Showing posts with label Jolly LLB 3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jolly LLB 3. Show all posts
Dhurandhar 2 pre-sales soar: Can Bollywood’s sequel curse be broken?
9:51 AM
The film to release in India on 5,000-5,500 screens, could earn up to Rs. 80 cr on opening day
Rajesh N Naidu (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; March 9, 2026)
Mumbai: After a string of underwhelming Bollywood sequels — War 2, Dhadak 2, Mastiii 4, Jolly LLB 3 and De De Pyaar De 2 — the industry is watching whether Dhurandhar 2 can buck the trend. Exhibitors and distributors are citing strong early demand that suggests the film could break the jinx at a time when Bollywood is grappling with box office volatility and old formulas that are no longer working.
According to film trade analysts, the film will release in India on 5,000–5,500 screens and is likely to record Rs 75-80 crore in collections on opening day, March 19.
Audience appetite has been whetted by the blockbuster success of espionage actioner Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt and others. Released in 2025, Dhurandhar is one of the biggest films ever, having grossed Rs. 1005.8 crore in India alone and close to Rs. 300 crore in the overseas markets, according to box office data research firm Sacnilk.
In overseas markets, the sequel has generated advance or pre-release ticket sales worth $800,000.
“This is not an ordinary sequel. Audiences have already bought tickets worth more than Rs 5 crore for preview shows (March 18) alone,” said Shaaminder Malik, a film distributor and trade analyst. “They don’t want to know spoilers before their theatre experience. Tickets are being sold in a premium price range of Rs 300 to Rs 2,500 for a four-hour film. This shows the audience’s eagerness.”
Experts said Dhurandhar 2 is a proper tentpole release expected to drive significant box-office momentum.
“It is already reflected in its ticket sales,” said Gautam Dutta, CEO, revenue and operations, PVR Inox. “It will be the biggest release in terms of screens in India. In fact, a comforting factor is that the film has at least two weeks with no major release, which means the scope for record collections is high.”
Optimism about Dhurandhar 2’s performance increased recently with the release of Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups being delayed--it was to have debuted on the same day.
“The postponement of Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups has effectively cleared the competitive landscape for Dhurandhar 2,” said Suniel Wadhwa, co-founder and director, Karmic Films. “When two highly awaited big films don’t clash, exhibitors typically allocate 40–50% more premium screens and show slots to the releasing film, which can materially strengthen its opening-day collection. In theatrical economics, clashes create headlines, but clear release windows create box office records.”
Dhurandhar 2 will be dubbed in all four southern languages, unlike the original, which was released only in Hindi.
“The sequel is dubbed in multiple southern languages, which broadens its reach in the southern territories, thereby significantly boosting its India collections by at least 25–30%,” said producer Rajesh R Nair. Screen density, especially single-screen halls, and overall screen share (over 50%) in the southern markets is higher than in the rest of India.
Conservative estimates by trade analysts suggest the film could record an opening weekend collection of Rs 250-300 crore.
“In the absence of competition, I think the film’s collections could easily be boosted by at least 25%,” said Girish Johar, film producer and industry expert. “Given the high audience interest, I foresee an opening weekend collection of Rs 300 crore for the film.”
Franchise flicks lose their shine as big bucks bounce back small
10:23 AM
High budget film series and sequels are struggling to generate buzz and recover costs
Rajesh N Naidu (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; October 3, 2025)
Mumbai: Franchise films and sequels, once billed as sure-shot insurance against fickle audiences and shrinking theatre turnouts, are increasingly backfiring in India, with many high-budget releases struggling to generate buzz and failing to recover their massive investments.
In the first nine months of 2025, at least 10 big-ticket franchise films and sequels hit theatres, but most stumbled at the box office.
Among the biggest disappointments were Jolly LLB 3, Baaghi 4, War 2, Dhadak 2, Son Of Sardaar 2 and Housefull 5. War 2, a part of Yash Raj Films' ambitious Spy Universe, managed collections of just Rs 236.55 crore in India against a production budget estimated between Rs 300-400 crore, according to box office tracker Sacnilk.
Industry experts say the problem is that Bollywood builds its franchises as forced extensions rather than carefully thought-out universes.
"Hindi franchise films are not planned organically like Cinematic Universe films in the West. These films are made as an 'afterthought'," said scriptwriter Sudeep Nigam, known for the mini-series The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth. Nigam gave an example of the recent horror films. "I don't understand the connection between Shaitaan (2024) and Maa (2025). Shaitaan is a film about black magic. And Maa is a demon in a forest. Can these films belong to a universe because they share a theme?" he explained.
In the West, franchise films are planned well in advance and connected through consistent characters and narratives.
For instance, Marvel Studios planned for two years before it released its first Marvel Cinematic Universe film Iron Man in 2008. To date, the studio has released 33 films with careful planning in terms of budgets ($130-300 million range) and timeline (in six phases).
Lack of connection in stories between the original and the sequel has also added to the failure, especially of recent sequels and franchise extensions.
"Sequels must have plots which take stories of original films ahead. But this is not observed in recent sequels. These films are made just to cash in on the brand value built by original films. It is just weak writing," said Girish Johar, producer and film business expert.
In this context, scriptwriter Nigam cited an example of the Jolly LLB film series.
"The first two Jolly LLB films worked. Then, the idea of bringing together both heroes in a film sounded viable to its makers. But did the makers have a proper plot to justify their presence and create a proper franchise film?" Nigam explained.
After the pandemic, the box office outcome of films across geographies has become more unpredictable than in the pre-pandemic period, as films are either accepted wholeheartedly or shunned completely.
The days are gone when a film would do average business and break even. In this context, large production houses have been focusing on franchise films or sequels as they have an established audience base.
"As regards franchise films, there is too much reliance on the 'stardom' of stars rather than creating 'characters' which utilize their stardom, talent and add emotional depth to these films. Today, the story is a film's star, which makers are not fully recognizing yet," said Varun Kapoor, producer and founder of Brooken Reels Production, a film production company.
Trade analysts pointed out the poor performance of War 2 to its makers' excessive focus on the stardom of the film's stars. They noted that in the past six months at least fifty new franchise films and sequels have been announced in the industry. A few of these are Border 2, No Entry 2 and Awarapan 2.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 901
11:04 AM
JOLLY LLB 3 UNDERPERFORMS AFTER A ROCKING WEEKEND; NISHAANCHI IS A DISASTER OF EPIC PROPORTIONS
The week that has gone by was a bittersweet one for the industry. The biggest film of the week, Jolly LLB 3, had an impressive performance over the weekend. The opening was affected a bit as the VPF issues led to the advance booking being discontinued twice in the biggest multiplex chain, PVR Inox. The second time it got halted was on Thursday evening and the matter was resolved on Friday just after midnight. This is the time when a lot of people book tickets and hence, this issue did dent the film to some extent.
Nevertheless, Jolly LLB 3 opened at Rs. 12.50 crores, which is a bit higher than the day 1 figures of Jolly LLB 2 (Rs. 12.06 crores). The film saw a jump on Saturday, earning Rs. 19 crores. On Sunday, the earnings were flat as it collected Rs. 19.75 crores. This was probably due to the India vs Pakistan match on the evening of the third day.
The Monday earnings were expected to be around Rs. 6-7 crores, as a normal 50% drop was expected. But the drop was 60%. The film collected just Rs. 5 crores and it shocked the industry. This is because the Saturday jump indicated that the word of mouth is very positive. But the Monday figures prove that the reports are probably not as positive. The collections jumped to Rs. 6.50 crores due to the offer on Tuesday. But it fell to Rs. 4.25-4.50 crore levels on Wednesday.
The first week's collections will be around Rs. 70 crores. Until the weekend, it seemed like Jolly LLB will have a lifetime of Rs. 125 crores. But with the weekday performance, a lifetime of Rs. 100-105 crores seems to be the best bet. A jump on the second Saturday is also crucial. Sunday once again would be impacted by the match.
Meanwhile, Nishaanchi got outright rejected. Though it starred new names and buzz was limited, it was expected that it would open at Rs. 75 lakhs or Rs. 1 crore due to Anurag Kashyap's connection. However, it opened at just Rs. 15 lakhs, that too with the buy-one-get-one offer! The collections were the same on Saturday as Friday, while on Sunday, it earned Rs. 17.50 lakhs.
Usually, films that have such negligible collections earn more on Monday than on Friday. But Nishaanchi collected a mere Rs. 5 lakhs on the fourth day. This happened despite a favourable word of mouth. But the collections prove that the audience simply didn’t care about the film one bit. At this rate, its lifetime collections might be less than Rs. 1 crore. What is alarming is that Nishaanchi is a two-part saga. One wonders what happens now about the second part.
This week will see the release of Homebound. It looks niche but has some chances as it's India’s official entry to the Oscars. This factor will ensure the film hopefully opens at Rs. 1-1.50 crores. If the trending is strong, it’ll get some showcasing next week despite the release of the biggies, Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari.
The week that has gone by was a bittersweet one for the industry. The biggest film of the week, Jolly LLB 3, had an impressive performance over the weekend. The opening was affected a bit as the VPF issues led to the advance booking being discontinued twice in the biggest multiplex chain, PVR Inox. The second time it got halted was on Thursday evening and the matter was resolved on Friday just after midnight. This is the time when a lot of people book tickets and hence, this issue did dent the film to some extent.
Nevertheless, Jolly LLB 3 opened at Rs. 12.50 crores, which is a bit higher than the day 1 figures of Jolly LLB 2 (Rs. 12.06 crores). The film saw a jump on Saturday, earning Rs. 19 crores. On Sunday, the earnings were flat as it collected Rs. 19.75 crores. This was probably due to the India vs Pakistan match on the evening of the third day.
The Monday earnings were expected to be around Rs. 6-7 crores, as a normal 50% drop was expected. But the drop was 60%. The film collected just Rs. 5 crores and it shocked the industry. This is because the Saturday jump indicated that the word of mouth is very positive. But the Monday figures prove that the reports are probably not as positive. The collections jumped to Rs. 6.50 crores due to the offer on Tuesday. But it fell to Rs. 4.25-4.50 crore levels on Wednesday.
The first week's collections will be around Rs. 70 crores. Until the weekend, it seemed like Jolly LLB will have a lifetime of Rs. 125 crores. But with the weekday performance, a lifetime of Rs. 100-105 crores seems to be the best bet. A jump on the second Saturday is also crucial. Sunday once again would be impacted by the match.
Meanwhile, Nishaanchi got outright rejected. Though it starred new names and buzz was limited, it was expected that it would open at Rs. 75 lakhs or Rs. 1 crore due to Anurag Kashyap's connection. However, it opened at just Rs. 15 lakhs, that too with the buy-one-get-one offer! The collections were the same on Saturday as Friday, while on Sunday, it earned Rs. 17.50 lakhs.
Usually, films that have such negligible collections earn more on Monday than on Friday. But Nishaanchi collected a mere Rs. 5 lakhs on the fourth day. This happened despite a favourable word of mouth. But the collections prove that the audience simply didn’t care about the film one bit. At this rate, its lifetime collections might be less than Rs. 1 crore. What is alarming is that Nishaanchi is a two-part saga. One wonders what happens now about the second part.
This week will see the release of Homebound. It looks niche but has some chances as it's India’s official entry to the Oscars. This factor will ensure the film hopefully opens at Rs. 1-1.50 crores. If the trending is strong, it’ll get some showcasing next week despite the release of the biggies, Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari.
(Crisp) Movie Review: JOLLY LLB 3 by FENIL SETA
10:23 AM
Jolly LLB 3 begins on a very serious note. It helps in establishing the base and once the focus shifts to the two protagonists, the humour is infused in full force. In today's times, when funny films are not so funny, Jolly LLB 3 stands out; the humour works big time. A scene in the second half might be seen needless and not having any relevance to the main plot. But no complaints as it's hilarious. However, the film also has some hard-hitting and dramatic sequences. Expect the audience to break into applause, especially in the end. What also helps is that writer-director Subhash Kapoor has taken up a very relevant topic. On the flipside, the first half is just fine. Also, the antagonist ideally should have given a bit more tough fight; things resolve conveniently towards the end for our heroes. Both Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi are equally terrific. Akshay has slightly more screen time, but Arshad makes up for it with his presence and timing. Saurabh Shukla is like the third hero of the film and is killer. It was heartening to see viewers hooting and whistling on his entry. Amrita Rao and Huma Qureshi are just okay. Seema Biswas, Gajraj Rao and Ram Kapoor are natural. Shilpa Shukla (Chanchal Chautala) and Others do great. All in all, Jolly LLB 3 turns out to be much better than the trailer and is one of the best films of the year.
My rating - **** out of 5!
My rating - **** out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 900
9:02 AM
WILL JOLLY LLB 3 AND NISHAANCHI TASTE SUCCESS?
One of the most anticipated films of the year, Jolly LLB 3, is all set to release tomorrow, September 19. It is a part of a successful franchise with a huge following. The first part, Jolly LLB, starred Arshad Warsi in the lead role. It had a slow start and went on to do Rs. 30.32 crores due to great word of mouth.
Jolly LLB 2 starred Akshay Kumar and it was released in 2017, when the star was at his peak. It opened at a huge Rs. 12.06 crores and earned Rs. 107.77 crores in its lifetime. This film, too, received positive reports from the audience. In the third part, both Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi will be seen together, and that too, fighting it out in court. As a result, since the film was announced, there has been considerable excitement about it.
The teaser did the trick and added to the buzz. The songs, however, failed to click. As for the trailer, it has got mixed reactions. While many loved it, some felt that it fell short of expectations. The advance booking is fine, but it should have been better.
The target for Jolly LLB 3 will be to open better than the second part. The belief is that viewers are adopting a wait-and-watch strategy, that is, waiting for the reviews to pour in before booking the tickets. Once it is clear that the word of mouth is positive, Jolly LLB 3 can see a jump in collections from Friday night itself. An ideal scenario would be the film earning around Rs. 45-50 crores in its first weekend and then targeting a lifetime of Rs. 100 crore plus.
The other release of the week is Nishaanchi. It is directed by Anurag Kashyap and stars Smita Thackeray’s son Aaishvary in the lead role. The film seems to be in the zone of Gangs Of Wasseypur. The advance is limited and it’s a film that should grow on Saturday and Sunday. It can also remain strong on the weekdays, but it all depends on the word of mouth.
One of the most anticipated films of the year, Jolly LLB 3, is all set to release tomorrow, September 19. It is a part of a successful franchise with a huge following. The first part, Jolly LLB, starred Arshad Warsi in the lead role. It had a slow start and went on to do Rs. 30.32 crores due to great word of mouth.
Jolly LLB 2 starred Akshay Kumar and it was released in 2017, when the star was at his peak. It opened at a huge Rs. 12.06 crores and earned Rs. 107.77 crores in its lifetime. This film, too, received positive reports from the audience. In the third part, both Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi will be seen together, and that too, fighting it out in court. As a result, since the film was announced, there has been considerable excitement about it.
The teaser did the trick and added to the buzz. The songs, however, failed to click. As for the trailer, it has got mixed reactions. While many loved it, some felt that it fell short of expectations. The advance booking is fine, but it should have been better.
The target for Jolly LLB 3 will be to open better than the second part. The belief is that viewers are adopting a wait-and-watch strategy, that is, waiting for the reviews to pour in before booking the tickets. Once it is clear that the word of mouth is positive, Jolly LLB 3 can see a jump in collections from Friday night itself. An ideal scenario would be the film earning around Rs. 45-50 crores in its first weekend and then targeting a lifetime of Rs. 100 crore plus.
The other release of the week is Nishaanchi. It is directed by Anurag Kashyap and stars Smita Thackeray’s son Aaishvary in the lead role. The film seems to be in the zone of Gangs Of Wasseypur. The advance is limited and it’s a film that should grow on Saturday and Sunday. It can also remain strong on the weekdays, but it all depends on the word of mouth.
Shah Rukh Khan brings Arshad Warsi on board for King in a quirky role the actor couldn’t say no to
10:15 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 4, 2025)
Any news about King, and fans lap it up with gusto. The film not only launches Suhana Khan on the big screen after her OTT debut with The Archies, but also marks her first on-screen union with her superstar father, Shah Rukh Khan.
Currently in pre-production, the Siddharth Anand directorial begins filming on May 18 at a Mumbai studio, before heading to the UAE and Europe for later schedules. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Abhay Verma, and now, Arshad Warsi in a crucial role.
Interestingly, this marks Warsi’s second outing with Shah Rukh after the latter’s cameo in Kuchh Meetha Ho Jaye (2005). A source shares, “His role is small, but pivotal. Arshad could not refuse when Shah Rukh approached him. When he personally calls someone, nobody says no. Arshad is doing the film only because he loves Shah Rukh. His role is a sweet, quirky, funny and cute one with slight grey shades; and only Arshad can play it to perfection.”
Warsi, currently shooting Dhamaal 4 with Ajay Devgn, also has Jolly LLB 3, Welcome To The Jungle, and Raj Kumar Hirani’s Pritam Pedro lined up. “While Shah Rukh and Suhana begin shooting from May 18, Arshad will join them only from June-end after he wraps up Indra Kumar’s Dhamaal 4,” adds the source.
Many Hindi films have opted against a theatrical release in the next two-three months
8:22 AM
Many Hindi films have opted against a theatrical release in the next two-three months, we find out why
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 19, 2025)
Amid a flurry of OTT releases, a film releasing in theatres is a big deal in itself these days. It is almost a gamble, given how picky audiences are about a theatrical watch. One look at the 2025 calendar of releases, and you will realize that the next three months seem to be a rough patch for the industry. Among others, the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) is said to be one of the reasons for the lean patch.
Looking at April alone, many releases have been shifted. The Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi-starrer Jolly LLB 3 will now hit the screens in August. Filmmaker Karan Johar’s Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, starring Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor and Sanya Malhotra, will now hit the screens on September 12 instead of April 18. A source tells us that while the shoot started later than intended, businessman Adar Poonawalla buying 50% stake in KJo’s Dharma Productions also added to the delay.
Metro... In Dino was originally set to come out on November 29 last year, but it got pushed to July 4. Sharing why the film wasn’t slated for a summer release, a source close to the project informs us: “We wanted a desired window looking at the other releases. So, we settled on July 4.”
Of course, the trade is not happy with the lean patch. Expert Atul Mohan says, “Every month sees one or two big releases, but small filmmakers don’t prefer to release their films in theatres when the IPL is on. So, they push their dates by a month or two.”
Ananth Narayan Mahadevan, director of Phule, isn’t perturbed by the IPL or other films releasing alongside: “April 10 is the 197th birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. So, how can we miss out on that date? There won’t be any point otherwise.”
Films set to hit the screens this summer
April currently has four theatrical releases that are likely to hit the screens as scheduled — Jaat and Bhool Chuk Maaf on April 10, Phule on April 11 and The Bhootnii on April 18. May has two releases — Raid 2 and Kesari Veer.
June will see three films in theatres — Housefull 5, Maalik and Maa.
Phule director Ananth Mahadevan undeterred about box office clash with Prabhas, Yash, Akshay Kumar
9:42 AM
With April 11 marking the 197th birth anniversary of social activist Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, on whom his film Phule is based, filmmaker Anant Mahadevan says he’s undeterred about locking horns with mammoth projects fronted by Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, and Yash
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 7, 2025)
At a time when the volume of content being churned out by the film industry often leads to a tussle for screens across India, releasing a small-budget offering alongside three big-budget productions may seem like a poorly calculated move. But April 11 is a date of significance for Ananth Narayan Mahadevan, given that it coincides with the 197th birth anniversary of social activist Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, on whom his film, Phule, is based.
Mahadevan acknowledges that releasing the movie merely a day after mammoth productions like Prabhas’s The Raja Saab, Yash’s Toxic, and Akshay Kumar’s Jolly LLB 3 hit the theatres may seem daunting for a filmmaker, but he is certain that the Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa-starrer will catch the attention of the audience he intends to target.
“April 11 is a milestone; a date to celebrate. It is relevant for us to release the film on that day, regardless of which other film is also released. Our date is finalised. In March, we will begin promoting Phule, and ensure that people belonging to each corner of India know what the film is about. I have shot at actual locations, like at a wada [fortress] in Bhor, Kolhapur, and Satara. I did not shoot on a set because my producers, Ritesh and Anuya Kudecha, insisted that the film be made as authentically as possible,” says Mahadevan.
Celebrating the socialists, Phule, and his wife Savitribai (played by Patralekhaa) for their innumerable contributions to society, Mahadevan calls the former the “Abraham Lincoln of India.”
“When Jyotirao learnt that Lincoln abolished slavery in America, he was deeply inspired. He was fighting a battle on two fronts—against the British, and [against society]. The fight was to dispel practices like gender and caste discrimination and promote the education of the girl child. Today if women have an opinion, are educated, and are taken seriously, [it is because of them]. Savitribai and Fatima Sheikh [Indian educator] were the first female teachers in India.”
Ask him if he considered casting Rajkummar Rao as the film’s leading man to have the husband-and-wife duo Rao and Patralekhaa reprise the relationship on screen, and he responds in the negative. “Pratik is an effortless actor,” he backs his leading man.
“He is a chameleon, and we can all just marvel at him. He works hard on each role, but that effort isn’t made obvious on the screen, and that is what acting is all about. Of course, Rajkummar is very accomplished, and I could have approached him via Patralekhaa, but when I saw Pratik and Patralekhaa together, I felt the real characters had come alive.”
Amrita Rao joins Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi in Jolly LLB 3
8:24 AM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 9, 2024)
Jolly LLB 3 is proving to be a reunion of the cast of the first and second films in the franchise. In the latest development, we’ve exclusively learnt that actor Amrita Rao will reprise her role from the first film. Recently, Arshad Warsi, the eponymous lead of the first film from 2013, joined the cast of the third part, which stars the leads of the second instalment, Akshay Kumar and Huma Qureshi. Actor Saurabh Shukla, who played Justice Tripathi in both films, is also returning.
“Amrita is returning as Arshad’s wife (Sandhya) in Jolly LLB 3, continuing their story from the first part. With her entry, it’s a complete unification of the franchise’s cast,” says a source. The shoot of the third instalment started in May in Rajasthan, and Rao was a part of that schedule, reveals the source.
“The location was such that everyone had to walk to reach there as no vehicle could go on those roads,” shares the insider, adding that the team is shooting in Mumbai for the next leg of the film. “The next schedule of Jolly LLB 3 will be in Delhi in June-end, with the entire team,” the source shares.
Akshay Kumar to film Jolly LLB 3 till June-end, before diving into Welcome To The Jungle shoot
8:11 AM
Sources say Akshay to have hectic two months as he films Jolly LLB 3 till June-end, before diving into Welcome To The Jungle shoot
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 8, 2024)
Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi recently began the Mumbai leg of Jolly LLB 3. The superstar will complete most portions of the courtroom comedy, which also features Huma Qureshi, during this stint. But there is no breather in sight for him. Sources indicate Kumar will shoot the third instalment of the Jolly LLB franchise throughout June, only to be beckoned by the third edition of another franchise—Welcome.
In July, the actor will return to the set of Welcome To The Jungle. A source reveals, “Most of the indoor portions will be filmed in this schedule. Director Ahmed Khan has lined up 30 days of shoot, after which it will be a wrap on the comedy. The team has been instructed to be ready to resume shooting in early July.”
Welcome To The Jungle has an ensemble cast that includes Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Jackie Shroff, Lara Dutta, Disha Patani, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Tusshar Kapoor and Warsi. The source adds, “A song shoot is lined up for this leg. Akshay will also be busy with Sarfira promotions, which he will juggle with the shoot.”
Due to high cost of shooting in Delhi, makers shift to Lucknow, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh
8:26 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 14, 2024)
If you’ve seen Delhi in any film or web show in the last one year, chances are that it’s not the city, but a recreated set in Lucknow or some place in Madhya Pradesh. Shooting in the Capital is expensive. Given the soaring costs, we have learnt that many films that were supposed to be shot in Delhi over long schedules are now being moved to other cities.
For instance, actor Aamir Khan’s Delhi schedule for Sitaare Zameen Par has been cut. A source says, “Instead of a month, the team will only shoot in Delhi in July for just 8 to 10 days now.”
On the other hand, actor Janhvi Kapoor’s Ulajh couldn’t make it to Delhi due to budget constraints. “Earlier, it was to be shot in Delhi for around two weeks. But the budget was overshot in London. So, the makers shifted the shoot to Bhopal. They will either recreate Delhi or will base the plot in Bhopal now,” the source adds. Even the Arshad Warsi and Akshay Kumar-starrer Jolly LLB 3 that was supposed to be shot in Delhi is now being shot in Ajmer.
Sharing a break-up of how shooting in Delhi looks like now, a source says that while shooting at the Rajiv Chowk metro station costs Rs. 2 lakh per hour, the international airport costs Rs. 12 lakh for four hours.
A production head, on condition of anonymity, adds: “If you want to shoot at Rajiv Chowk for four hours, Rs. 8 lakh go to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. GST ki baat agar nahin bhi karte hain, tab bhi Rs. 2.36 lakh go to the New Delhi Municipal Council and Rs. 1 lakh to the parking guys. Around Rs. 2 lakh go to the Delhi Police for security. So, you can do the math.”
The insider adds that makers now tell writers to not write a script around Delhi: “The haveli in Chandni Chowk that would earlier cost Rs. 25,000 is now given for Rs. 4 lakh a day.”
It’s not easy
A source says, “Delhi is an expensive city. Owners of bungalows have hiked the prices due to the soaring demand. Plus, the hotel costs are high in Delhi. While a stay in a five-star hotel in Delhi would cost Rs. 10,000, in Lucknow, it might cost Rs. 5,000.”
Line producer Navmeet Singh adds, “Hotels and travel are expensive in Delhi, which results in less work here. I am planning to change my centre of work and setting things up for shoots in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.”
Lucknow is the new Dilli
The makers of actor Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2 are recreating Delhi in Lucknow. “They shot in Delhi for four days, including India Gate, and then moved to Lucknow for 47 days. At least 20-25 films are being shot in Lucknow, thanks to the subsidies and quick permissions,” a person from the production team says.
Filmmaker Aanand L Rai’s Nakhrewaalii also followed suit. “The team shot in Lucknow for 40 days and recreated Delhi there. That was cheaper. They wanted to shoot in a bungalow in Barakhamba Road that’d cost them Rs. 1 lakh a day. Aanand got that for Rs. 30,000 in Lucknow,” says the source.
Experts speak up as OGs Vidya Balan, Arshad Warsi are back in Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Jolly LLB
8:18 AM
With the return of the original cast of hit franchises in new instalments, we decode the strategy and its benefits
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 8, 2024)
Movie lovers are in for a treat as their favourite OGs from different franchises are set to return to the new instalments. While actor Vidya Balan, who played Manjulika in Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) and wasn’t part of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022), will be seen in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, actor Arshad Warsi, who played the lead in Jolly LLB (2013), returns to Jolly LLB 3. Actor Akshay Kumar, too, who was part of Welcome (2007), will be seen in Welcome To The Jungle.
The return of the original cast adds value to the film, says Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 director Anees Bazmee, who’s helming Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3: “Vidya did a great job in the first film. So, she will perform even better. Uss character ko woh jee chuki hain. Publicity ke liye bhi achcha hai, as logon ka excitement badh jaata hai.”
Nostalgia matters
A film’s sequel without the OG cast can do well, but when the original cast is reintroduced into the script, it triggers nostalgia. Trade analyst Atul Mohan says, “When you recall the original movie, the OG cast comes to your mind. When you think of Bhool Bhulaiyaa, you think of Vidya Balan; when you think of Welcome, you think of Akshay Kumar. In the Jolly LLB franchise, you remember both Arshad and Akshay, but Arshad’s memes are more famous. That’s all because of the recall value.”
Is it a success mantra?
Film critic and trade expert Taran Adarsh says, “When you add the OG actor to the cast of a new instalment, the film automatically creates buzz. But, as far as the financials are concerned, it all depends on the content. Both the films (Jolly LLB and Bhool Bhulaiyaa) did well at the box office.”
The flipside
Talking about the excitement of the audience, producer and film business expert Girish Johar highlights how a poorly made story can backfire: “These are already successful franchises. So, it (bringing the original cast back) adds more excitement to the box-office salability. It helps in marketing. But, there’s a flipside. There are certain elements that you don’t want to see and certain things the audience didn’t like earlier. So, the pressure is definitely more.”
Akshay Kumar kicks off Jolly LLB 3 in Rajasthan with Arshad Warsi, Huma Qureshi
8:32 AM
Having wrapped up Welcome 3 schedule, Akshay kicks off Jolly LLB 3 in Rajasthan; project marks second of his four comedies this year
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; May 1, 2024)
It’s raining sequels for Akshay Kumar. He recently shot the Mumbai schedule of Welcome to the Jungle. Now, the superstar has stepped into the world of Jolly LLB 3, seven years after headlining its second instalment. While Arshad Warsi, who portrayed Jagdish Tyagi in the first edition, kicked off the courtroom comedy in Rajasthan over the weekend (Jolly face-off begins, April 29), we hear Kumar joined the shoot a few days later.
It is known that Kumar’s Jagdishwar Mishra and Warsi’s character will be seen as rivals in Subhash Kapoor’s directorial venture.
“The first schedule will be 15-20 days long. Huma Qureshi is reprising her role of Akshay’s wife. She was filming Gulabi in Ahmedabad until last week, and joined this project soon after,” says a source close to the development.
After the big-scale action fare, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Kumar seems to be in the mood for laugh riots. Besides Welcome To The Jungle and Jolly LLB 3, the actor is set to reunite with Priyadarshan 14 years after their last collaboration, Khatta Meetha (2010). This time around, the actor-director duo are tackling a horror comedy.
An insider says, “The film will explore one of the oldest superstitions in India. It’s an idea that has Akshay quite excited.”
The superstar will round off his comedy line-up with Mudassar Aziz’s Khel Khel Mein that also stars Taapsee Pannu and Lara Dutta.
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Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 1, 2024)
While Arshad Warsi and Akshay Kumar impressed audiences with their performances in Jolly LLB (2013) and Jolly LLB 2 (2017), respectively, moviegoers are in for a treat, as the actors are set to unite for the third instalment of the Jolly LLB franchise. Unlike the reports that suggest that the courtroom drama is currently at its pre-production stage, we have learnt that Warsi has already started shooting for the Subhash Kapoor directorial in Ajmer (Rajasthan).
A source says the shoot “kicked off on April 29”, adding, “Akshay will start shooting in Ajmer tomorrow (May 2).” The film marks Kumar and Warsi’s fourth collaboration. Earlier, they shared screen space in Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahaani (2002) and Bachchhan Paandey (2022), and are currently shooting for Welcome To The Jungle.
Meanwhile, we have also learnt that the actors will begin the Delhi leg of the shooting schedule next month. “The shoot in Delhi will go on for 30-40 days, starting June. Akshay will be shooting in the Capital for about six days. The makers will shoot extensively near the Tis Hazari court area,” informs the source.
While some reports suggested that the shoot of Jolly LLB 3 might get cancelled or postponed due to the soaring temperatures, the source says “everything will go as planned”.
(Inputs by Navya Kharbanda)
Arshad Warsi confirms Welcome 3: "I am starring in it, it’s a huge film"
8:10 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 17, 2023)
Amid rumours and unverified reports, we have exclusively learnt that Welcome 3 is in the works. Actor Arshad Warsi says, “The scale of Welcome 3 — the cost and climax — is unreal. It is a larger-than-life theatrical film and I am a part of it. The cast includes me, Akshay Kumar, Sanju (actor Sanjay Dutt), Paresh Rawal and lots of other people.”
While he looks forward to this outing, ask why his Bollywood releases are few and far between, and the 55-year-old says, “The whole scenario has changed in cinema. Now, all the projects releasing in theatres are superhero films. They are huge and larger than life. I don’t fancy doing a small bit in these big films. For me, job satisfaction is most important. These films can pay me tonnes of money. In fact, I was offered a few such projects, but I didn’t take them up.”
While he doubts, but doesn’t “negate” Munna Bhai 3 being made, he spills the beans on Jolly LLB 3, which features him and Kumar. “We will start shooting in January. It is one of those films that tell you the truth of how things run in the world. It’s about good versus bad,” Warsi signs off.
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