Showing posts with label Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Show all posts
Main toh bahut show off karti hoon, ‘Main Madhuri ma’am ko personally jaanti hoon’-Triptii Dimri
11:13 PM
From fangirling over Madhuri to breaking the ice with a ‘besharam bano’ rule, the cast of the upcoming film Maa Behen spills stories from the set
Mahima Pandey (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 3, 2026)
After grabbing attention with the delightfully cheeky title of their upcoming Netflix film Maa Behen, actors Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri and Dharna Durga, along with director Suresh Triveni, landed in Delhi for a fun and candid conversation at HT City Stars in the City with Sonal Kalra, Chief Managing Editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment, Hindustan Times. Here are some highlights from the session:
For Triptii, sharing screen space with Madhuri was still a pinch-me moment. “This is my second film with ma’am after Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, but we didn’t get much time together then. During Maa Behen, we became friends and I’m very proud of that. Main toh bahut show off karti hoon, ‘Main Madhuri ma’am ko personally jaanti hoon. I talk to her every day’,” she laughed.
Madhuri, meanwhile, revealed that the cast bonded quickly during workshops. “My only rule was: besharam bano. Say whatever you want to each other. We had so much fun and I think that translated onscreen.”
Before the camaraderie came the casting challenge. As director Suresh Triveni put it, “The biggest question was, ‘Maa kaun banegi?’”
Recalling how Madhuri signed on, he said, “We narrated the script to her in August 2024. Me and my writer overacted like hell and used all our advertising tricks. In the end, she said, ‘I’m doing it’. After that, she became my trump card. With Triptii, it was, ‘Madhuri Dixit has said yes’. With Dharna, I just said ‘Madhuri’ and she was in.”
Dharna readily agreed: “I was so excited and nervous when I met Madhuri ma’am, like any die-hard fan would be. She said hi to me and I was like, ‘Whoa!’”
While Madhuri has played mothers onscreen before, this one felt refreshingly different. “I have grown-up kids of my own, so there was never any hesitation,” she said. What sealed the deal was the character’s unpredictability. “We always put mothers on a pedestal. Here (in Maa Behen) she says, ‘Agar main jail gayi toh tum dono ko saath mein lekar jaungi.’ I loved that!”
The laughter, banter and easy camaraderie that lit up the stage of HT City Stars in the City with Sonal Kalra continued as Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri and Dharna Durga shared more stories from the making of Netflix’s Maa Behen. The trio spoke about motherhood, friendships forged on set and what makes the June 4 release stand out.
Was playing the mother of two daughters onscreen different from being a real-life mother?
Madhuri: Nahi, jaise mere bacche ladte the, waise hi yeh dono ladte hai. Zyaada farak nahi tha. Kids are the same, but a woman has to wear so many hats at home. Kabhi woh doctor hoti hai, kabhi woh therapist hoti hai, kabhi woh referee hoti hai. That’s what I did here.
How was the transition from being a content creator to becoming an actor?
Dharna: Jab title Maa Behen ho, toh woh feeling hona bahut important hai ki aapko woh emotion aaye, in a good way. Main actually waisa feel kar paa rahi thi off-set bhi inke saath.
If you had to give audiences an elevator pitch for the film, what would it be?
Triptii: Baap-bhaaiyon pe bahut filmein dekh li hai...
Madhuri: Ab maa-behen ki baari hai.
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I was after Ravi Kishan for the role of Gupta ji because I think he’s one of the most interesting actors of our time. He’s a very intelligent man who behaves as if he hasn’t understood anything; that’s his strategy. Whenever he was on set, I would just say, “Yeh lines hain, aap iske bahar se kuch karein,” and wait for the brilliant improvisations he’d come up with.
- SURESH TRIVENI, Director
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Madhuri ma’am ko dekhte hi dil mein non-stop ‘Dhak Dhak’ wala gaana bajne lagta hai. Honestly, even after working with her on Maa Behen for so long, that feeling is still the same. Whenever I see her, that background music starts playing in my head.
- DHARNA DURGA
Compiled by Mahima Pandey
Akshay Kumar and Kartik Aaryan in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4 is a fantastic idea-Anees Bazmee
10:03 AM
Anees Bazmee reveals that talks are on for the fourth installment & the possibility of uniting the franchise’s two leading stars
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; November 3, 2025)
There’s been a lot of buzz around the next instalment of the horror comedy franchise, Bhool Bhulaiyaa (BB). Recently, director Anees Bazmee expressed excitement about working on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4, after the massive success of the previous film which had released a year ago.
When we reached out to Bazmee, he said, “The work on the story has not begun, but since we made BB2 and BB3, we must make BB4. Talks are on, but nothing concrete has happened yet. Kartik Aaryan as Rooh Baba has created a strong image. Toh Kartik toh hona hi chahiye.”
When asked if there’s a possibility of bringing together both the Bhool Bhulaiyaa leads — Akshay Kumar (who helmed the original) and Kartik — for the next installment, Bazmee said, “This is a fantastic idea. Beech mein Bhushan Kumar (producer) aur meri baat hui thi and we discussed if we could make it happen. Akshay in that orange attire and Kartik in that black one pitted against each other would be really good,” he revealed.
The Bhool Bhulaiyaa series, known for its perfect blend of laughter and spine-chilling moments, first began in 2007 with Priyadarshan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa, starring Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan. The film became a cult favourite for its psychological twist and memorable performances, especially Vidya’s turn as Manjulika and Akshay’s iconic role as Dr. Aditya Shrivastav.
Years later, the franchise was revived with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022), directed by Anees Bazmee and headlined by Kartik Aaryan as Rooh Baba. The film proved to be a blockbuster, blending fresh humour with nostalgic elements from the original. The success of BB2 cemented Kartik’s image as the new-age Rooh Baba and revitalized the horror-comedy genre in Bollywood. Following that, Bazmee and producer Bhushan Kumar did BB 3 in 2024, with Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit as leads.
Even I have heard about the ‘Kartik Aaryan template’ being discussed at films marketing meetings-Kartik Aaryan
9:19 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 29, 2025)
For Kartik Aaryan, 2025 will always remain one of his most special years, with big film announcements one after the other, and of course, his Best Actor wins: IIFA for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Filmfare for Chandu Champion, both 2024 releases. As we catch up with him, the confidence shines through, in both his choices and ambition:
Winning your first-ever Filmfare Best Actor award for Chandu Champion - for a new-generation star like you, did the film feel like an ‘experiment,’ and was the win a vindication of sorts?
Honestly, I didn’t look at Chandu Champion as an experiment at all. The moment I heard the story of (India’s first paralympic gold medallist) Murlikant Petkar ji, I was surprised and deeply moved. I felt this was a story of incredible resilience, courage, and self belief; one every Indian should know. I could totally relate to his story and considered myself truly blessed to get the opportunity to portray such an inspirational real-life hero on screen. I will always be indebted to Kabir (Khan, director) sir and Sajid (Nadiadwala, producer) sir for trusting me with this incredible story. Winning the Filmfare Best Actor award feels like a huge validation, not just for me but for the kind of cinema that celebrates real stories and the human spirit.
Is Chatori (your newest pup) a present you have given to yourself for your Chandu Champion win?
(Laughs) Yes, you can say that! Chatori is actually a gift from my mom, and she’s already become everyone’s favourite at home. Bas Katori thodi si insecure ho gayi hai! Abhi tak donon ki dosti nahin hui hai. But still, Katori is very protective of Chatori like a big sister. The house feels livelier with both of them around.
We celebrated Diwali recently, and one is reminded of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 last year, which pretty much set the benchmark for Diwali releases. Do big box office numbers feel like a responsibility, or add pressure?
The love the audience showered on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 was overwhelming, it felt like a festival inside theatres. The film released alongside another massive franchise, and there was immense anticipation among the audience, trade, and media for both. Together, the two films did a combined business of over Rs. 800 crores worldwide (BB3 – Rs. 423.85 cr, Singham Returns – Rs. 389.64 cr). That year, Diwali genuinely felt like Diwali for the entire industry.
For me, these big box office numbers are very motivating, but more than pressure, I see it as a responsibility, to keep entertaining the audience and living up to their expectations. At the same time, I try not to let the numbers dictate my choices. For me, it’s always about the story and the connection it creates with the audience. If that works, everything else follows.
Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri is set for a New Year eve release. How was it reuniting with (actor) Ananya Panday?
The film has shaped up beautifully, it’s got that perfect mix of heart, fun, and festive energy. We had a blast shooting it, and that vibe translates on screen. Reuniting with Ananya was like picking up where we left off, she was a total live-wire on set. She’s going to surprise everyone. I’m sure the audience will enjoy our chemistry in this fun, refreshing rom-com as Ray-Rumi and all the masti the film brings.
Would you call rom-com ‘your’ genre, given your successful track record in them?
Rom-coms come to me quite naturally, maybe they’re just in my DNA (laughs). I guess the audience also enjoys seeing me in such roles, which makes it more special. But I never want to be confined to one genre. I love exploring different kinds of stories and characters. At the end of the day, I go by what truly connects with me, a story that moves me and one that will entertain the audience, no matter what the genre is.
One hears that you don’t limit yourself to just acting, you get involved in marketing too. There’s even a ‘Kartik Aaryan template’ now. Where did this streak come from?
I think I’m also a bit of a businessman at heart (smiles). For me, it’s equally important to market a film in the best possible way. Today, storytelling doesn’t end with the shoot, how you present it to the audience matters just as much. So I like being involved in all aspects of film making. Thankfully, my producers have been welcoming and yes, even I have heard about the ‘Kartik Aaryan template’ being discussed at films marketing meetings! Trust me, its really encouraging.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 904
10:40 PM
INDUSTRY GEARS UP FOR THE GRAND DIWALI RELEASES
In less than a week, the Diwali releases, namely Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, will be arriving in theatres. Since Diwali this time falls on Monday, October 20, the makers of both the films have decided to go for a mid-week release. Hence, the films will hit the theatres on Tuesday, October 21.
Thamma belongs to the much-loved Maddock Horror Comedy Universe and is set in the same world as Stree, Bhediya, and Munjya. It stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Paresh Rawal. It is directed by Aditya Sarpotdar of Munjya fame. The trailer and assets promise an ample dose of horror and comedy and visually, it looks striking. Shraddha Kapoor, the lead actress of Stree, unveiled the trailer of Thamma; in a way, it gave a hint that she would be present in the film. The makers have further indicated that there are several surprises in the film, possibly cameos.
However, until now, the film hasn’t been able to generate the kind of hype that was created by Stree or Stree 2. The songs have always been a big draw for the universe. Until now, the songs of Thamma have definitely been noticed but haven’t become chartbusters.
The advance booking hasn’t commenced and it would be a bit difficult to guess the opening day figures. But since it’s a Diwali release, features popular names and is a part of a big franchise, it will open in double digits and can even cross the Rs. 15 or 20 crore mark. The next two days, Wednesday, October 22 and Thursday, October 23, are also holidays, while the weekend will commence from October 24. As a result, Thamma will have the advantage of a six-day weekend. A good word of mouth will lead to a jump in earnings from October 22.
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is directed by Milap Zaveri and stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa. It is Harshvardhan’s first release after his 2016 intense love story, Sanam Teri Kasam, became a super-hit upon its re-release. Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is also in the same zone. The songs have worked big time, which has added to its buzz. The makers have gone for the Saiyaara model of promotion. In other words, the makers haven’t held any event or allowed the team to give interviews.
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat should open at Rs. 7-8 crores with an outside chance of double digit opening as well. It seems like the B and C centres will patronize the film more, at least on its release day. Hence, positive reports are crucial for the film to break out in the metro cities and also for a healthy lifetime.
Hence, a day 1 of around Rs. 30 crore is expected from both the films. This number is nowhere close to the Rs. 73.25 crores collectively accumulated by the 2024 Diwali releases, Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, on the first day. But this was expected as Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat are not the biggest films of the year. But as they have the advantage of the holiday period and their genres are massy, sky's the limit, provided the word of mouth is positive. If reports are bad, it’ll prove detrimental from the second day itself.
In less than a week, the Diwali releases, namely Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, will be arriving in theatres. Since Diwali this time falls on Monday, October 20, the makers of both the films have decided to go for a mid-week release. Hence, the films will hit the theatres on Tuesday, October 21.
Thamma belongs to the much-loved Maddock Horror Comedy Universe and is set in the same world as Stree, Bhediya, and Munjya. It stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Paresh Rawal. It is directed by Aditya Sarpotdar of Munjya fame. The trailer and assets promise an ample dose of horror and comedy and visually, it looks striking. Shraddha Kapoor, the lead actress of Stree, unveiled the trailer of Thamma; in a way, it gave a hint that she would be present in the film. The makers have further indicated that there are several surprises in the film, possibly cameos.
However, until now, the film hasn’t been able to generate the kind of hype that was created by Stree or Stree 2. The songs have always been a big draw for the universe. Until now, the songs of Thamma have definitely been noticed but haven’t become chartbusters.
The advance booking hasn’t commenced and it would be a bit difficult to guess the opening day figures. But since it’s a Diwali release, features popular names and is a part of a big franchise, it will open in double digits and can even cross the Rs. 15 or 20 crore mark. The next two days, Wednesday, October 22 and Thursday, October 23, are also holidays, while the weekend will commence from October 24. As a result, Thamma will have the advantage of a six-day weekend. A good word of mouth will lead to a jump in earnings from October 22.
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is directed by Milap Zaveri and stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa. It is Harshvardhan’s first release after his 2016 intense love story, Sanam Teri Kasam, became a super-hit upon its re-release. Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is also in the same zone. The songs have worked big time, which has added to its buzz. The makers have gone for the Saiyaara model of promotion. In other words, the makers haven’t held any event or allowed the team to give interviews.
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat should open at Rs. 7-8 crores with an outside chance of double digit opening as well. It seems like the B and C centres will patronize the film more, at least on its release day. Hence, positive reports are crucial for the film to break out in the metro cities and also for a healthy lifetime.
Hence, a day 1 of around Rs. 30 crore is expected from both the films. This number is nowhere close to the Rs. 73.25 crores collectively accumulated by the 2024 Diwali releases, Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, on the first day. But this was expected as Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat are not the biggest films of the year. But as they have the advantage of the holiday period and their genres are massy, sky's the limit, provided the word of mouth is positive. If reports are bad, it’ll prove detrimental from the second day itself.
Top 25 films of 2024; only 5 hits in the year and 6 films crossed the 100 cr mark
8:38 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
The box office results in 2024 were pretty much a disaster as the the top 25 films accumulated around 2250 crore nett when the same was done in 2019 by just 12 films. Also, in 2019, there was no mega grosser like STREE 2 which is contributing 25% of the collections of the top twenty five films.
It is a dire strait of affairs and at the moment, there does not seem a way out with satellite and digital markets crashing. On top of it, the films are generally not getting the desired box office results which is resulting in the production sector practically at a stand still. Only the box office can turnaround the satellite and digital markets on which the industry is so dependent. Even when a film does well, it does not help the scenario much as generally films are doing far below what is expected of them.
There were four films to get to the 200 crore nett mark but for the likes of SINGHAM AGAIN and FIGHTER, these are mediocre totals as these two were the biggest original Hindi films of the year. SINGHAM AGAIN got there mainly due to Diwali in Mumbai circuit and FIGHTER got some decent numbers in South but faced mass rejection in Hindi circuits. Today, 200 crore is just around 1.25 crore footfalls which is not much of an ask from the bigger films.
The stand outs were STREE 2 and MUNJYA with support from BHOOL BHULAIYAA 3, SHAITAAN and ARTICLE 370. Hence, there were just five HITS in the whole year from the Hindi film industry and this does not look like getting better anytime soon.
The top twenty five films of 2024 are as follows.
1. Stree 2 - 5,79,61,00,000
2. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 - 2,50,71,00,000
3. Singham Again - 2,38,46,00,000
4. Fighter - 2,00,01,00,000
5. Shaitaan - 1,48,54,00,000
6. Munjya - 1,00,07,50,000
7. Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya - 82,59,00,000
8. Crew - 81,57,00,000
9. Article 370 - 77,08,00,000
10. Bad Newz - 63,54,50,000
11. Chandu Champion - 60,78,00,000
12. Bade Miyan Chotte Miyan - 58,74,50,000
13. Maidaan - 51,16,00,000
14. Srikanth - 46,03,50,000
15. Khel Khel Mein - 40,80,00,000
16. Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video - 39,49,75,000
17. Madgaon Express - 35,72,50,000
18. Baby John - 34,86,50,000
19. Mr & Mrs Mahi - 34,52,00,000
20. Yodha - 32,20,00,000
21. The Sabarmati Report - 32,14,00,000
22. Jigra - 31,12,00,000
23. Swatantrya Veer Savarkar - 24,49,00,000
24. Kill - 23,68,50,000
25. Sarfira - 23,55,50,000
I will no longer make recreations-Tanishk Bagchi
8:37 AM
Tanishk Bagchi knows that his claim to fame may have been the work he has done in reviving old classics for this generation, but hopes his work as Sky Force’s composer will change his trajectory
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; January 13, 2025)
Often referred to as the king of recreations, Tanishk Bagchi is certain that the album of Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force will compel filmmakers to see him in a new light. While fans have celebrated his original hits, including Raataan Lambiyan and Bolna, the songs have often been dissociated with his name given the spate of rehashed numbers he has served music aficionados.
But Dinesh Vijan’s Sky Force, he says, is set to put his best work on display. “Imagine an album that has Raataan Lambiyan, Ve Mahi, Bolna, and Badri Ki Dulhania, all in one album,” he says of the film that has five songs crafted by him. In this interview, he reveals how he charted his career to facilitate this transition. Edited excerpts of the interview.
What was the discussion you had with the makers with regards to the music of this album?
I used to create a lot of songs for Dinesh sir, but it would be one song in the entire soundtrack. I’ve also done a lot of recreations. Dino [Vijan] had praised my skills as a composer. Nobody understood that I have the potential [to helm] a solo film. Dinesh sir told me about this film that he was working on, and told me to make the entire soundtrack. That is where we began. He spoke to me about the situations the songs were to be placed in, but left the work to me. He didn’t share any references and allowed me to decide the genres.
Because this is a patriotic film, we’ve tried to retain honesty in the emotions. I can’t take references from other tracks. I’m proud of this album because these are the songs that I’ve always wanted to make. I knew that if I ever got an entire film to work on, I could design the soundscape as I desired. When I’d see [composers like] Sachin-Jigar, Vishal Dadlani, or Pritam, I’d always wonder why I couldn’t get an entire soundtrack [like they do], and was only entrusted with promotional numbers. That was, in a sense, a struggle for me. So, this film marks a new journey. I have been known as the person who did recreations, so this breaks the barrier for me. All the songs are original, and have been composed by me. The credit goes to Dinesh sir.
Were there any active steps you took to make this transition?
It began with saying no to a lot of [offers]. I turned down offers to back recreations. The last remix I did was for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, and I did that only because I had worked on the second part as well. Even then, I tried to treat that number like an original song and added a new sound. I no longer wish to do any recreations. As much as I can, I will decline those offers. I’ve done what I had to do; I’ve established a trend. Now, I want to focus on my original music.
Is there a genre of music you’ve employed here that you feel you have dominance over?
When I compose, my music reflects a lot of the emotions that I encounter. Because I belong to Bengal, I’ve been inspired by folk melodies. I always wanted them to be reflected in my music. For Sky Force, I put all my skills to use, including using all the genres I know. Everything was scattered, but I created this package that brought it all together. This album includes one of the best tracks I believe I have ever composed. There’s another romantic song that, I am certain, will be liked by people. There’s also a number that adds emotional depth to the situation is was made for. Imagine having an album that has songs like Raataan Lambiyan, Ve Mahi, Bolna, and Badri Ki Dulhania and Aankh Marey, all in one album. I think, this is that.
Bollywood in 2024 saw a mix of scares, sequels and surprises
8:53 AM
Bollywood’s 2024 saw a mix of scares, sequels and surprises, with horror hits and small-budget triumphs outshining big-budget disappointments
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 31, 2024)
If 2023 marked Bollywood’s comeback year with a blockbuster revival, 2024 has been a “semi-hit” year, unanimously state trade experts. “The year started with a whimper,” rues trade analyst Taran Adarsh, adding, “Fighter (first release of this year starring Hritik Roshan-Deepika Padukone) didn’t meet expectations, especially with (filmmaker) Siddharth Anand riding high after Pathaan. It ended similarly with Baby John, which crashed on day two. Between these films, it’s been a case of kabhi kabhi khushi, kabhi bahut saara gham. Last year, we had four Rs. 500-crore grossers — Pathaan, Jawan, Gadar 2 and Animal. This year, big-budget films like Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Maidaan tanked, and even Singham Again fell short of expectations.”
‘SCARY’ NEW SUCCESS
Surprisingly, horror turned out to be Bollywood’s lucky charm this year. Films like Munjya, Shaitaan, Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 broke genre barriers. Trade expert Atul Mohan observes, “Horror has been a hit-or-miss genre for our industry. These films changed that narrative.”
RE-RELEASES RULE
Old films found new love in 2024. The Avinash Tiwary-Triptii Dimri-starrer Laila Majnu (2018) became a sensation during its re-release. Similarly, Rockstar (2011), starring Ranbir Kapoor, saw renewed love. Movies such as Rehnaa Hai Tere Dil Mein (2001) and Veer-Zaara (2004) also pulled crowds to theatres. This trend shows no signs of slowing, with Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) gearing up for a return.
SMALL TO MID-BUDGET FILMS
A major conversation this year revolved around escalating production costs and actor fees. Consequently, films made on controlled budgets stood out. Munjya, made on Rs. 30 crore, tripled its investment. Its director, Aditya Sarpotdar, says, “Even we didn’t anticipate these numbers, because it starred newcomers, was local in its flavour, had a CGI character.”
Yami Gautam’s Article 370 and Prasanth Varma’s HanuMan were other winners, with HanuMan delivering an impressive 241% ROI on a Rs. 25-crore budget.
Another triumph of controlled budgets was Laapataa Ladies. Sarpotdar credits its success to producer support: “Aamir Khan backing the movie further elevated its success. Even small profits matter when you consider the economics.”
FRANCHISE FACTOR
Franchise films continued to wield power this year, with Pushpa 2 – The Rule raking in massive numbers, especially from its Hindi-dubbed version. Other sequels like Stree 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (BB3) also performed exceptionally well.
Anees Bazmee, director of BB3, says, “Sequels enjoy goodwill, but you must deliver a good film. If one part fails, it’s not just the film that suffers; the entire franchise collapses.”
BIG HITS BUDGET BOX OFFICE
STREE 2
Budget: Rs. 60 crore
Box Office: Rs. 579 crore
PUSHPA 2 - THE RULE
Budget: Rs. 450 crore
Box Office: Rs. 700 crore
MUNJYA
Budget: Rs. 30 crore
Box Office: Rs. 107 crore
SHAITAAN
Budget: Rs. 60 crore
Box Office: Rs. 148 crore
BHOOL BHULAIYAA 3
Budget: Rs. 150 crore
Box Office: Rs. 245 crore
KALKI 2898AD
Budget: Rs. 600 crore
Box Office: Rs. 285 crore
ARTICLE 370
Budget: Rs. 20 crore
Rs. 77 crore
BIG MISSES
BADE MIYAN CHOTE MIYAN
Budget: Rs. 350 crore
Box Office: Rs. 59 crore
FIGHTER
Budget: Rs. 250 crore
Box Office: Rs. 200 crore
BABY JOHN
Budget: Rs. 160 crore
Box Office: Rs. 19 crore
MAIDAAN
Budget: Rs. 250 crore
Box Office: Rs. 51 crore
JIGRA
Budget: Rs. 80 crore
Box Office: Rs. 31 crore
I won’t get industry support despite the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3-Kartik Aaryan
9:57 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (December 12, 2024)
Even though actor Kartik Aaryan has spent over a decade in showbiz and has gained considerable success, he feels that he still won’t get support from fellow members of the film industry.
Aaryan, whose latest release, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, was a hit, recently told GQ, “I’m a lone warrior. This house that you see today — I bought it with my own money. I’ve fought like crazy to reach here. And it’s not done yet — I know for a fact that I won’t get any industry support for the road ahead.” He went on: “And I’ve come to terms with the fact that despite delivering a monster hit in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, nobody will rally behind me. I still have to hustle for my next film.”
When asked if he thinks there are people out there who want him to fail, he is quick to say, “Yes — and I feel everyone can sense that. There are some wonderful people I’ve met over my journey, but the main section — and it’s a large section — I will never win over. And I don’t have any desire to win them over.”
He concluded, “The only people I want to win over are my audience.” The actor will next be seen alongside actor Triptii Dimri in a musical helmed by director Anurag Basu.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 858
10:57 PM
WILL CINEMA LOVERS DAY BENEFIT MOANA 2, THE SABARMATI REPORT?
The dry period continues in Bollywood and to get some spike in footfalls, the theatres have decided to once again celebrate Cinema Lovers Day on Friday, November 29. This is the fourth edition of Cinema Lovers Day of 2024. Earlier this year, it was held on February 23, May 31 and August 9. A National Cinema Day, meanwhile, took place on September 20. Hence, on November 29, theatres will sell tickets for Rs. 99 for the fifth time this year.
Moana 2 will be released in cinemas this Friday and is expected to benefit big time. The first part was a decent success as it collected Rs. 9.50 crores. Over the years, it has been consumed widely and has a fan following. And with the Cinema Lovers Day offer, the collections are expected to be encouraging. This will be a good sign for the film as it has only six days before Pushpa 2 releases on December 5 and takes away most of the screens.
The other major beneficiary of Cinema Lovers Day's offer will be The Sabarmati Report. It has held very well and will fall around Rs. 60 lakhs on Thursday. If it can jump to Rs. 1 crore on November 29, it’ll be a good sign.
Kal Ho Naa Ho, meanwhile, is having a rocking re-release run. Its tickets are priced at just Rs. 150. But the Rs. 99 offer can prove tempting and result in house-full shows. All We Imagine As Light is also doing well in select theatres and will continue to get audiences on Friday. Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 will also have some benefit.
I Want To Talk sadly has failed to get any audience due to niche genre and title. Its collections fell to just Rs. 8 lakhs on Monday and it remains to be seen if the Cinema Lovers Day offer helps this film in any way.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 856
5:04 PM
DRY WEEK FOR HINDI FILMS; GLADIATOR II MIGHT SURPRISE
The Diwali release – Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 – have done maximum business and now all eyes are on the mid-sized releases this month. The biggest release of the week is Kanguva, which is released today, Thursday, November 14. It is a Tamil film which has been widely released in its dubbed Hindi version. It stars Suriya, Bobby Deol and Disha Patani and looks like a grand flick.
However, Kanguva’s excitement is limited. The film is expected to open at around Rs. 2.25-3 crores in Hindi. The word of mouth seems mixed and hence, it’s difficult to say if it’ll have a long run at the box office. The first-day collections in the original Tamil language are decent.
The other Hindi release is The Sabarmati Report. It stars Vikrant Massey, Ridhi Dogra and Raashii Khanna and is based on the 2002 Godhra riots. The film went on floors in January 2024 and the initial plan was to release on May 3. The plan failed to materialize and also the Central Board of Film Certification had some objections. Later, the film was reshot and the original director Ranjan Chandel left the project.
The awareness is there for The Sabarmati Report but the excitement is limited. Vikrant’s recent controversial interviews have grabbed eyeballs but it remains to be seen if it translates into healthy ticket sales.
Lastly, Gladiator II will see an early release tomorrow in India, a week before the release in North America. It is the sequel to the 2000 classic movie which has a strong recall value even today. The early reviews are positive and even in India, the advance booking has been better than expected. Hence, it’s a film that can surprise this weekend.
The Diwali release – Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 – have done maximum business and now all eyes are on the mid-sized releases this month. The biggest release of the week is Kanguva, which is released today, Thursday, November 14. It is a Tamil film which has been widely released in its dubbed Hindi version. It stars Suriya, Bobby Deol and Disha Patani and looks like a grand flick.
However, Kanguva’s excitement is limited. The film is expected to open at around Rs. 2.25-3 crores in Hindi. The word of mouth seems mixed and hence, it’s difficult to say if it’ll have a long run at the box office. The first-day collections in the original Tamil language are decent.
The other Hindi release is The Sabarmati Report. It stars Vikrant Massey, Ridhi Dogra and Raashii Khanna and is based on the 2002 Godhra riots. The film went on floors in January 2024 and the initial plan was to release on May 3. The plan failed to materialize and also the Central Board of Film Certification had some objections. Later, the film was reshot and the original director Ranjan Chandel left the project.
The awareness is there for The Sabarmati Report but the excitement is limited. Vikrant’s recent controversial interviews have grabbed eyeballs but it remains to be seen if it translates into healthy ticket sales.
Lastly, Gladiator II will see an early release tomorrow in India, a week before the release in North America. It is the sequel to the 2000 classic movie which has a strong recall value even today. The early reviews are positive and even in India, the advance booking has been better than expected. Hence, it’s a film that can surprise this weekend.
After fireworks, big budget movies fizzle at the box office on unfavourable reviews
6:51 PM
Rajesh Naidu (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; November 8, 2024)
Mumbai: The trade circuit lowered its combined box-office expectations from Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 to Rs. 500-600 crore from Rs. 1,000-1,100 crore, following unfavourable word-of-mouth publicity over the past four days and a dip in collections.
Film distributor and trade analyst Shaaminder Malik said that while successful big-budget films usually see a 15-20% drop on Monday before regaining momentum, both films have seen a steady decline in collections since Sunday.
"Expectations for these two films are limited now," he said. According to early reports from Sacnilk, the Diwali releases Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 have seen a steady decline in box-office collections over the past six days. Both films opened strongly, earning about Rs. 43.5 crore and Rs. 35.5 crore, respectively on Friday. However, by Sunday, collections had dipped to about Rs. 35.75 crore and Rs. 33.5 crore. The downward trend continued, with the films' earnings dropping to about Rs. 10.25 crore and Rs. 10.5 crore by Wednesday.
"Generally speaking, if word-of-mouth recommendations of big films are positive, then their collections progressively improve during a week. Since the word-of-mouth recommendations of both these are a mixed bag, their collections began to decline from Sunday itself," said Girish Wankhede, a film trade analyst.
He added, "Ultimately, it boils down to content. The content of both films is not appreciated well. There is no repeat value in these films. Even the music in both films lacks depth. Neither of the two films has found takers among audiences, which is reflected in their falling collections."
A section of exhibitors is of the view that the collections at the end of the second week of the release of these two films will be crucial in gauging how they will perform in the coming weeks.
Devang Sampat, managing director at Cinepolis India, said, "I believe the true test of these films will be the second week. Both films are working well right now. I believe that both films have surpassed the box office numbers of their previous franchise films."
According to Sacnilk, Singham Again collected Rs. 164.2 crore in the first six days of its release, while Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 collected Rs. 148.7 crore.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 855
10:18 PM
SINGHAM AGAIN, BHOOL BHULAIYAA 3 SCORE WELL; ALL EYES ON THE WEEKDAYS
The big Diwali releases – Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 – have managed to bring cheer in the film industry and the exhibition sector. The Diwali puja was held a day before their release, on Thursday, October 31. That’s a day when the public stays away from cinemas. This saved both films.
Singham Again opened with a bang at Rs. 40 crores. After such a big opening, the film dropped to Rs. 38.25 crores on Saturday and Rs. 33 crores on Sunday. Hence, it had a weekend of Rs. 111.25 crores. On Monday, the collections were Rs. 17.50 crores. The four-day earnings are Rs. 128.75 crores and the first week will close at around Rs. 175 crores.
At this rate, Singham Again should target a lifetime of around Rs. 250 crores. The clash has affected the film and if it had been released two weeks later without competition, it could have had a record opening and probably may have crossed the Rs. 300 crores mark.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, meanwhile, benefitted big time. It opened beyond expectations at Rs. 33.25 crores. It had a slight jump on Saturday when it collected Rs. 34.75 crores. It earned Rs. 32 crores on Sunday and just like Singham Again, it also collected Rs. 17.50 crores on Monday. Its four-day collections stand at Rs. 117.50 crores and its first week will be around Rs. 147 crores. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 will cross the Rs. 200 crores mark and it remains to be seen what its lifetime would be.
The Diwali effect extended in the weekdays as well but by Wednesday, it’ll be over. This is when both films will see a major drop. Hence, the hold on the second Friday and second Monday will be crucial to understanding where the films are heading.
The big Diwali releases – Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 – have managed to bring cheer in the film industry and the exhibition sector. The Diwali puja was held a day before their release, on Thursday, October 31. That’s a day when the public stays away from cinemas. This saved both films.
Singham Again opened with a bang at Rs. 40 crores. After such a big opening, the film dropped to Rs. 38.25 crores on Saturday and Rs. 33 crores on Sunday. Hence, it had a weekend of Rs. 111.25 crores. On Monday, the collections were Rs. 17.50 crores. The four-day earnings are Rs. 128.75 crores and the first week will close at around Rs. 175 crores.
At this rate, Singham Again should target a lifetime of around Rs. 250 crores. The clash has affected the film and if it had been released two weeks later without competition, it could have had a record opening and probably may have crossed the Rs. 300 crores mark.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, meanwhile, benefitted big time. It opened beyond expectations at Rs. 33.25 crores. It had a slight jump on Saturday when it collected Rs. 34.75 crores. It earned Rs. 32 crores on Sunday and just like Singham Again, it also collected Rs. 17.50 crores on Monday. Its four-day collections stand at Rs. 117.50 crores and its first week will be around Rs. 147 crores. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 will cross the Rs. 200 crores mark and it remains to be seen what its lifetime would be.
The Diwali effect extended in the weekdays as well but by Wednesday, it’ll be over. This is when both films will see a major drop. Hence, the hold on the second Friday and second Monday will be crucial to understanding where the films are heading.
Weekend dhamaka at Box Office: Collections from Singham Again, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 top Rs 230 cr, lift exhibitors’ hopes
8:09 AM
Rajesh N Naidu (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; November 5, 2024)
Mumbai: Encouraging response to the much-awaited big-budget releases-Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 on the Diwali weekend has provided some respite to exhibitors who were struggling with a dry spell of no fresh release for a few weeks.
According to early reports from the trade circuit, the combined collection of these two releases for the last weekend (Friday to Sunday) was Rs. 231.4 crore. While Singham Again made box-office collections of Rs. 121.2 crore, Bhool Bhulaiyaa collected Rs. 110.2 crore, they said.
"After a long period, two big films released in theatres on the same day. The festival period provided the much-needed boost required at the box office in terms of strong collections," said Girish Wankhade, a movie trade analyst.
These films, however, are not competing at the box office, he said. "Screens were not proportionately shared between these two films. The ratio of screen count between the two films is 60:40 with Singham Again receiving 60% of the total screens..."
Singham Again is distributed by PVR Inox Pictures, the distribution arm of multiplex giant PVR Inox, which runs 1,747 screens. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is distributed by AA Films, which is owned by Anil Thadani, a pan-India distributor. Besides higher share of screens and huge star cast, the scale and production quality of the Singham cop universe or franchise have worked in its favour and resulted in higher collections. Due to this, according to trade analysts, the budget of Singham Again is estimated to be in the range of Rs. 300-Rs. 350 crore, while Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is made at a cost of Rs. 150 crore.
Film distributor and trade analyst Shaaminder Malik said: "Though the opening weekend of both these big-budget films have generated good collections, one must also bear in mind that collections of both these films on Monday and Tuesday will be the litmus test."
Collections had dropped for both on Sunday after they secured high interest from audiences for the first two days, he said.
Exhibitors will decide on increasing or decreasing shows of these films based on how they fare on Monday and Tuesday, analysts said. A trade analyst who wished to be unnamed said: "At present, there is a drop in collections of both films on Sunday. So, exhibitors will not favour any one of these two films immediately." He added that through word-of-mouth publicity it will be clear only by either Tuesday or Wednesday as to which film will get more shows in the coming weeks.
Interestingly, amid their release, these two films have successfully sold their streaming or digital rights.
Diwali brings cheer to the industry as Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 set cash registers ringing
9:19 AM
Diwali brings cheer to the industry as Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 set cash registers ringing; analysts say Bollywood may see a “strong box-office finish” to 2024
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 4, 2024)
After a seemingly uneventful 2024, fan-favourite franchises Singham and Bhool Bhulaiyaa have brought relief to the box-office, with the third edition of both films setting cash registers ringing on Diwali. Rohit Shetty’s cop comedy Singham Again achieved a significant head-start, earning Rs 43 crore on its opening day, and continued its successful run on day two, collecting Rs 41.50 crore.
While the actioner found favour among fans of the franchise’s outlandish stunts, Kartik Aaryan’s horror comedy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, also drew a different set of viewers. The Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit-starrer earned Rs. 35 crore on day one, with its collections seeing a marginal jump to Rs. 36.50 crore on the second day.
While filmmakers go to great lengths to avoid locking horns with one another on the annual film calendar, this clash, trade experts agree, served well for both parties.
“Singham Again appeals largely to an action-loving audience, while Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 offers a blend of comedy and supernatural elements. The diverse genres have allowed the films to cater to distinct [audiences] even though the demographics overlap,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh, adding that the movies are tapping into the holiday crowd and benefiting from positive word-of-mouth.
“Both films are designed for the masses, and the clash is drawing crowds back to theatres; it’s encouraging for Bollywood. Distributors can finally heave a sigh of relief as the numbers have brought cheer. The momentum must continue. One expects that each film will earn a lifetime revenue of Rs. 200 crore. The makers of Singham Again would feel the pressure to earn more than that.”
As per early projections, Singham Again is expected to cross the Rs. 100 crore mark by today, while Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 may breach Rs 90 crore. Trade expert Girish Wankhede agrees that the films are “not competing but complementing each other”.
“Contrasting genres that are simultaneously released often mutually benefit each other,” he says, adding that the collections are likely to see an up-tick in the following week as well.
(Crisp) Movie Review: BHOOL BHULAIYAA 3 by FENIL SETA
8:19 AM
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 begins on a solid note and the horror and comedy elements keep the interest going. The script is superb and so is Anees Bazmee's direction. He doesn't lay out all his cards at once and keeps unravelling the mystery slowly. Hence, viewers will be thoroughly invested and even curious about the goings-on. Sadly, the humour quotient is less this time, compared to part 2. There are too many songs and the interest level dips in the middle of the second half. Thankfully, the climax takes the film to another level. The suspense will SHOCK you. Kartik Aaryan is in great form. He is a pro in comedy scenes but watch out for him in the dramatic sequences. His dance moves are also praiseworthy. Vidya Balan, as expected, rocks the show. Madhuri Dixit has less screen time but makes up for it with her performance and gracious screen presence. Triptii Dimri gets a bit overshadowed but manages to stand out in some key scenes. Rajpal Yadav, Sanjay Mishra and Ashwini Kalsekar raise laughs although in some of their scenes, the writing could have been better. Manish Wadhwa (Rajpurohit) suits the part to the T. Rajesh Sharma, Vijay Raaz, Arun Kushwah (Tillu), Shataf Figar (Vicky Khanna), Kanchan Mullick (Faulad Singh) and Denzil Smith (Maharaj in 1824) are decent. All in all, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is worth watching for the writing, direction, performances and climax. P.S.: 1. Don't miss the beginning and the scene immediately after intermission; 2. Please be a RESPONSIBLE and SENSIBLE moviegoer and do not put out the suspense anywhere. Let people get astonished in cinemas.
My rating - *** ½ out of 5!
My rating - *** ½ out of 5!
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is a new kind of horror. It surprises you at so many places-Anees Bazmee
6:52 AM
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 1, 2024)
Filmmaker Anees Bazmee’s directorial Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is in theatres now. Starring Kartik Aaryan, Triptii Dimri, Madhuri Dixit and Vidya Balan, the horror comedy, initiated by Bhushan Kumar, brings back the tale of Manjulika. While the star-studded cast adds to the maker’s confidence, Bazmee says that right from the film’s scripting stage, he had great hopes.
“This star cast is such that you feel confident by signing them on. But even before that, we had the confidence that we were working on something beautiful and special, and all the people joined us because they loved the story that we narrated to them. They loved their characters, too,” says Bazmee.
The first Bhool Bhulaiyaa released in 2007, while the second one, led by Kartik Aaryan, released in 2022 and was a blockbuster. Now, bringing the third instalment of the franchise does make the filmmaker want to give an even better version.
Speaking about the USP of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Bazmee says, “I think it’s tough to mention one USP. Ek toh the talented cast — Kartik, Vidya, Madhuri ji and pandits ka trio (actors Sanjay Mishra, Ashwini Kalsekar and Rajpal Yadav). Then, bahut khoobsurat kahaani hai, it’s a new kind of horror. It surprises you at so many places. And above all, Madhuri and Vidya ji ke saath khoobsurat gaana hai, Ami Je Tomar 3.0. There are a lot of USPs.”
Bazmee recalls how the movie evoked a positive feeling since day one. “When we shot the first scene and edited it, we got a good feeling. We felt it was looking good and everyone was in their character. The first two-three days of shoot were crucial, because everyone was coming together for the film after playing different characters [in different films]. For instance, Kartik did Chandu Champion. Vidya was in her character since day one. When we took the first shot of Madhuri, everyone on the set clapped for her,” he says.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 854
2:55 PM
THEATRES AND FANS GEAR UP FOR BHOOL BHULAIYAA VS SINGHAM AGAIN
The epic Diwali clash will take place tomorrow at the box office and the excitement is tremendous.
The biggest film of the week is Singham Again. Directed by Rohit Shetty, it is the fifth film in the Rohit Shetty cop universe. This time Ajay Devgn is joined by Ranveer Singh aka Simmba, Akshay Kumar aka Sooryavanshi and also Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Tiger Shroff. Arjun Kapoor and Tiger Shroff are the villains. It is the biggest multi-starrer in a long time and moreover, the franchise is very popular. Hence, the film will have the upper hand. It is all set to open around Rs. 40 crores and might even go higher. If it was a solo release, it would have opened at 50 crores plus or even Rs. 60 crores plus.
The other release of the week is Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. It brings back Kartik Aaryan and marks the return of Vidya Balan after her excellent portrayal in the first part. They are also joined by Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri. This is also a popular franchise and moreover, it is a horror comedy, which is working big time right now. It is expected to open at around Rs. 25-30 crores and thus, emerge as the biggest opener for Kartik by miles.
Both films, however, face challenges. The trailers of both films have been liked but not loved. With Singham Again, people have apprehensions that too much has been shown in the 5-minute trailer. Also, Arjun Kapoor is the villain and it looks unconvincing, at least from the promo, that so many heroes had to come together to defeat him. Hence, it is crucial that Arjun is shown as a very deadly villain which will make the coming together of the cops believable.
As for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, there’s a fear that people might get bored of the overdose of horror comedy. The fight for screens also got ugly but thankfully, it was resolved by Tuesday. Many begged the makers of these two films to not clash as there’s no other major release in November. One of these two films could have come on November 15 and got almost all screens without a problem. But the plea fell on deaf ears.
However, all will be well if the content clicks. If that happens, both films can have a total lifetime collection of more than Rs. 600 or even Rs. 700 crores, which will spread cheer everywhere.
The epic Diwali clash will take place tomorrow at the box office and the excitement is tremendous.
The biggest film of the week is Singham Again. Directed by Rohit Shetty, it is the fifth film in the Rohit Shetty cop universe. This time Ajay Devgn is joined by Ranveer Singh aka Simmba, Akshay Kumar aka Sooryavanshi and also Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Tiger Shroff. Arjun Kapoor and Tiger Shroff are the villains. It is the biggest multi-starrer in a long time and moreover, the franchise is very popular. Hence, the film will have the upper hand. It is all set to open around Rs. 40 crores and might even go higher. If it was a solo release, it would have opened at 50 crores plus or even Rs. 60 crores plus.
The other release of the week is Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. It brings back Kartik Aaryan and marks the return of Vidya Balan after her excellent portrayal in the first part. They are also joined by Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri. This is also a popular franchise and moreover, it is a horror comedy, which is working big time right now. It is expected to open at around Rs. 25-30 crores and thus, emerge as the biggest opener for Kartik by miles.
Both films, however, face challenges. The trailers of both films have been liked but not loved. With Singham Again, people have apprehensions that too much has been shown in the 5-minute trailer. Also, Arjun Kapoor is the villain and it looks unconvincing, at least from the promo, that so many heroes had to come together to defeat him. Hence, it is crucial that Arjun is shown as a very deadly villain which will make the coming together of the cops believable.
As for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, there’s a fear that people might get bored of the overdose of horror comedy. The fight for screens also got ugly but thankfully, it was resolved by Tuesday. Many begged the makers of these two films to not clash as there’s no other major release in November. One of these two films could have come on November 15 and got almost all screens without a problem. But the plea fell on deaf ears.
However, all will be well if the content clicks. If that happens, both films can have a total lifetime collection of more than Rs. 600 or even Rs. 700 crores, which will spread cheer everywhere.
Singham Again's title track faces legal hurdle from T-Series; Rohit Shetty reworks number
9:55 AM
Box-office clash heats up after T-Series, which has produced Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, issues copyright strike on Singham Again’s title track; Rohit Shetty’s team uploads reworked number
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 31, 2024)
The war between the two Diwali releases, Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, had been heating up over the past few weeks. It took a bitter turn on Saturday when the makers of Ajay Devgn’s cop actioner released the title track on YouTube and other social media platforms. Soon, T-Series, which has produced Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, issued a copyright strike as the song infused some elements from the original Singham (2011) theme, the rights of which rest with the music label.
As a result, director Rohit Shetty and his team had to pull down the title track from all platforms, rework the composition and have it uploaded again on Tuesday afternoon.
A source reveals, “The song included a 10-second element from the theme of the original Singham. As is customary, T-Series flagged off the content because using anything above three seconds [without owning the copyright] is non-permissible. Bhushan Kumar’s company issued a copyright claim, and the song had to be pulled down. A simpler way to do this would have been to reach out to Singham Again’s team and sort out the matter. Saregama, which is the cop fare’s music partner, uploaded the track on Tuesday after composer Ravi Basrur removed the contentious bits and stitched it together.”
This dispute is being viewed as a “clash effect” by the internet. Fans and industry observers feel that T-Series’ decision to enforce its copyright claim could be strategically influenced by the upcoming clash between Kartik Aaryan’s horror comedy and the Devgn-starrer.
Another source notes, “Since the Singham Again team had to upload the track again, it lost all the original viewership and likes on YouTube.”
Singham Again predicted to open at Rs. 40 crores
8:49 AM
With Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 starting advance booking in select theatres, Ajay-starrer projected to have upper hand at Rs. 40 crore opening; trade says dynamics could change depending on films’ quality
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 30, 2024)
There have been enough fireworks even before the two Diwali releases have hit the theatres, with the makers of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 filing a complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI), alleging that Singham Again’s makers are employing unfair practices in screen allocation. Even as the fight for screens is ongoing, the advance booking for the two movies finally opened, albeit in select theatres. So, who is emerging as the winner in this box-office clash between Ajay Devgn’s super cop and Kartik Aaryan’s ghostbuster?
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, which began ticket sales on Monday, had garnered about Rs 12.83 lakh in advance collections by Tuesday afternoon. With Singham Again’s advance booking starting only on Tuesday morning, it had earned Rs 11.72 lakh by afternoon. Director Rohit Shetty’s cop actioner—with an all-star cast of Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor and Tiger Shroff—however, has a slight edge over the horror comedy as it is poised to capture a larger screen share.
Trade analyst Girish Wankhede says that PVR-Inox being the distributor of Singham Again has given it a strong start. “PVR-Inox wants to allocate around 60 per cent of screen time to Singham Again. That means if a screen has five shows, three would go to Singham Again and two to Bhool Bhulaiyaa. This tussle delayed advance bookings, and in such cases, audiences tend to gravitate towards the bigger release. Anil Thadani, who is distributing Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, is insisting that the screen sharing be made equal. It is currently divided at a 55-45 ratio. Still, both films should do well, as Diwali’s holiday spirit boosts spending power. We are expecting a Rs. 40-crore opening for Singham Again, and Rs 25-30 crore for the horror comedy. But if the latter is a better film, the dynamics could change.”
Manoj Desai, executive director, Gaiety-Galaxy, says the clash has harmed exhibitors as they have been barred from opening advance bookings until the screen allocation is finalized. At present, Singham Again’s bookings have been opened at only a few PVR properties, and Bhool Bhulaiyaa’s at certain single-screens.
“This is Diwali time, and we aren’t allowed to start advance bookings because they can’t sort out their differences. This is damaging to us,” rues Desai.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh backs Desai, noting that the films are only two days away from release. “Pune exhibitors are telling me that the advance bookings haven’t started for their city. The lion’s share of theatres remain undecided on which film they are screening or which film gets more screens. Diwali is a lucrative time for the industry. These movies have to work, but both parties are prioritizing personal egos. Eating each other’s business will only damage the industry.”
I have made some of my best films with Akshay Kumar-Anees Bazmee
8:14 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; October 28, 2024)
Back in 2022, when Anees Bazmee helmed the horror comedy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, little did he know that he would be taking the franchise ahead instantly after its release. The film’s success led to Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, which releases this Friday. The filmmaker says that the movie is packed with an exciting storyline, Kartik Aaryan’s exuberant performance and ghostly acts by two Manjulikas, played by Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit.
‘For me, that one-line story is very important’
Talking about the film, Anees tells us, “Bhushan Kumar (producer) was very confident even before part 2 was released and he told me that we should begin working on part 3. Kartik Aaryan, too, was looking forward to the sequel. I was excited with the idea, but I wanted to crack the perfect plot for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. I am not the kind who simply jumps onto the bandwagon…ek film achchi bani toh chalo dusri banate hai to capitalize on the film’s title. I am a writer first and then a director, so that one line story is very important for me. In the final story, I could see scope for a lot of drama, emotions and comedy and I could visualize shooting it on a larger-than-life scale.”
‘After the first day on set, I forget about the pressure’
Ask Anees if he feels the pressure of taking a successful franchise ahead and he says, “When I made Welcome, I had that pressure because I had a successful film like No Entry behind me. Then when I made Singh Is Kinng, I had the pressure of Welcome behind me. Toh yeh silsila toh chalte rehta hai because people expect something from you. Forget people, even I have expectations from myself. Mujhe ek darr rehta hai ke maine itni saari achchi filmein banayi hai, kya yeh film bhi achchi bana paunga? However, once the film rolls and after the first day on set, I forget about the pressure."
‘I don’t believe in following a pattern’
Anees, who has been working in this industry for four decades, doesn’t believe in resting on his past laurels. He explains, “I have always believed that there’s no shortcut to anything. I have always believed in learning new things. In showbiz, I have worked in all kinds of departments, be it camera, sound, editing or the art department, yet, I feel like a newcomer, and feel the need to grasp more. New entrants in the industry get inspired by me and I get inspired by them. Maine hameesha mere tareeke ko ahmiyat di hai. If you feel ki iss tareeke se I can convey my message in a film better, then I stick to that. Every filmmaker has their own style. I don’t believe in following a pattern, I believe in working in that moment.”
‘I am waiting for a larger-than-life idea for the OTT space’
Talking about staying relevant, the director says that he would like to direct a web show at some point. “Not because it’s a trend now, but because I want to explore this new format of storytelling. I am waiting for an idea jo main larger-than-life style mein shoot kar saku. If OTT hadn’t been there I couldn’t have sailed through the pandemic. Watching movies is my hobby. I want to experiment with everything related to filmmaking. So, my web show will be my kind of cinema. There will be grandeur, entertainment, and it will be packed with stars.”
‘I have made some of my best films with Akshay Kumar’
With Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Anees is getting the original Manjulika, Vidya Balan, back into the franchise. Any plans to get Akshay Kumar back to it too? “Maybe in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4 (laughs).”
Talking about his urge to work with Akshay, Anees adds, “He is my friend. Maine mere zindagi ki sabse behtareen filmein Akshay ke saath banayi hai (Welcome, Singh Is Kinng). We have a great tuning. Meri icchaa hai ki main unke saath phir se kaam karu, and I think the feeling is mutual.”
‘Agar dono films chali toh Diwali mein double maza aayega’
Addressing the box office clash with another successful franchise, Singham, Anees says, “I am sure both the production houses might have tried their best to avert the clash. But then, due to circumstances, I believe that it wasn’t possible. Agar dono films chali toh Diwali mein double maza aayega.”
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