Showing posts with label Fighter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fighter. Show all posts
Akshay Oberoi sees silver lining in Donald Trump’s film tariff: "Maybe now we’ll return to entertaining the common man"
9:23 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 14, 2025)
In September, US President Donald Trump reiterated his plan to impose a 100 per cent tariff on all films made outside the US. Even as details about when the tariff will come into effect and how it will impact other film industries remain unclear, Akshay Oberoi — who grew up in the US before moving to India in 2008 to pursue acting — believes there may be a silver lining to it. “It will definitely take a toll, but it may also make us focus on satisfying our own audience instead of chasing global validation,” he says.
The actor, recently seen in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, has two projects lined up in Yash’s Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-ups and Shah Rukh Khan’s King.
Point out that the tariffs may affect the global audience for such big films, and Oberoi analyses, “In Hindi cinema, I think we started losing our core audience. Hindi films were trying too hard to be Hollywood. Characters started feeling like they’d landed from New York instead of being desi. Maybe now we’ll return to entertaining the common man. Trump’s policies are unpredictable, but I’m trying to find a silver lining. Maybe this will push us to create stronger films for our audience.”
Oberoi will soon resume shooting for King. The actor says that director Siddharth Anand was his primary reason to say yes to the action thriller.
“Sid and his team have my loyalty. I didn’t ask any questions, I just showed up. They’ve not only helped my career with Fighter [2024], but are the nicest people in the business.”
I was typecast after Fighter-Rishabh Sawhney
9:54 AM
Rohit Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 6, 2025)
Actor Rishabh Sawhney recently returned to the country after his film, Echoes Of Valour, was showcased at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. This second outing is a stark contrast to his role as the main antagonist in Hrithik Roshan-starrer Fighter (2024).
“After Fighter, I was being typecast and was only offered macho villainous roles which weren’t intriguing enough to pursue,” the 30-year-old tells us, adding, “As much as I love commercial films, I was looking for a festival film to explore this side of storytelling. It wasn’t a difficult transition, but a conscious choice.”
Having worked with filmmaker Sidharth Anand made the shift easier. He shares, “Both directors have very different sensibilities when it comes to filmmaking. But I definitely felt more confident on the sets of the festival film, having already worked on a mega-budget project.”
While some believe that a film or actor doing the rounds at global platforms has automatically made it big, Rishabh begs to differ. “I don’t think that I have arrived yet. But my experience working on the film was very emotional and I am glad it received a great response,” he signs off.
Akshay Oberoi on Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari: "First time I’ll be seen grooving to 4 songs in a single film"
8:44 AM
Akshay Oberoi on stepping up his game to groove with Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’s cast as they shot four songs back-to-back
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 28, 2025)
Four weeks of dancing may sound like fun to some. But for others, it spells hard work. Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf and Akshay Oberoi are in the midst of shooting four songs back-to-back in the last schedule of Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari. With two dance numbers already shot at a set in Madh Island, Oberoi admits that matching steps with seasoned dancers like Dhawan, Kapoor and Malhotra has been challenging.
Actor Akshay Oberoi, who plays a pivotal role in the film, shared exclusive details about the intense shoot and his own challenges while matching steps with seasoned dancers like Varun, Janhvi, and Sanya.
"It’s been an incredible learning experience. I had to really step up my game because these three are natural dancers, and their energy is infectious. I went through rigorous dance training before the shoot to make sure I could keep up," he says.
The songs, choreographed by some of the best names in the industry including Ganesh Acharya, are all different high-energy dance numbers, including an elaborate wedding dance party. The shoot has been an exhilarating ride for the team, with each day bringing in a new set of challenges—from intricate footwork to maintaining stamina for long rehearsals and back-to-back takes. Two of the songs have already been shot at a set in Madh and the team is shooting for two more tracks over the next two weeks.
While Varun is known for his effortless moves and Janhvi has showcased her flair for dance in multiple projects, Sanya, too, brings her flair as a gracious dancer to the table. Akshay adds, "I’ve always enjoyed dancing, but this is the first time I’ll be seen grooving to 4 songs in a single film. Dancing with Hrithik Roshan in Sher Khul Gaye was an incredible experience, but that was just one song. We have Varun, Sanya and Janhvi. They all are great dancers and with Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, I get to truly explore this side of me, and it’s such an exhilarating feeling. The script demanded that there be that many peppy numbers. I have never had this opportunity to be part of a role that demanded to display so much dancing on the big screen. Until now. So excited to see how this shapes out. I for one have had a blast shooting for these numbers”.
Both Fighter and Sky Force are on the Air Force, so comparisons are inevitable-Akshay Oberoi
10:35 AM
Akshay Oberoi comments on the number game in Bollywood and why he isn’t affected by the comparison between Sky Force and Fighter
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 10, 2025)
Akshay Oberoi, who starred in the Hrithik Roshan-led Fighter says he has no qualms about people drawing similarities between his film and Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force. The two films released on Republic Day weekend — Sky Force premiered this year, while Fighter hit the big screen in 2024 — and both are based on the Indian Air Force.
Ask the actor about the comparisons, and he tells us, “Both the films are on the Air Force, so comparisons are inevitable. But it doesn’t bother me at all. There are only about six or seven stories you can tell in this space, so it’s about how you tell it. I’m sure the screenplays are very different.”
However, its not just the narratives — many have also drawn parallels between the two films’ box-office performances. Reacting to it, Akshay replies, “The problem is, we’ve created a society in which the profit and bottom line are the most important things. You could be the worst actor on the planet, but if your films make a ton of money, you will get cast by the biggest directors.”
The 40-year-old adds, “That’s just the way it’s been. We live in a capitalistic world jahan paison ko pooja jaata hai, more than talent. So, in a place like this, how can you expect it to not happen?”
He elaborates: “You would see one actor putting out things about another actor, like they made more money than the other in the last few years. [But] we created the rule that money is number one, so people do whatever it takes to make money.”
“So, if that is at the cost of pulling someone down to pull yourself up, you’ll do it, and it will keep happening. In an ideal world, it should not happen, but there’s no point in crying over such things. This is the game, and this is how you play it,” he signs off.
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
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
Fighter director Siddharth Anand says his remark on ‘90% Indians not having flown in planes’ taken out of context
8:23 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (October 18, 2024)
Siddharth Anand’s aerial action entertainer Fighter didn’t dominate the box office as the filmmaker expected it to. But months after attributing the reason to the lack of relatability with flying in planes among the most prominent factor, Anand has now clarified his past remark in an interview.
“Obviously, I didn’t mean that. But a lot of free minds had a lot of time to make memes. It was taken completely out of context. This was a very true (realistic) film and you probably may not get the exhilaration that you are supposed to feel in an action film. You are stuck between, ‘Is this an action film or a drama?’ I think that translation got lost. I didn’t mean to talk about the statistics,” Anand shared, responding to the criticism around his remark in an interview with with Bollywood Hungama.
Anand had earlier said in an interview with Galatta Plus: “It (the film) has no reference point for the audience. They are like, ‘What are these planes doing?’ There is a huge percentage of our country, I would say, 90%, who have not flown in planes, who have not been to an airport, so how would they know what’s happening in the movie?”
Akshay Oberoi returns to MMA training: "I would be a fool to think I'm on Tiger Shroff's level"
8:00 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; October 5, 2024)
Akshay Oberoi has always been passionate about mixed martial arts (MMA), but due to his work schedule, he has had to put it on the back burner. However, the actor is once again training hard for an upcoming project. Akshay packed a punch for an exclusive shoot with Bombay Times and spoke to us about getting back into the groove.
Happy to reconnect with his earlier fitness regime, Akshay shares, “I got interested in MMA at the age of 11; It was on and off in New Jersey. I wanted to be an actor. When I moved to Mumbai and started working, I was never cast in an action film until recently, as action films are expensive. So I stopped and then I trained again. Later, I got busy with my acting assignments and couldn’t make the time for it. But when this film came my way, I was delighted as it gave me an opportunity to get back to my passion. It took me a while, as I lost touch with it. When you're out of practice, you're rusty, even acting when you're out of practice, you're rusty. That is why it's part of my daily routine now. I keep basic touch with it and my body used to kicking and stretching at that level, it's easier to not lose touch. I hope to continue training even in the future.”
Talking about his acting journey, he shares, "When I started out, the movies I was doing did not have any scope for martial arts. It’s only recently that I started doing some action films. Action also requires bigger budgets. So, finally, I’m in that space. Yes, I have a lot more desire to explore, but I'm so grateful for this period because I'm finally getting to do bigger films like with Toxic and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari and such mainstream Hindi cinema, which is something that Fighter gave me access to. These are the same filmmakers who probably knew me before Fighter but wouldn't give me these opportunities, but that's how the business works. That is particularly why I am grateful for this phase."
In Hindi movies, actor Tiger Shroff is primarily known for doing MMA. However, Akshay is in no mood to compare himself with the Bade Miyan Chote Miyan actor.
"For me, my core business is acting – doing different and versatile roles. His core business is action. These are just bonuses that I have in my toolkit. I would be a fool to think I'm on Tiger’s level. That's not even my dhandha, ye unka dhandha hai. They need to sell that. There are some actors known as action stars and some chocolate heroes, but I want to be known as an actor. I enjoy action, but I don’t want anything to take the focus away from my performances. I need to keep experimenting with movies. Sometimes a performance will go wrong and sometimes it will go right. But that's my journey. This is just a small part that I can bring to the table. It's not my main focus," he concludes.
Janhvi Kapoor is wonderful. Varun Dhawan never brings his stardom to set-Akshay Oberoi
9:16 AM
Akshay, who stars in Sunny Sanskari, says director Shashank understands actors’ needs and extracts the best from them
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 1, 2024)
What does a big film on your résumé do? Gets you a bigger movie. Fighter did just that for Akshay Oberoi. Soon after he featured in director Siddharth Anand’s aerial action thriller, the actor bagged Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, which is led by Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor.
“Working on Fighter has been a transformative experience for me. Its success has landed me a substantial role in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, directed by Shashank Khaitan. Additionally, the recognition from Fighter has [opened me up to] the southern film industry, and I will be part of a yet-unannounced south project,” shares Oberoi.
Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, also starring Sanya Malhotra and Rohit Saraf, is set against the backdrop of a wedding and went on floors in May. While working in a Dharma production is a dream come true for Oberoi, the joy of collaborating with Khaitan and Dhawan stands out for him.
“Shashank understands an actor’s language. He knows how to bring out the best, because he knows exactly what to say to you. I have already worked with Sanya [on Love Hostel]; she is a great talent. Janhvi is wonderful. Varun never brings his stardom to set, and his fun energy keeps the set lively.”
Half Yearly Classification 2024: Kalki 2898 AD and Munjya are the biggest hits of the year
8:25 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
The box office has been a struggle in 2024 and there has been no big BLOCKBUSTER in the first half of the year. The last month in the first half proved to be good with the two biggest HITS of the year (MUNJYA and KALKI 2898 AD) coming in this month.
KALKI 2898 AD is the biggest HIT of the first half and it could have been even bigger if the mass circuits continued how they started as then the film could have been looking at the 300 crore nett mark or thereabouts. But post the weeeknd collections started to drop in B and C centres and single screens. However, the bigger centres have sustained extremely well.
MUNJYA is the sleeper HIT of the year driven by BLOCKBUSTER business in Maharashtra. The film will finish up with business of around 100 crore nett which would be unthinkable before release although the trailer was decent due to the creature. The film is the biggest original Hindi film of the year so far.
SRIKANTH was also another surprise winner in the second quarter which took full benefit of the open run in May and had a solid sustained run for weeks. SHAITAAN and ARTICLE 370 were the HIT films of the first quarter while TERI BAATON MEIN AISA ULJHA JIYA and CREW also did well.
The second half is likely to see a BLOCKBUSTER with PUSHPA 2 - THE RULE but it is a film from the South and the Hindi film industry will also need to deliver one or two big HITS just to build confidence. If that doesn't happen, it will be pretty much a disaster year.
The half yearly classification for 2024 is as follows.
All Time Blockbuster
-
Super Blockbuster
-
Blockbuster
-
Super Hit
1. KALKI 2898 AD
2. MUNJYA
Hit
3. SHAITAAN
4. ARTICLE 370
Semi Hit
5. TERI BAATON MEIN AISA ULJA JIYA
6. CREW
7. SRIKANTH
Average
8. FIGHTER
9. MADGAON EXPRESS
Below Average
10. SWATANTRYA VEER SAVARKAR
11. LAAPATAA LADIES
My daughter Arya is a blessing. She has made me the woman I am today-Sanjeeda Shaikh
12:04 PM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; June 6, 2024)
Sanjeeda Shaikh is in a happy space in life, both personally and professionally. The actress, who became popular as a TV actress, has successfully made the transition to other mediums. And on the personal front, she is enjoying every moment of motherhood, raising her almost five-year-old daughter Ayra.
‘Ayra brags to her friends about my work’
Sanjeeda, who got divorced from Aamir Ali in 2021, talks to us about raising her child as a single mother.
She shares, “My daughter is my friend. She’s someone who’s very involved with what I am doing. She loves that I work and understands how demanding my work can be. She takes pride in the fact that I have to go for shoots and travel for work. She brags to her friends about my work. As understanding as she is, she also demands that I get something for her when I come back home (laughs). Kids are too smart these days.”
‘Ayra has made me extremely confident and aware about myself’
The actress who ventured into the digital space a few years ago, feels that Ayra has been lucky for her.
She says, “She’s a blessing. She has made me the woman I am today. She has made me confident and aware about myself. I am blessed to be her mother. Sometimes Ayra acts like she is my mother! My mother has been my best friend and now my daughter is too. My daughter is the one who gave me the courage to work. I will do anything to give her everything she wants in life.”
‘I have managed to secure myself financially because of TV’
Sanjeeda began her journey in showbiz with Baghban in 2003, post which she did a few South films before venturing into television with Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa in 2006.
Looking back at her journey, she says, “It was quite a smooth ride for me; I really didn’t have to struggle. I began as a choreographer and then joined the entertainment industry. I worked in television for a decade. I had no time to dream about Bollywood back then because TV kept me occupied. I had surrendered myself to TV and then I took a conscious break. But yes, I can be choosy about the work I take up. It’s thanks to TV that I have managed to secure myself financially. I am an independent woman and today, if required, I can sit at home without worrying about kal kya hoga.”
‘Seven years ago, I only wanted to play lead roles’
She has essayed lead roles in TV shows, but today what matters most to her is how important her part is in a project. The actress, who was recently seen in Heeramandi, explains, “Seven years ago, I only wanted to play lead roles. Things have changed, and now, it’s about doing that one scene, cracking it well and being spoken about for it. And that’s what happened to me with Fighter. People talk about my scene with Hrithik Roshan.”
The actress, who is now focusing on web shows and films, says, “I feel I have finally arrived. I am glad that people are taking me seriously as an actor now. Thoda sa waqt lag gaya lekin it is never too late.”
Mumbai circuit gets back on track; Fighter collects better than Dunki
8:41 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
The Mumbai circuit has seen poor returns post the pandemic but has seen a good upturn this year driven by the major centres in Maharashtra. The Thane belt was doing well since cinema returned in 2021 but this year has seen Mumbai city and Pune also start recording some good numbers.
The Mumbai and Delhi/UP circuit had got pretty similar in the 21-23 period for films in a certain zone. It is likely that if CREW and TERI BAATON MEIN AISA ULJHA JIYA came in 2022, they would not have got these numbers in Mumbai circuit and numbers will be closer to the Delhi/UP numbers.
The 60 crore nett plus number of the biggest grosser FIGHTER is not great but despite being an action film, it has beaten DUNKI which has a genre is better for Mumbai circuit and that too directed by Rajkumar Hirani whose films score heavy in Mumbai circuit due to humour element.
Films like MADGAON EXPRESS and SWATANTRYA VEER SAVARKAR are actually HIT films in Mumbai circuit though they met with a horrible fate outside the circuit. ARTICLE 370 was the standout in Mumbai this year though other circuits again were not as good. This would also have been tough a year or two back.
This circuit getting better numbers is the only good news in the crisis facing the film industry and its coming with the Gujarat side not really doing well. No film has done well in Gujarat this year and when both Maharashtra and Gujarat fire, it makes a huge difference.
The top ten films of 2024 in Mumbai circuit are as follows
1. Fighter - 62,04,00,000
2. Shaitaan - 46,64,00,000 (8 weeks)
3. Article 370 - 32,40,00,000 (10 weeks)
4. Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya - 27,28,50,000
5. Crew - 25,15,00,000 (5 Weeks)
6. Madgaon Express - 18,60,00,000 (6 weeks)
7. Bade Miyan Chote Miyan - 17,65,00,000 (3 weeks)
8. Swatantrya Veer Savarkar - 16,80,00,000 (6 weeks)
9. Maidaan - 15,75,00,000 (3 weeks)
10. Laapataa Ladies - 6,15,00,000 (9 weeks)
After a record 2023, box-office kitty may decline this year
8:44 AM
Gross collections to fall 15% based on data from first three months of this year: Ormax Media
Javed Farooqui (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; April 20, 2024)
Gross movie box office collections for 2024 in India are projected to drop 15% to Rs. 10,360 crore on the basis of data from the first three months of the year, following a record high in 2023, research firm Ormax Media said in its latest box-office report. The Indian box-office collection reached an all-time high of Rs. 12,226 crore in 2023, registering a 15% growth over 2022. The previous box office record was Rs. 10,948 crore in 2019.
Hindi films had a 36% share of the box-office collection, followed by Telugu and Malayalam films with 23% and 16% shares, respectively. Both Hollywood and Tamil films had a 9% share of the box-office collection. The cumulative box-office collection registered 7% year-on-year growth to touch Rs. 2,590 crore in Q1 2024, despite a lacklustre performance in February. Seven films earned more than Rs. 100 crore at the box-office during the quarter.
"March has proven to be a healthy month for the domestic box-office with collections totalling Rs. 971 crore. The diverse lineup of films across languages includes Shaitaan, leading the pack with Rs. 173 crore," said Sanket Kulkarni, head of business development (theatrical) at Ormax Media.
He added Malayalam cinema continues its remarkable streak with Aadujeevitham - The Goat Life joining the ranks of successful films, bringing the total collections for Malayalam cinema to Rs. 405 crore, constituting 71% of the entire Malayalam box office in 2023.
"The net box-office collections have dropped by 20% to Rs. 900 crore in Q1 2024 compared to the same quarter last year. The second quarter is also looking unimpressive, with no major releases planned for May. With setbacks in two back-to-back quarters, we have large recoveries to make in the last two quarters of 2024," says film business expert Girish Johar.
In Q1, Fighter (Hindi) and Hanuman (Telugu) had the highest box office collections of Rs. 243 crore and Rs. 241 crore, respectively. Both Manjummel Boys (Malayalam) and Shaitaan (Hindi) had collections of Rs. 173 crore
Guntur Kaaram (Tamil), Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (Hollywood), and Aadujeevitham-The Goat Life (Malayalam) collected Rs. 142 crore, Rs. 129 crore, and Rs. 102 crore, respectively. During the quarter, March saw the highest monthly box-office collections of Rs. 971 crore on the back of strong performances by Shaitaan, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and Aadujeevitham.
In January, the box-office collections stood at Rs. 934 crore, with Fighter, Hanuman, and Guntur Kaaram dominating the list. February saw a modest box-office collection of Rs. 685 crore with just two films, Manjummel Boys and Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, attaining receipts of over Rs. 100 crore.
2024's first quarter is decent; Shaitaan is the true bonafide hit in the first three months
8:43 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
The industry has seen a pretty decent first quarter as the exhibition sector fared the worst as the biggest film of the quarter FIGHTER did not live upto expectations. But its been a steady run post FIGHTER and some films have managed to make a mark.
There is an issue with very little content. There are just ten films which have gone over 10 crore nett which is hardly a number and they are below. These will be the films with some sort of awareness or face value that were released in the first quarter.
The classifications of those ten main films are as follows.
Merry Christmas (FLOP): A mystery thriller film with vey little for theatres and a film that would only do well in Mumbai city even if liked. These sort of filsms will be available in hundreds for audiences on television at home.
Fighter (AVERAGE): The film is the highest grosser of the year but could not fair well in mass circuits. Its not about the planes or anything but the landscape has changed in these areas and its about raw and rustic films driven by the storylines rather than Hollywood type of action. TIGER 3 also had a similar struggle and Hollywood films are finding it tough going in the Hindi circuits. FIGHTER had stars and music but the appeal remained limited and its a lot to do with how much these mass circuits have changed post pandemic. If we take the fact that it did not release in Gulf then, there was an outperformance overseas. However, the final number does not suggest that as its without Gulf.
Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Ulja Jiya (SEMI HIT): The film did very well for its genre driven by the music. The music was not blockbuster but the fact that it had music and it was good enough which is more than what most films have. The was pushed by the buy one get one offer but it does look that offers will not help if the audience is not with the. So, the benefit of the offer is probably very limited.
Article 370 (HIT): The first HIT of the year which proved a SUPER HIT in Mumbai circuit. The film did extremely well for its budget but it was a costly acquisition and with streaming likely to be in house it was about India theatrical for recovery. Nevertheless, the film actually pulled it of very well.
Crakk (DISASTER): The heavily budget action film for the face value but this sort of action content is just not relatable to the mass centres where it has to score.
Laapataa Ladies (FLOP): A ladies film looking by its name and which has trended well in its run holding well every week but it just could not find much of an audience. The trending of the film can be called respectable. However, that hardly matters when there are no overall numbers.
Shaitaan (HIT): The true bonafide HIT of the first quarter which did well all over. The film was a psychological/horror film but the family sentiments worked strongly for the film. The box office today is about reaching the mass and it's basically going back to the 80's. What happened here was when the big budgets were not there, the films catering to family sentiments emerged winners at the box office. Today, any genre will work as long as it has these family sentiments as this is where the reach will come from. SHAITAAN was devoid of music which is the other way to push the reach but still did the trick.
Yodha (FLOP): A urban action film on a hijacking and when a FIGHTER struggled for reach with the mass audiences, it was always going to be tough for this film. Action films made in Hindi for urban audiences have never done well although there maybe some exceptions but those will be very few if any.
Madgaon Express (FLOP): A Goa holiday/trip film which pretty much seals the fate in most of the country with the trailer itself. For some reason, the industry actually had hope for the film. The film did better in Mumbai circuit but even there, the numbers were still poor. Rest of the circuits were very dull.
Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (FLOP): A film on a Maharashtrian political figure which had no scope outside Maharashtra. The plus is that it will do around 15 crore nett in the state of Maharashtra which means some sort of acceptance here. But its a Hindi film and rest of India is extremely dull with practically no collections.
Crew (SEMI HIT/AVERAGE): The last release of the quarter which has done pretty well. The film has scored very well in North (NCR and East Punjab) and along with SHAITAAN is the only other film to do so. The film will have shortened run due to Eid which will hold back the numbers. It has had decent run nevertheless and is an out performer in Overseas.
Outside the organic Hindi movies, the dubbed SOUTH film HANUMAN proved to be a HIT while GODZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE was also a HIT. The latter was just AVERAGE in Hindi circuits but the business in the South took it to HIT status.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 824
7:38 PM
2024'S FIRST QUARTER ENDS ON A HAPPY NOTE
The first three months of 2024 are over and overall, it has been satisfactory though it could have been better. 2023's first quarter saw a Hindi film crossing the Rs. 500 crore mark for the first time with Pathaan. Most of the other films in the first three months last year didn't do well. Yet, the blockbuster numbers of the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer spread cheer in the industry.
2024's first quarter, meanwhile, saw just one film barely crossing the Rs. 200 crore mark - Fighter. It was expected to do more than Rs. 300 crores, looking at the word of mouth. The way it dropped on the weekdays in the first week, it seemed like it might not even reach Rs. 175 crores in its lifetime. Thankfully, it held well in the subsequent weeks.
Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, meanwhile, was a surprise hit. The reviews were mixed. However, the audience took to the film and it ended up collecting more than Rs. 80 crores. Article 370 will also end up with collections in the same range.
Shaitaan, on the other hand, was a rare horror film starring A-listers. It had a superb opening and maintained very well. It is expected to end its run with collections amounting to Rs. 145-150 crores.
Crew, which was released last Friday, had an impressive opening and if all goes well, it will have a lifetime in the range of Rs. 75 and 90 crores.
Another success, albeit a small one, was Laapataa Ladies. Thanks to outstanding word of mouth and the association of Aamir Khan, it slowly attracted a section of the audience. It'll end with Rs. 15 crore collections, which was unthinkable in its first week.
A dubbed version and Hollywood flicks also saw some success. Hanuman was released with low expectations and went on to collect Rs. 50 crores in Hindi. Kung Fu Panda 4 will accumulate nearly Rs. 35 crores or even more. Last week's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire can cross the Rs. 100 crore mark.
And like any other quarter, there were some disappointments as well. Merry Christmas, Main Atal Hoon, Crakk, Dange, Bastar, Yodha and Swatantrya Veer Savarkar failed at the box office. Madgaon Express got positive reports but has majorly worked only in Maharashtra.
All eyes are now on the second quarter, especially the two big Eid releases - Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Maidaan. Since these films will release on Wednesday, April 10, this Friday will see the release of small films. Dukaan is the biggest of them all but doesn't stand a chance due to negligible hype.
The film that has some chance is the Hollywood horror flick, The First Omen. It is a prequel to the 1976 classic, The Omen. Hollywood horror films often surprise though they are released without noise. If The First Omen turns out to be a great entertainer, it will retain shows even after the release of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Maidaan.
The first three months of 2024 are over and overall, it has been satisfactory though it could have been better. 2023's first quarter saw a Hindi film crossing the Rs. 500 crore mark for the first time with Pathaan. Most of the other films in the first three months last year didn't do well. Yet, the blockbuster numbers of the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer spread cheer in the industry.
2024's first quarter, meanwhile, saw just one film barely crossing the Rs. 200 crore mark - Fighter. It was expected to do more than Rs. 300 crores, looking at the word of mouth. The way it dropped on the weekdays in the first week, it seemed like it might not even reach Rs. 175 crores in its lifetime. Thankfully, it held well in the subsequent weeks.
Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, meanwhile, was a surprise hit. The reviews were mixed. However, the audience took to the film and it ended up collecting more than Rs. 80 crores. Article 370 will also end up with collections in the same range.
Shaitaan, on the other hand, was a rare horror film starring A-listers. It had a superb opening and maintained very well. It is expected to end its run with collections amounting to Rs. 145-150 crores.
Crew, which was released last Friday, had an impressive opening and if all goes well, it will have a lifetime in the range of Rs. 75 and 90 crores.
Another success, albeit a small one, was Laapataa Ladies. Thanks to outstanding word of mouth and the association of Aamir Khan, it slowly attracted a section of the audience. It'll end with Rs. 15 crore collections, which was unthinkable in its first week.
A dubbed version and Hollywood flicks also saw some success. Hanuman was released with low expectations and went on to collect Rs. 50 crores in Hindi. Kung Fu Panda 4 will accumulate nearly Rs. 35 crores or even more. Last week's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire can cross the Rs. 100 crore mark.
And like any other quarter, there were some disappointments as well. Merry Christmas, Main Atal Hoon, Crakk, Dange, Bastar, Yodha and Swatantrya Veer Savarkar failed at the box office. Madgaon Express got positive reports but has majorly worked only in Maharashtra.
All eyes are now on the second quarter, especially the two big Eid releases - Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Maidaan. Since these films will release on Wednesday, April 10, this Friday will see the release of small films. Dukaan is the biggest of them all but doesn't stand a chance due to negligible hype.
The film that has some chance is the Hollywood horror flick, The First Omen. It is a prequel to the 1976 classic, The Omen. Hollywood horror films often surprise though they are released without noise. If The First Omen turns out to be a great entertainer, it will retain shows even after the release of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Maidaan.
Experts feel 2024's first quarter was average
8:27 AM
As we wrap up the first quarter of 2024, here is a look at Bollywood’s report card as shared by industry experts
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 2, 2024)
Four months into 2024, the Hindi film industry has been on a bumpy ride. Fighter, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, was expected to ring in the year with eye-popping box-office numbers, but slowly inched towards the Rs. 200 crore mark. On the other hand, films like Crakk, Yodha, All India Rank and Kuch Khattaa Ho Jaay left us wanting. In comparison, 2023 was a blockbuster one with Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Pathaan setting the tone for the rest of the year.
The year “hasn’t begun well” agrees trade analyst Taran Adarsh, adding, “We didn’t have a Pathaan kind of film, a Rs. 500 crore grosser, or even a film that touched Rs. 50 crore on day one. Fighter was a well-made film, but it didn’t live up to the expectations.”
DEARTH OF GOOD FILMS?
Films that took the industry by surprise with their performances were genre benders like actors Ajay Devgn’s Shaitaan, Yami Gautam Dhar’s Article 370 and Shahid Kapoor’s Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya. Their box-office collections show that they did exceedingly well.
Devang Sampat, Managing Director, Cinepolis India, remarks, “2024’s first quarter has been average, with no major hits; films like Shaitaan worked. I feel 2023’s first quarter was much better and a hit like Pathaan is still awaited. There are good titles coming up in 2024, which are a mix of Bollywood biggies and those from the south.”
Aditya Datt, director of the actioner Crakk, is proud of his film. But with “disappointing” footfalls in cinema halls, he is ready to move on. “Response to the film’s new age idea and action was amazing,” he says, as he’s feeling “optimistic” for its OTT debut. “The magic we crafted will more eyes watching and appreciating it.”
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Another film which was praised by critics, had a big star cast, but still underperformed at the box office was Merry Christmas, featuring actors Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi. Producer Ramesh Taurani who bankrolled the film, elaborates, “We were expecting more in collections. Nevertheless, it’s okay, things happen. We did get a lot of praise and critical acclaim.”
HIGHEST GROSSERS of ’24 till NOW (All India collections according to trade estimates)
Fighter- Rs. 199 crore
Shaitaan- Rs. 137 crore
Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya- Rs. 81 crore
Article 370- Rs. 72 crore
Crew- Rs. 41 crore (still running in theatres)
We did not know about Fighter or Tejas; by then, we were making Operation Valentine-Varun Tej
8:58 AM
Unfazed about Balakot air strike being depicted on screen by Fighter, Operation Valentine actor Varun on how his action thriller was greenlit by MoD
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 29, 2024)
When a guy, who almost became a fighter pilot, offers you a film on the Indian Air Force (IAF), you don’t say no. That’s what Telugu actor Varun Tej believes. It is this belief that has birthed Operation Valentine, directed by Shakti Pratap Singh.
“Shakti had applied [to the IAF], but didn’t get through because of his [compromised] eyesight. He has done a lot of research for this film. He’d constantly say one thing—that he wanted Operation Valentine to be technical. We knew we had to tone down the film for the masses, but it’s not a dumb film,” states the actor.
The action thriller, also starring Manushi Chhillar, traces the Balakot air strike conducted by the IAF in 2019. He isn’t worried about the subject being over-exploited, the latest example being Hrithik Roshan’s Fighter.
“Our script was submitted to the Ministry of Defence [MoD] for approval. We were told that nine to 12 scripts, based on the same events, were awaiting clearance. We did not know about Fighter or Tejas [2023] until their [promos] came out, and by then, we were making our film. The MoD made changes to the script because they technically don’t function the way we had written the story. Initially, it was planned as a Telugu film. But I wanted it to resonate with everyone, so [we made it in Hindi as well]. [Making such films] is about inspiring a generation of men and women to be heroic. There is so much happening at the border; it’s important to bring that to the big screen.”
A jawan’s duty is to protect his country, not to hate his adversary. Are today’s movies truly reflecting the spirit of the armed forces, without adopting a jingoistic tone? Tej explains, “We are mindful of the jingoism, but there is always a threat from another country. China, Bangladesh and Pakistan are threats that we must keep in check. That’s the only extent to which we take this film, keeping it close to the incident it is based on. Our idea was to show how a pilot sitting in the cockpit makes the decision to go 2,000 kilometres into a neighbouring country.”
That Fighter didn’t fare well at the box office could be a worrisome precursor. The actor says, “There are people who have passionately spent on this project, and I want them to make a buck. [It can] pave the way for more passionate projects.”
It’s easy to emote with Deepika Padukone because she has naturally expressive eyes-Sanjeeda Shaikh
10:45 AM
Enjoying big-ticket projects in Fighter and Heeramandi, Sanjeeda on graduating to movies and web after doing TV in its ‘best’ years
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; February 12, 2024)
Sanjeeda Shaikh doesn’t believe in mapping out life. Instead, she goes with the flow, hoping to do good work and collaborate with fine artistes. The mantra is working out for her—she was recently seen in Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone-led Fighter, and up next is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s web series Heeramandi. After being among the leading television actors, she is now enjoying her run in films and web.
“I did TV when it was at its best. I learnt so much from my television years. Sometimes, I miss it in terms of going to shoot every day, but I’ve done [all] I could on TV. As an actor, my job is not to think of the medium, but to keep getting better with every passing day,” says Shaikh.
Even while signing Fighter, Shaikh made only one request to director Siddharth Anand— to give her moments that offer her a chance to perform. “He gave me beautiful scenes with Hrithik and Deepika,” she says. Working with the two superstars gave her a chance to see their hard work up close.
“The moment Hrithik enters the set, his only agenda is to give more to the scene. There’s so much to learn by just observing him. It’s easy to emote with Deepika because she has naturally expressive eyes and you just have to look into them. She also makes you feel comfortable.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 816
10:51 PM
WILL TERI BAATON MEIN AISA ULJHA JIYA SUCCEED DESPITE LIMITED TICKET SALES?
The first major release of the month, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, is all set to arrive in cinemas tomorrow, Friday, February 9. It stars Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon and is backed by Dinesh Vijan’s reputed production house, Maddock Films. The trailer caught attention, especially since it has a novel story. It’s about a dashing man who falls for a female robot. The songs, too, managed to get registered and are already a hit on Instagram. Shahid and Kriti, meanwhile, have gone all out to promote the film.
However, ticket sales as of now are limited. The morning shows will have poor occupancy but as seen in post-pandemic times, there can be a big jump in the footfalls after 4:00 pm if reports are positive. The Saturday and Sunday collections can also zoom and it now all depends on word of mouth.
As of now, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya seems to open at around Rs. 5 crores and has an outside chance of hitting the Rs. 6 crores mark. There’s no competition next week and it will have a benefit on Valentine's Day, when collections usually are strong, especially for youthful entertainers. Hence, the love story can have a great run, if all goes well. However, negative or so-so reports can prove detrimental.
What will also aid Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya is that Fighter has underperformed. However, last Saturday, the collections of the Hrithik Roshan-starrer nearly doubled from the previous day. While it collected Rs. 5.50 crores on the second Friday, the collections jumped to Rs. 10 crores on Saturday. This gave the film a chance to cross the Rs. 200 crores mark, provided it shows a similar trend in the coming weekend and also the next. Nevertheless, it will face a massive reduction of shows, especially in B and C centres where the film hasn't worked. The two-week collections of the Hrithik Roshan-Deepika Padukone starrer are expected to be around Rs. 174-175 crores.
The first major release of the month, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, is all set to arrive in cinemas tomorrow, Friday, February 9. It stars Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon and is backed by Dinesh Vijan’s reputed production house, Maddock Films. The trailer caught attention, especially since it has a novel story. It’s about a dashing man who falls for a female robot. The songs, too, managed to get registered and are already a hit on Instagram. Shahid and Kriti, meanwhile, have gone all out to promote the film.
However, ticket sales as of now are limited. The morning shows will have poor occupancy but as seen in post-pandemic times, there can be a big jump in the footfalls after 4:00 pm if reports are positive. The Saturday and Sunday collections can also zoom and it now all depends on word of mouth.
As of now, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya seems to open at around Rs. 5 crores and has an outside chance of hitting the Rs. 6 crores mark. There’s no competition next week and it will have a benefit on Valentine's Day, when collections usually are strong, especially for youthful entertainers. Hence, the love story can have a great run, if all goes well. However, negative or so-so reports can prove detrimental.
What will also aid Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya is that Fighter has underperformed. However, last Saturday, the collections of the Hrithik Roshan-starrer nearly doubled from the previous day. While it collected Rs. 5.50 crores on the second Friday, the collections jumped to Rs. 10 crores on Saturday. This gave the film a chance to cross the Rs. 200 crores mark, provided it shows a similar trend in the coming weekend and also the next. Nevertheless, it will face a massive reduction of shows, especially in B and C centres where the film hasn't worked. The two-week collections of the Hrithik Roshan-Deepika Padukone starrer are expected to be around Rs. 174-175 crores.
My biggest concern was that I didn’t want to hurt Hrithik Roshan while performing action-Rishabh Sawhney
9:06 AM
Rishabh Sawhney, who plays the antagonist in Fighter, on how his debut film enabled him to work with his childhood hero Hrithik Roshan
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; February 5, 2024)
They say never meet your heroes. But Rishabh Sawhney, who plays the antagonist in Fighter, would argue against it after working alongside his childhood hero Hrithik Roshan. “When he made his acting debut with Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai [2000], it was the first time I saw a Hindi cinema actor having a model physique. I was a 120-kilo kid at the time. That inspired me,” recalls Sawhney.
When he met Roshan on the set of director Siddharth Anand’s aerial action thriller, he was understandably starstruck. “My acting coach had told me this would happen, but I needed to focus on my character.”
In the Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor-starrer that is centred on the journey of a few Indian Air Force pilots, Sawhney’s character is shown as the mastermind behind the 2019 Pulwama attack. For him, the face-off sequences were the toughest.
“My biggest concern was that I didn’t want to hurt Hrithik while performing action. I was being slightly hesitant, but he told me, ‘You make sure that the punch looks authentic and I will make sure it doesn’t land on my face.’”
The actor is not in a hurry to sign his next. He says, “I worked hard over the last two years, and now I should enjoy this success. It’s new for me and I want to savour every bit of it.”
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