COMPLETE MADNESS AS AROUND 9-10 HINDI FILMS TO RELEASE TOMORROW!

In the past, we have seen how pre-Diwali week is the worst time to release a film. Footfalls are down in the week before the Festival of lights as people are busy shopping and decorating and in cleaning their houses, or going back to their hometowns. Also, biggies release on Diwali and hence, the week before that is usually left vacant by important films. As a result, small films take advantage of the second factor and release their films on this day. In 2016, as many as 7 Hindi films had released in the week before Diwali. This time, the record is broken as at least 9 films are scheduled to hit screens tomorrow. And not just small, one very big film too will be releasing! My analysis:

1. LAAL KAPTAAN: It stars Saif Ali Khan in the role of a Naga Sadhu in the pre-Independence period. It is directed by NH 10 and Manorama Six Feet Under director Navdeep Singh and co-produced by Aanand L Rai of Tanu Weds Manu, Zero and Newton fame. It also features Zoya Hussain, Deepak Dobriyal and Manav Vij, along with Sonakshi Sinha in a special appearance. The film is extremely expensive as it has a period set up and shot in real locations. Moreover, it’s too niche and hence, anyway not many people would watch it. And moreover, it’s being released in such a dull week and that too without any promotion. There’s hardly any buzz for the film and hence, the opening will be disastrous, in the range of Rs. 1-2 crore.

2. GHOST: As the name suggests, it’s a horror film. It’s directed by Vikram Bhatt and stars Sanaya Irani and Shivam Bhaargava. The trailer is nothing exciting and looks like an outdated scary movie. Vikram’s last horror film, 1921, managed an opening of Rs. 1.57 crore as it was kind of a part of the 1920 franchise and also had a known face like Zareen Khan. And times have changed since then. This year, another horror film with known faces, Amavas, starring Sachiin Joshi and Nargis Fakhri, hit screens and it took an opening of just Rs. 60 lakhs. Ghost has no popular name and promotion has been negligible. Hence, day 1 collections would be around Rs. 40-50 lakhs.

3. #YAARAM: It stars Prateik Babbar and Siddhanth Kapoor along with Pyaar Ka Punchnama actress Ishita Raj. The makers tried to publicize this film by claiming ‘it’s a love square and not a love triangle’ and even mentioning in the trailer that it’s the most controversial film of the year. But audiences aren’t interested. It looks too urban and hence it only has a chance in multiplexes. But audiences there would rather see Laal Kaptaan or holdover films like War and Joker than this movie.

4. OFFICER ARJUN SINGH IPS: Starring Priyanshu Chatterjee and Raai Laxmi, it looks like a dated 90s flick not just content-wise but even visually. It has a very slim chance and that too in small towns of Northern states.

5. P SE PYAAR F SE FARAAR: This seems like a poor copy of Sairat with a dash of sports. Newcomer Bhavesh Kumar plays the lead and surprisingly Jimmy Sheirgill has a supporting role. The latter is not as much in the trailer as Bhavesh. It is all set to get a less-than-Rs 10 lakh opening, just like Officer Arjun Singh IPS.

6. LIFE MEIN TIME NAHI HAI KISI KO: Apart from P Se Pyaar F Se Faraar, this is the other inter-caste marriage related film of the week. The trailer indicates that this movie speaks about some important issues plaguing the society. But the background score is funny and peppy and doesn’t gel well with the narrative. Krushna Abhishek, Rajniesh Duggall and Yuvika Chaudhary are the leading actors.

7. KIRKET: This film stars former cricketer Kirti Azad playing himself and stressing the importance of having more Biharis in the Indian Cricket Team. Sadly, the film won’t work anywhere, not even in Bihar, due to zero awareness.

8. JACQUELINE I AM COMING: It stars Raghubir Yadav and Divya Dhanoya and the trailer is quite bizarre. It starts off as a slice-of-life love story of an older man and a very young woman. But then the film suddenly changes to an unrealistic crime drama. A film like ideally should have released directly on OTT as it’s collections in cinemas will be in thousands, not in lakhs.

9. LOVE SHOTS: It looks like an erotic flick but because of no awareness, it’s business will be limited to a few centres in the hinterland that enjoy such kind of cinema.

That’s not all. There are two films – Junction Varanasi and Zindagi Tumse – that were also to release tomorrow. As of now, they won’t release but one can never be sure.

And yes, there are two Hollywood films as well - Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Zombieland 2: Double Tap. Both these films too will open to poor houses although the former might open in the same range or better than Laal Kaptaan!

Actor Sanaya Irani is grateful for some wonderful producers
Sangeeta Yadav (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 13, 2019)

She’s straightforward. And Sanaya Irani, despite the fame thanks to TV shows such as Miley Jab Hum Tum, Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?, stays humble. The 36-year-old, gearing up for her new film, talks about stardom, and more. Excerpts from a chat:

How did stardom affect your life after becoming one of the top actors on TV?
Stardom will never change the person I am, but it made me uneasy when I realised I couldn’t walk into a mall without being noticed. I was never anxious about fame, I’m anxious about good work, which is now happening with my upcoming horror film, Ghost. I feel every actor should have a backup plan.

There have been reports about you being rude to your co-stars.
As a human being, you have good days and bad days. I’m guessing people who crossed paths with me on my bad days may feel so, but I’m not someone who would throw a tantrum. I’m an honest, a no-nonsense person. I believe creating a healthy, happy work environment is paramount. What I say is often out of honesty and with no malice.

TV actors working in daily soaps get paid 90 days after the first episode is aired. Did it affect you?
I’ve worked with producers with whom I haven’t faced such problems. I always got my money, maybe late, but I’ve got it. I’m aware of a lot of people who faced this problem. The 90-day plans aren’t feasible. A 30-45 day period is still understandable.

Why do actors have to bear the brunt in this?
That’s what! The producers being the sole proprietors mean they would incur profits and losses. I, as an actor, chose to be working with a salary and we don’t get a part of the profits. Then why is it that we’ve to bear the losses with them? That’s unfair. The cast and crew work so hard for 12 hours or even more. So we deserve to be paid, irrespective of losses. We wouldn’t leave them in a lurch so why should they leave us asking for our own money? That being said, this isn’t the case with all producers out there.

Smita Poojary (DNA; October 8, 2019)

Sanaya Irani is one of the most recognized faces on television, thanks to Miley Jab Hum Tum as well as Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon, which enjoyed a massive fan following. In spite of all the popularity, Sanaya has not been part of any daily soap for years -- her last full-fledged role was in Rangrasiya (2014). That’s because she feels the content on television has changed a lot and the kind of work does not suit her. “I’ve done TV for over 10 years and it has changed so much in that decade. The kind of content on TV today is not what I want to do. It’s not that I don’t want to do television. I am what I am because of the small screen but now, there’s a buffet of options – web, telly and films. Why should I be stuck to one medium?” she reasons. Here, she speaks about her upcoming film Ghost directed by Vikram Bhatt.

What made you take up the role in Ghost?
It was a mix of things. Firstly, the story is based on a real-life incident and when I heard it, I found it interesting. And then came my role; the character that I’m playing is extremely complex. She’s not like a normal, simple lawyer who has everything sorted in her head. When Vikram was telling me about it, he was like I really think you can do this. When I saw his conviction in me, I felt, I needed to do this.

You have acted with Vikram in the web series Zindabaad. How different is he as a co-actor and director?
There was a world of a difference. He completely fooled me. He would keep telling me during Zindabaad that I’m such a good actress. When he offered me the movie, I thought he liked my work. I went on the set thinking everything is going to be fine as Vikram has seen my acting. But that wasn’t the case. After my first take, Vikram was like, ‘What are you doing? What are you thinking?’ For the first 10 days, I wondered why he even cast me for this. I realised the difference between Vikram as a director and an actor is like North and South poles. When he was acting with me, he never told what to do, he only did from the director’s chair.

Are you a fan of horror movies?
Oh, I’m a big fan/fattu! I’m the kind who will sit in the theatre and be like, ‘Oh, no! Ho gaya?’ But I also love horror, suspense and thriller because as a viewer, it’s captivating and makes my mind work through the film.

Are you open to doing a full-fledged show on television again?
If I get my kind of content on television, I will happily do it. But films and the web have spoiled me. The challenge on the small screen starts to die down as the shows go on for two years. After three months into the serial, the character is in your blood, so, I can do it on auto mode. But if I get a limited series, I will happily do it.

There are many supernatural shows on TV. Are you open to doing one of them?
That’s not something I would want to try. I have done a supernatural film, but it got over in two months of shooting. I would not like to do horror at least for my next eight projects as I want to experiment.

What other kinds of roles would you like to do?
Anything and everything that I have not done in the past. Yes, but if somebody offered me the role that I’ve played before and it fits the story beautifully, I wouldn’t say no.

That’s the premise of Vikram Bhatt’s next, which is inspired by a newspaper article in the UK
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 28, 2019)

Vikram Bhatt has just returned from UK having completed his film, Ghost, which is inspired by a newspaper article about how a British court allowed a matter involving spirits to be tried. “The article caught my eye because it threw up an interesting question: How does one prove the presence of spirits in a court of law? I know it’s hard for most people to believe in the supernatural world, but I know from first-hand experience that the realm exists and for me it is a reality,” says the filmmaker who spearheaded the Raaz franchise, besides making a string of horror films - 1920 and 1921, Shaapit, Haunted 3D and Creature 3D.

Quiz him on what makes Ghost different from other ghost stories given the current emphasis on novel content, and Vikram smiles, “The concept itself is novel. Karan Khanna, a politician of Indian origin in the UK, is accused of killing his wife. He tells his lawyer that a spirit committed the murder and should be tried. Where have you seen that before?”

He adds that while most of his earlier films were set in desolate places, Ghost unveils in the heart of London, amidst apartment houses and offices. “I doubt they’re haunted and if they are, no one is talking about it. Also, unlike the lyrical love stories of the past, this one takes the characters with their weaknesses and makes them meet the ghost outside while emotional ghosts plague their hearts and minds,” says the filmmaker.

The film will introduce a new pair, TV actress Sanaya Irani as defence lawyer Simran Singh, and Shivam Bhargav as Karan Khanna. “Sanaya has an emotional quotient that works well in a complex role while Shivam’s shyness adds a layer to the victimised Karan,” explains Vikram who having dabbled in the genre many times in the past, admits it’s tough to reinvent oneself. “But it’s possible if you listen to your audience. They are vocal about what they want to see and what they don’t. To believe that you are relevant when you are not, is a dangerous thing.”

Point out that while Hollywood horror films like IT, The Nun and Annabelle did good business in India, barring the Raaz series, the genre hasn’t been widely accepted here and Vikram quips, “1920 is a successful franchise.” But is there a future for horror in Indian cinema? He reasons that the world today is one big market, and unlike family dramas, period films or even romcoms, horror is a genre with an universal appeal. “Horror films are big on the digital platform too and have as much return on investment as their theatrical counterparts,” explains Vikram who turned 50 on Sunday.

So, what takes him back to horror, again and again? “Fear… I live with fear and understand fear in a way that many don’t,” he concludes.