores in its entire run. The reports of Awarapan 2 are positive and with today being Independence Day, the film will see another jump. But since the film opened so well on Day 1, it won’t jump dramatically on Saturday. Hence, a Rs. 30 crore Day 2 may not be possible, but the film can definitely earn somewhere around Rs. 27-28 crores.
At the same time, one never knows where the film will go from here on. It may defy expectations once again and cross the Rs. 30 crore mark on the second day as well. In 2 days, the film will collect around Rs. 50 crores and will have a weekend of around Rs. 80-85 crores. By Wednesday, it should cross the Rs. 100 crore mark. The drop on Monday will determine how much it’ll collect in its lifetime.
Meanwhile, one expected Batwara 1947 to open at Rs. 7-8 crores. Instead, it opened at just Rs. 5 crores. This was despite the film starring Sunny Deol, who’s on a super-hit spree since Gadar 2. Sadly, the trailer just didn’t click with the audience. The content also didn’t seem massy enough.
Thankfully, Batwara 1947 has seen a big jump and may collect Rs. 10 crores on Day 2. However, this was the least one would expect from a film releasing on Independence Day, especially one that opened poorly. It is expected to have a weekend of around Rs. 24-25 crores. There’s no competition next weekend and that would benefit the film. Yet, a Rs. lifetime of more than Rs. 50 crores or Rs. 60 crores seems difficult as of now. What has also gone against the film is that the reports are not extraordinary. An extremely positive word of mouth would have surely given the film a chance.
The Independence Day weekend has begun on a bittersweet note. While Awarapan 2 is on its way to becoming a blockbuster, Batwara 1947’s opening has shocked the trade.
Awarapan 2 was expected to open at around Rs. 18-20 crores. However, the film collected a whopping Rs. 22.50 crores. Interestingly, the first part, Awarapan, earned ONLY Rs. 7.75 crores in its entire run. The reports of Awarapan 2 are positive and with today being Independence Day, the film will see another jump. But since the film opened so well on Day 1, it won’t jump dramatically on Saturday. Hence, a Rs. 30 crore Day 2 may not be possible, but the film can definitely earn somewhere around Rs. 27-28 crores.
At the same time, one never knows where the film will go from here on. It may defy expectations once again and cross the Rs. 30 crore mark on the second day as well. In 2 days, the film will collect around Rs. 50 crores and will have a weekend of around Rs. 80-85 crores. By Wednesday, it should cross the Rs. 100 crore mark. The drop on Monday will determine how much it’ll collect in its lifetime.
Meanwhile, one expected Batwara 1947 to open at Rs. 7-8 crores. Instead, it opened at just Rs. 5 crores. This was despite the film starring Sunny Deol, who’s on a super-hit spree since Gadar 2. Sadly, the trailer just didn’t click with the audience. The content also didn’t seem massy enough.
Thankfully, Batwara 1947 has seen a big jump and may collect Rs. 10 crores on Day 2. However, this was the least one would expect from a film releasing on Independence Day, especially one that opened poorly. It is expected to have a weekend of around Rs. 24-25 crores. There’s no competition next weekend and that would benefit the film. Yet, a Rs. lifetime of more than Rs. 50 crores or Rs. 60 crores seems difficult as of now. What has also gone against the film is that the reports are not extraordinary. An extremely positive word of mouth would have surely given the film a chance.
(Crisp) Movie Review: BATWARA 1947 by FENIL SETA
4:18 PM
Batwara 1947's storyline is a winner and it has all the ingredients of a hard-hitting yet emotional film. Director Rajkumar Santoshi's direction is simplistic and his biggest strength is how he sensitively handles the religious aspect. The film speaks about humanity, a message that feels particularly relevant in today's times. The action scenes are superb, while the bond shared by the old woman with the new occupants in the house is heartening. The climax is very moving. On the flipside, the first half is thanda and devoid of enough action scenes. This is disappointing since the trailer promised loads of action. Even the dialogues aren't as hard-hitting as those in Sunny Deol and Rajkumar Santoshi's earlier films like Ghayal, Damini and Ghatak. In fact, the play from which the film is adapted is classier than Batwara 1947 and yet has far more clapworthy one-liners. The songs are forgettable while the film is too long. Sunny Deol, like always, is fiery during the action scenes. But watch out for scenes where he breaks down. Shabana Azmi's performance is very endearing, ensuring that one would connect with her from the very first scene. Preity G Zinta puts up a great act and it's a pleasure to see her again on screen. Karan Deol, Khhushi Hajare (Tanno) and Kanikka Kapur (Nishat) are decent. Ali Fazal (Habib Anwar) is too good in a supporting role, while Abhimanyu Singh is apt as the villain. Ira Sandhir (Tabassum) is wasted. All in all, Batwara 1947 could have been more hard-hitting but nevertheless, it is worth watching once.
My rating - *** out of 5!
My rating - *** out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 947
11:46 AM
AWARAPAN 2 TO OPEN WITH A BANG; WILL BATWARA 1947 MANAGE A RS. 10 CRORE PLUS OPENING?
The biggest clash of the season will take place tomorrow, August 14, and the excitement is tremendous. Both films – Awarapan 2 and Batwara 1947 – seem promising and can have a healthy run at the box office if word of mouth is positive.
Awarapan 2 is the second part of Awarapan, which released in 2007. Despite positive word of mouth, it was a disaster as it earned just Rs. 7.75 crores. The film clashed with Himesh Reshammiya’s debut film Aap Kaa Surroor and Apne, which brought Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol and Dharmendra together. Both these films had tremendous buzz, due to which Awarapan got completely sidelined.
However, over the years, Awarapan achieved cult status due to its unforgettable music score, Emraan Hashmi’s performance and the emotional and dramatic moments. Moreover, Emraan hasn’t done a film in the mass cinema space for the longest time, and there’s a huge demand among the audience to see him in this avatar. All these reasons have added to the excitement for Awarapan 2.
Besides Emraan Hashmi, Awarapan 2 stars Disha Patani, Shabana Azmi and others. The promotion and trailer have been underwhelming. But that hasn’t dampened the hype for the film. It was expected that the film would open at Rs. 10-12 crores. But ticket sales have been so huge that a Rs. 18-20 crore opening can’t be ruled out. In other words, it’ll earn double the lifetime of Awarapan in just one day!
At this rate, Awarapan 2 can have a weekend of Rs. 60-70 crores and has a shot at Rs. 100 crores. Thus, it has the potential to be Emraan Hashmi’s highest grosser, beating The Dirty Picture, which collected Rs. 79.78 crores.
Meanwhile, Batwara 1947 stars Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal and others. It reunites Sunny and director Rajkumar Santoshi after 30 years. Moreover, Aamir Khan is the film’s producer.
The trailer of Batwara 1947 is interesting. However, it hasn’t worked as intended among the audience. The film isn’t appealing to the audience due to the star cast and subject. Moreover, the music isn’t up to the mark. Awarapan 2 is far more exciting for the youngsters.
The advance booking of Batwara 1947 is slow and is expected to open in single digits, around Rs. 7-8 crores. However, if the film packs a punch, it can jump big time on Saturday and Sunday. If it manages to hold steady over the weekdays, it still has a chance.
The biggest clash of the season will take place tomorrow, August 14, and the excitement is tremendous. Both films – Awarapan 2 and Batwara 1947 – seem promising and can have a healthy run at the box office if word of mouth is positive.
Awarapan 2 is the second part of Awarapan, which released in 2007. Despite positive word of mouth, it was a disaster as it earned just Rs. 7.75 crores. The film clashed with Himesh Reshammiya’s debut film Aap Kaa Surroor and Apne, which brought Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol and Dharmendra together. Both these films had tremendous buzz, due to which Awarapan got completely sidelined.
However, over the years, Awarapan achieved cult status due to its unforgettable music score, Emraan Hashmi’s performance and the emotional and dramatic moments. Moreover, Emraan hasn’t done a film in the mass cinema space for the longest time, and there’s a huge demand among the audience to see him in this avatar. All these reasons have added to the excitement for Awarapan 2.
Besides Emraan Hashmi, Awarapan 2 stars Disha Patani, Shabana Azmi and others. The promotion and trailer have been underwhelming. But that hasn’t dampened the hype for the film. It was expected that the film would open at Rs. 10-12 crores. But ticket sales have been so huge that a Rs. 18-20 crore opening can’t be ruled out. In other words, it’ll earn double the lifetime of Awarapan in just one day!
At this rate, Awarapan 2 can have a weekend of Rs. 60-70 crores and has a shot at Rs. 100 crores. Thus, it has the potential to be Emraan Hashmi’s highest grosser, beating The Dirty Picture, which collected Rs. 79.78 crores.
Meanwhile, Batwara 1947 stars Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal and others. It reunites Sunny and director Rajkumar Santoshi after 30 years. Moreover, Aamir Khan is the film’s producer.
The trailer of Batwara 1947 is interesting. However, it hasn’t worked as intended among the audience. The film isn’t appealing to the audience due to the star cast and subject. Moreover, the music isn’t up to the mark. Awarapan 2 is far more exciting for the youngsters.
The advance booking of Batwara 1947 is slow and is expected to open in single digits, around Rs. 7-8 crores. However, if the film packs a punch, it can jump big time on Saturday and Sunday. If it manages to hold steady over the weekdays, it still has a chance.
Shabana Azmi hospitalized with H1N1; to miss promotions of Batwara 1947, Awarapan 2
11:26 PM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 8, 2026)
August’s first two weeks would have seen Shabana Azmi at her busiest with her two releases, Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2. Unfortunately, her ill-health has deterred her from being part of the movies’ promotions. The senior actor has been hospitalised since July 30 after being diagnosed with H1N1 swine flu and chronic bronchitis.
On returning to Mumbai from Delhi where she had participated in the students’ protests and the July 20 Chalo Sansad march, Azmi was running a high fever and soon diagnosed with H1N1 swine flu. Despite being unwell, the veteran actor made an appearance at the July 28 trailer launch of Rajkumar Santoshi’s directorial venture, featuring Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta.
A source said, “Shabana should be discharged within two-three days, but for now, no visitors are allowed because it’s still contagious. On the work front, she is thrilled that the pre-release screenings of Batwara 1947 have been full of praise, particularly for Sunny and her performances. She is hopeful that the human drama will connect with the audience.”
Speaking to mid-day from the hospital, Azmi said that her weak lungs have lengthened the recovery process.
She added, “I am feeling better and optimistic that Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2 have generated so much interest. I am grateful that senior actors are given such diverse characters to play, as we saw in the case of Naseeruddin Shah in Main Vaapas Aaunga and Made in India: A Titan Story.”
Kanikka Kapur on being mistaken for Kiara Advani: "I laughed a lot"
4:20 PM
Vishakha Pandit (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 6, 2026)
The first-look posters of Batwara 1947 sparked confusion online, with several social media users mistaking lead actor Kanikka Kapur for actor Kiara Advani and wondering whether the latter was part of the Partition drama.
Reacting to the chatter, Kanikka, 31, tells us that while such comparisons are not new, the scale of the response took her by surprise: “When I saw people had mistaken me for Kiara in the poster, I laughed a lot. People have compared me before, but never this much. I thought maybe when they watch the movie, they will keep looking for Kiara.”
Kanikka recalls facing similar comparisons during her web show ImMATURE season 2, when her ponytail look was placed alongside Kiara’s look from Kabir Singh (2019): “I’m sort of used to being compared to her. A lot of people say I look like her and a lot of people say I don’t.”
The actor, who stars opposite Karan Deol in the Rajkumar Santoshi directorial, says she takes the mix-up in good humour: “Honestly, I don’t mind because I find her really pretty. If people think I look like her, it’s fine.”
Shabana Azmi on Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2 clash: "Box office is in nobody's control"
11:02 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 7, 2026)
It’s an unusual situation for an actor. Come August 14, Shabana Azmi will have two of her films — Batwara 1947, also starring Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta, and Awarapan 2, led by Emraan Hashmi — clashing at the box office. Does that make the senior actor apprehensive about their box office fate?
“The box office is in nobody’s control,” said Azmi, matter-of-factly, before adding that she views it as an exciting coincidence. “What’s exciting is to be given the opportunity to do diametrically different roles. I am grateful for that. I don’t remember if it has happened to me earlier. I remember there was a time when I got four out of five nominations for a prestigious award!”
Besides Azmi and the release date, Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2 have almost nothing in common. While director Rajkumar Santoshi’s film is a Partition story, Nitin Kakkar’s directorial venture is an action drama. Many feel the audience prefers certain genres like action in the post-pandemic market, but Azmi is having none of that.
“I think we lose our nerve all too quickly. One film does well at the box office, and we rush to make only that kind of film! Instead of producing movies that lie in the cans, the government should create smaller theatres to facilitate a distribution network that guarantees release,” she stated.
So, which of the two does she think will leave a mark? She exclaimed, “That’s like asking me to choose between my children! I hope both [films] are impactful.”
Batwara 1947 is produced by Aamir Khan. While the superstar has a reputation of being creatively involved, the senior actor said, “He came on the sets only once as he trusted the director’s vision completely.”
Ali Fazal reveals Aamir Khan's partition drama Batwara 1947 took a toll on him: "You can't switch off from it easily"
10:09 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 18, 2026)
Adding Aamir Khan’s production, the tentatively titled Batwara 1947, to his filmography has been a moment of pride for Ali Fazal. But being part of an intense Partition drama takes a toll. The actor admitted that it wasn’t easy to leave the story behind after wrapping the film.
“It’s not something you can switch off from easily at the end of the day. The role stayed [with me] as it’s heavy, internal, and required sustained emotional investment,” he said.
Fortunately, he found a light-hearted offering in Lust Stories 3, giving him just the right contrast after the intense movie. To Fazal, director Shakun Batra’s segment with Radhikka Madan offered a different creative rhythm, allowing him to explore more personal shades.
Speaking about the contrast, the actor added, “You should constantly put yourself in uncomfortable spaces, and this year was [just that]. What excites me is this constant shift in energy. I’m enjoying that directors are making us see ourselves in a different light.”
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