Showing posts with label Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. Show all posts
Salman Khan has become quieter but is still deeply protective-Bhagyashree
8:50 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; December 27, 2025)
Bhagyashree, Salman Khan’s first leading lady from Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), looks back at her journey with the superstar and reflects on how much and how little he has changed over the years. From their early days on set to reuniting decades later in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023), she says Salman continues to hold a special place in her life.
Recalling their bond from the very beginning, Bhagyashree says Salman always had a rare balance of fun and responsibility. “In those days, Salman was a total prankster. But we bonded as friends, and he was very protective of me. That hasn’t changed,” she shares.
She adds that even during the early years of her marriage, Salman remained a constant presence. “He was a mix of fun and maturity. While he would be pranking someone or the other all the time, he was also the steadfast friend one would want. He would regularly ask me after my marriage if I was okay, knowing I did not have my family with me at that time.”
That sense of care, she says, has extended to her family over the years. Speaking about their reunion on Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, Bhagyashree shares, “On the sets of the film, the way he took care of me, my husband Himalaya ji, and our son Abhimanyu was amazing. Over the years, I know we have grown in different directions and therefore do not meet often, but ever since he met Abhimanyu, he has always kept track of him and his work. And it works both ways. Abhimanyu also likes to share his journey with Salman and take advice from time to time. Salman has always been special. Back then and now, for me, my first hero will never change.”
Bhagyashree also points out a softer side of Salman that many may not be fully aware of. “One thing that has come to light over the years is his bonding with kids. He loves them. He dotes on his nieces and nephews.”
Reflecting on how life has shaped him, she notes visible changes in his temperament. She says, “Salman was livelier and more fun-loving then. He has become more serious now. Life has thrown a lot of oddballs at him, and because of that, he has become more closed off. He vibes only with people who are closest to him.”
She also addresses how his larger-than-life presence is often misunderstood. “People get intimidated by the aura that surrounds Salman the moment he walks in. I do not think he does anything to make people uncomfortable. He is just himself. He does not create noise or any hoo-ha about his entry, but because there are always people around him, everyone knows he has arrived. He has simply become quieter than he was earlier,” she concludes.
Asked what makes Salman an enduring brand beyond box office numbers and superstardom, Bhagyashree attributes it to something far more intangible. “Blessings and duas he gets from all the people he has helped over the years. There are loads of people who swear by his generosity. I think kindness begets blessings,” she says.
Sikandar is the tenth highest first weekend ever for Salman Khan
8:51 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
SIKANDAR was the tenth highest first weekend for Salman Khan at 70 crore nett plus when the target was to get to 100 crore nett over three days. The 100 crore target is also because the music or trailers did not generate much heat because if they did then there is no target as the sky is the limit.
The last release for Salman Khan had collected 138 crore nett on a similar weekend with a Sunday start and at that time this number was also looked at as if it was on the lower side which was not the case. The numbers were double of SIKANDAR; its another story that TIGER 3 was not appreciated but the initial was very good.
SIKANDAR has similar numbers to DABANGG 3 which was released in 2019 just before the pandemic and its numbers are actually not much higher than KISI KA BHAI KISI KI JAAN which did 58 crore nett. TIGER 3 was double its weekend numbers in terms of its lifetime business and that will be the case for SIKANDAR as well.
The top ten opening weekends for Salman Khan are as follows.
1. Tiger 3 - 1,38,56,00,000
2. Tiger Zinda Hai - 1,14,91,00,000
3. Sultan - 1,05,55,00,000
4. Bajrangi Bhaijaan - 1,01,42,00,000
5. Race 3 - 1,00,64,00,000
6. Prem Ratan Dhan Payo - 97,63,00,000
7. Bharat - 90,47,00,000
8. Kick - 80,43,00,000
9. Dabangg 3 - 72,46,00,000
10. Sikandar - 70,50,00,000 apprx
11. Tubelight - 61,53,00,000
12. Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan - 58,56,00,000
13. Dabangg 2 - 48,43,00,000
14. Jai Ho - 58,17,00,000
15. Ek Tha Tiger - 56,11,00,000
Salman Khan fans on intentional negativity around Sikandar: "Something like this has the power to wipe off a film"
8:44 AM
From circulation of old videos on X to posts about Sikandar’s shows being cancelled, Salman Khan’s fan clubs say negative advertising being used to bring the film down
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 3, 2025)
On Monday night, many accounts on X posted a video in which movie-goers, after apparently having watched Sikandar, are expressing their disappointment with the Salman Khan-starrer. Soon, it came to light that it was, in fact, an old video of viewers reacting to Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023), but was being circulated on X as a reaction to Khan’s latest release. What’s worse, it was being run as an ad on the platform.
While Sikandar has opened to poor reviews and an underwhelming response, members of Khan’s fan clubs suspect that negative advertising is being used to influence the audience’s perception of the Eid release.
Ravi Desai, who runs the Salman Khan Fan Club, says that negativity around the A R Murugadoss-directed venture is being artificially inflated. “It remains to be seen whether this campaign is driven by someone in the industry, or just an aggressive push by rival fan groups. But something like this has the power to wipe off a film. It happened during Tubelight [2017]. You can’t combat these posts because there is most likely an agency hired and it is multiplying bots every hour. [Many posts] claimed that shows are cancelled, but if you check at Gaiety Galaxy, the shows are sold out,” he argues.
Rohit Sharma, who runs the fan club, Salman Army, points out how a boycott campaign had been run against Laal Singh Chaddha (2021). “We saw how online hate ensured that people stayed away from Aamir Khan’s film. Something similar is happening here. Why is an old video being sold as a reaction to Sikandar,” he questions, adding that those at the helm of it are setting a “dangerous precedent”.
“If an agency can be hired to run paid ads and amplify negative tweets about a film, it can be used against any actor or filmmaker in the future. It’s manipulation,” he says.
Salman Khan has the best talent working for him; yet, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan didn’t work-Sukhbir Singh
7:58 AM
His decades-old traditional hits may still be staples on party playlists, but Bandaa Singh Choudhary singer Sukhbir says he’s welcoming the change in the genre brought about by new-age artistes
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; October 28, 2024)
In an era where artistes like A P Dhillon, Diljit Dosanjh, and Karan Aujla are showcasing Punjabi music in new light, we encourage Sukhbir Singh to toy with an idea. Today’s listeners, we suggest, could be craving traditional music from his stable, considering that his decades-old tracks, like Gal Ban Gayi, Ishq Tere Tadpave, and Oho Ho Ho Ho, are still staples on party playlists. Sukhbir, however, isn’t willing to easily entertain the thought.
“It’s important to note that last year I [worked on] the song Billi Billi for Salman Khan. That was an entirely traditional Punjabi song, but when you look at the streaming results, you can see that the younger generation prefers a [different] sound,” says the singer, adding that evolving music preferences continue to keep him on his toes, three decades into his career.
“We have to find a balance [between old and new sounds]. We’re constantly experimenting with new music, and ultimately the consumer decides what must be accepted.”
With an understanding of evolving music tastes, Sukhbir asserts that even this genre has been influenced by western preferences.
He points to the success of Dhillon when highlighting, “[He introduced] a hardcore American genre, but with a desi melody that everyone liked. Now, you can see the [shift in] trend. I find a lot of this music really interesting too, and am influenced by it. If it’s working, it’s a good indicator that something is being accepted.”
Sukhbir doesn’t disregard the fact that today, an artiste’s popularity depends on both his music as well as the persona he creates on social media. He highlights several instances in which a single viral reel may have changed the trajectory of an artiste’s career, but argues that despite being a marketing tool driven by financial investments, social media can be a great equalizer.
“I worked with Salman Khan, who has the best talent working for him across departments like music, direction, editing, and choreography. Even then, the movie [Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan] didn’t work. On the other hand, we had a song called Manike Mage Hithe, by a Sri Lankan artiste [Yohani], which was a song that nobody understood. Still, it topped all the charts. When I asked her how much she spent on the video, she said she spent nothing. She got a friend to shoot it with one light, and a mic that they both shared. They also edited it themselves. So, I am a strong believer in the fact that everything needs to fall into place at once. You need to have an X-factor, the right song, and an appealing hook step.”
But behind all the razzmatazz, Sukhbir proves that a singer’s prowess will rarely be unappreciated. His latest work in cinema, the out-and-out Punjabi track, Meher, has an appeal that is reminiscent of his past numbers.
“I had no creative inputs on the melody or composition, but [Bandaa Singh Chaudhary director] Abhishek Saxena really wanted me to sing it. The key was high, and it was out of my comfort zone. Nonetheless, we managed to work on it. I watched the video a couple of days ago; it surely brought a smile to my face,” he says of the song that has actor and former choreographer Arshad Warsi showcasing his Punjabi moves.
Meanwhile, the ‘Prince of Bhangra’ has his attention trained to his live concerts, which he attempts to make as visually arresting as they are sonically appealing.
“My focus has always been on making the audience part of my performances, rather than perceiving them as [consumers] of my performance. We try to [exchange] our energies. If you see the dhol players who accompany me, you will notice that they dance as well. There are steps we all do together, and these are things I arrived at after receiving a lot of feedback from the audience. They’d often say, ‘The dancers are okay, but when your band members dance along, we feel the energy’. I take that into account to make informed decisions about what goes on, on stage.”
Music can be learnt in 12 days, says Singham Again composer Ravi Basrur
7:57 AM
Investing several years into learning music is “rubbish”, says Singham Again composer Ravi Basrur, adding that accelerating his effort to become an independent artiste opened doors for him across film industries
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; October 14, 2024)
When a family discourse led to him being separated from his brother, Ravi Basrur set on to fulfil a dream that was his. “He was removed from an orchestra, and for him, I started one after we were separated due to family issues. [Back] then, I understood rhythm patterns. [Certain individuals] were paying my [team] double the money to leave me, and my keyboardist left. I had 12 days to learn the process [of playing the keyboard],” reveals the musician, who, inspired by that incident, now runs a 12-day course, training musicians to learn the craft.
“My recommendation is to not waste time learning music for five or eight years. It’s all rubbish. Think about it, if you sign up for guitar classes, you are taught for an hour each week. In a year, you would approximately spend 48 hours learning it. So, to learn material worth 48 hours, you end up wasting a year. Instead, if you invest your days and nights into learning an art, you can learn it faster. I have about 45 students learning music within 12 days. Thereafter, it’s on them to hone their craft,” says Basrur, reiterating the importance of practice in enabling an artiste to stand out from the crowd.
Basrur draws from his personal journey when highlighting how instrumental the art of practicing has been in defining his success. Before Prashanth Neel’s Ugramm (2014), which marked his debut as a composer, he had worked on 140 films as a producer. Interacting with and meeting the demands of film directors across industries gave him a first-hand account of the different ways in which he could establish his place as a solo artiste.
“I am grateful to Salman [Khan] sir for placing his trust in me with Antim [2021], and subsequently, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan [2023],” says Basrur, whose next is the November release, Singham Again.
Basrur was roped in to compose the title track for Rohit Shetty’s film. Shetty had told him to create a number befitting the grandeur that his films have come to be associated with. “They liked it, and then called me to create another number. Subsequently, I was told to work on the film’s score. We are working on creating musical tones for each character, including one for Arjun [Kapoor] sir’s Raavan avatar. We used music from the old [edition], including for the title track, and tweaked them using modern trends.”
Ask him what makes this project special, and he says he finds himself fortunate to bag the opportunities to compose for the multiple stars who are associated with it, “including Deepika Padukone”.
Irrespective of the industry he is roped in to create music for, Basrur believes the success of any musician lies in his ability to craft a winning melody. “When you understand the character completely, it makes the job of creating the melody easier. That’s why, more than the editor, it is the musician who watches sections of a movie over and over again. We find unique sounds for each instance, and select the ones that suit the situation appropriately. It’s an interesting art, but you need to be passionate about it,” he signs off.
Singham Again, the third instalment of Shetty’s franchise that is fronted by Ajay Devgn. It is set to release on November 1 to coincide with Diwali, and also features Akshay Kumar and Ranveer Singh.
We didn't have Rs. 600 cr budget like Kalki 2898 AD, yet were brought people to theatres-Raghav Juyal
8:06 AM
The actor-dancer talks about his ‘breakout’ film and balancing dance with his acting career
Navya Kharbanda (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 24, 2024)
Raghav Juyal’s onscreen journey may have begun with reality TV, but the actor-dancer is now basking in the glowing reviews that he received for the recently released film Kill. Juyal, who played the gangster Fani, says the response to the film has been “phenomenal”.
“I am enjoying this time a lot; it feels like I am having a career shift. The entire industry and filmmakers abroad have called me to appreciate [the film]. It feels good that our hard work is being rewarded,” he tells us.
Kill did the rounds at film festivals before releasing in theatres this year. Juyal, who last starred in the comedy Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023), feels that the actioner has been pivotal to his career shift. “This film opened doors for me, I feel this is my breakout. It has been a crazy ride,” Juyal shares, adding that word of mouth played a significant role in the film’s success.
“Kalki 2898 AD jaisi Rs. 600-700 crore ke budget wali film humare saath thi, but we were able to bring people to the theatre simply by word of mouth.”
Ask why he thinks this was possible and the 33-year-old notes that the audience is king. “People don’t want to see flashy cinema where the hero is romancing his girl and saving her. The audience expects raw content and real stories, not a dream world,” he explains.
Talking about waiting for the right time to begin acting, Juyal, who hosted shows such as Dil Hai Hindustani 2 and Dance Plus, says, “Agar log mujhe TV par roz dekhenge toh theatres par paise kyun kharchenge? It is better if you are entering the industry with a blank slate. It takes a lot of time to break stereotypes and you need to do something to surprise audiences. Shocker zaroori hai, kuch mediocre karoge toh aaoge aur jaaoge.”
Will dance take a back seat as Juyal focusses on his acting career? “Nothing takes a back seat for me. I will dance in films now, why does it have to be a thing? I even have a huge dance number in my next film,” he ends.
Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan's success would have helped me-Jagapathi Babu
11:15 PM
Admitting that underwhelming response to Salman’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan left him sad, Telugu actor Jagapathi hopes to make inroads into Bollywood with Ruslaan
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 14, 2024)
Why would someone as accomplished as Jagapathi Babu, who has a 35-year career and numerous Telugu and Tamil films behind him, try his luck in Hindi movies? Why not, he laughs, when we meet him at Ruslaan’s trailer launch.
“I want to work in all languages; more the experience, more the fun. Also, I would be the only one to have tried all languages. I love that artistes from all languages are blending in,” he says.
The senior actor, 62, plays leading man Aayush Sharma’s father in the Karan L Butani-directed film. Before this, he debuted in Hindi films with Sharma’s superstar-brother-in-law Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (KKBKKJ, 2023). The underwhelming response to the action drama left him heartbroken.
“When KKBKKJ didn’t work, I felt bad. It was a Salman Khan film. That success would have helped me. But Ruslaan will do the magic for me. My character has mettle. Our director had a clear vision of the story. The director-actor equation is like making love. I saw Karan’s eyes; they spoke to me. He could convey everything without talking. Working with Aayush was a joy. He is an assured actor and has a grip on everything.”
Ruslaan, also starring Vidya Malavade and Sushrii Mishraa, is a quintessential action film. Many believe that the genre is reaching a saturation point, but Babu isn’t worried. “A film’s first hero is the script. I feel mindless action has lost steam, but this film has emotions and enough heightened drama to hold the story.”
Up next, the actor will begin shooting for Pushpa 2 - The Rule. “I play the main antagonist in Pushpa 3. I will be introduced towards the end of Pushpa 2. It’s an interesting character.”
Top 10 grossers in Gulf post pandemic: Shah Rukh Khan dominates
9:53 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
Gulf saw a huge year in 2023 as the Shah Rukh Khan starrers dominated with two films going over $10 million. As the overseas market came back to life from the mid 90's, it has been about three markets (USA/Canada, United Kingdom and Gulf). Initially the domination was from the United Kingdom and then towards the end of the 2000's, it became the the USA/Canada market.
Today, Gulf holds the highest total ever for the first time as no film from USA/Canada or United Kingdom has done as much as JAWAN has in Gulf. It is the highest ever total from an overseas circuit for a Hindi film. There is the the opening up of the Saudi market post the pandemic which helps the numbers but the issue has been that UAE is not what it used to be pre pandemic barring a few exceptions.
The top three films are all Shah Rukh Khan starrers and only he can do these numbers of JAWAN and PATHAAN while for others, $10 million would still be a huge target and maybe it can be down on a Eid release. It is basically Gulf and United Kingdom which sets Shah Rukh Khan apart from the others in Overseas as $15 million in Gulf and £4 million in United Kingdom is what only he can do when the film is right.
DUNKI sitting in third place pretty much sums up the star power in Gulf. You could also lock a $5 million total in Pakistan for the likes of JAWAN and PATHAAN but that is different story altogether and not likely to happen in the near future.
The top grossers post pandemic in Gulf are as follows. These numbers are for Hindi films only and likes of JAWAN and ANIMAL have it a little coming in regional also though its minimal.
1. Jawan - $17,700,000
2. Pathaan - $14,200,000
3. Dunki - $6,320,000
4. Animal - $5,200,000
5. Tiger 3 - $4,800,000
6. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani - $4,230,000
7. Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan - $2,600,000
8. KGF - Chapter 2 - $2,1,70,000
9. Brahmastra - $2,100,000
10. Drishyam 2 - $1,930,000
Advance booking of Oppenheimer has exceeded that of many Hindi biggies this year
8:43 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; July 20, 2023)
Who would’ve thought the advance booking of a film about a theoretical physicist could topple that of Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (KKBKKJ) or Ranbir Kapoor’s Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (TJMM)? But Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is doing just that, in the unpredictable times that Bollywood finds itself in.
The Cillian Murphy-led drama has so far sold more than 1.5 lakh tickets for the opening day alone in the three national chains—PVR, Inox and Cinepolis. In comparison, KKBKKJ had reportedly sold 57,000 tickets in advance booking in the three multiplex chains, while TJMM stood relatively higher at 73,000.
Oppenheimer has surpassed the advance ticket sales of all Bollywood films released in the past six months, except Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, which reportedly sold 5.15 lakh tickets.
Exhibitor Vishek Chauhan says the huge advance sales of Oppenheimer is a testament to Nolan’s popularity in India. “Christopher Nolan has built a loyal audience; he is the only selling point of his films in India. He has made blockbusters for an intelligent audience, he doesn’t dumb down his films. That’s how a true brand gets created,” he says.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says these numbers not only reiterate the director’s fan following, but also the audience’s keenness to head to theatres. “Nolan has a strong fan base among the metro audience. That’s the reason for the phenomenal advances. Also, there is a scarcity of big films. This shows that people are ready to go to theatres, if you give them larger-than-life entertainment.”
Despite a limited release of 800 screens across the country, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has so far sold more than 50,000 tickets for the opening day. A trade source notes, “It’s important to note that Barbie is limited to only national chains, with fewer screens. That’s what makes this number so big. By Friday, it should close at over 65,000 tickets.”
In six months, Bollywood delivers 2 blockbusters, 1 surprise super-hit
3:32 PM
Box Office India Trade Network
The first half of the year continued from where we left in 2022 with most films biting the dust. PATHAAN hit it out of the park with record numbers edging past BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION though in GROSS terms the Prabhas-starrer remains ahead. PATHAAN saw Shah Rukh Khan in the action genre which should have happened 10-15 years ago as a lot of his non performers were down to genre not being correct at the time of release for such a big star.
THE KERALA STORY was the surprise of the first six months as it racked up huge numbers for what the actual film as worth and the collections were more organic than last year's THE KASHMIR FILES which was on similar lines. Both these films are very low cost films with huge returns and are compared to biggest low cost film ever JAI SANTOSHI MAA (1975). But the box office success of these films is a notch lower as the reach is less than that film.
ZARA HATKE ZARA BACHKE was another big HIT and it is actually the most important film of the year as it is basically the bread and butter type film for the industry and it can still work. The film shows the audience profile has changed from upper middle/middle class to lower middle/middle class as nothing else in this zone has worked. But generally those films were more like pre pandemic aiming at the upper middle/middle classes. This film scored strongly in A centres of the Hindi belts pushing the box office over 80 crore nett with the help of super hit music.
The other moderate successes were TU JHOOTHI MAIN MAKKAAR and SATYAPREM KI KATHA but today even moderate is good. Actually today even a FLOP tag is pretty respectable as its one disaster after another. TU JHOOTHI MAIN MAKKAAR had a lot going for it with a strong cast and good music. As the film had a story and milieu which was very urban, the reach got limited and that reflects in collections. SATYAPREM KI KATHA is another film which has done well for what its worth. The film did not have much going for it and its managed a decent run till date and should end up around that 70 crore nett mark or near. The AVERAGE mark is disappointing for TU JHOOTHI MAIN MAKKAAR but you take it for SATYAPREM KI KATHA.
Last year there was support from the South with KGF: CHAPTER 2 and RRR but so far there has been nothing this year. Hollywood had some successful films with JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 being the surprise with collections of 50 crore nett. FAST X did a bigger number but expectations were also much higher.
There are flop theatrical films put in the list but as mentioned above, a flop is not bad as most films are disasters at the ticket counters today. The classifications of the first half of 2023 is as follows.
All Time Blockbuster
Pathaan
Super Blockbuster
The Kerala Story
Blockbuster
-
Super Hit
Zara Hatke Zara Bachke
Hit
John Wick: Chapter 4 (Hollywood)
Semi Hit
Fast X (Hollywood)
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (Hollywood)
Average
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar
Satyaprem Ki Katha
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (Hollywood)
Below Average
Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway
Ponniyin Selvan - Part 2 (South)
Flop
Adipurush
Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan
Bholaa
Analyzing the first six months of 2023 from box office perspective
8:35 AM
The last six months saw a number of small as well as big-banner films release, of which some hit the B-spot while most missed the mark
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 4, 2023)
The year started off with a bang as actor Shah Rukh Khan’s big comeback, Pathaan, lived up to its hype. However, it’s been a mixed bag in terms of the releases that followed. Trade expert Atul Mohan says, “Pathaan was an emotional hit. People just wanted to watch it to show support to Shah Rukh, who was going through a rough patch personally.”
A handful of films worked, but a bigger number didn’t. Family films and those in the romcom space, such as Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke and now, Satyaprem Ki Katha — which is still in its first week — worked. This hints at the fact that mid-segment movies are back to support tentpole films such as Pathaan.
“That was necessary, as mid-segment films are what keep the box office in the green. They keep people coming to cinemas till the time a big film releases,” says exhibitor Akshaye Rathi.
While the Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon-starrer Shehzada didn’t meet expectations, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan — led by Salman Khan — made on a production cost of Rs. 150 crore, also didn’t earn as expected.
But, trade expert Taran Adarsh feels the “biggest disappointment of 2023 has been Adipurush”. The Prabhas-led epic, which incurred a production cost of Rs. 500 crore, had its fate sealed from the big drop on its first Monday after release, clouded by controversy and backlash over its dialogues.
Star-led projects such as Akshay Kumar’s Selfiee and Ajay Devgn’s Bholaa also disappointed. But, then came The Kerala Story on May 5 that proved to be a winner. Its director, Sudipto Sen, says: “Small, realistic films are creating a new ecosystem. People are connecting more to them. The ones with an organic connection are the ones working.”
HITS
Pathaan
Budget: Rs. 240 cr
Lifetime: Rs. 512 cr
The Kerala Story
Budget: Rs. 30 cr
Lifetime: Rs. 211 cr
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar
Budget: Rs. 160 cr
Lifetime: Rs. 128 cr
Zara Hatke Zara Bachke
Budget: Rs. 40 cr
Lifetime: Rs. 83 cr
MISSES
Adipurush
Budget: Rs. 500 cr
Lifetime: Rs. 270 cr
Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan
Budget: Rs. 150 cr
Lifetime: Rs. 101 cr
Selfiee
Budget: Rs. 100 cr
Lifetime: Rs. 17 cr
Kuttey
Budget: Rs. 35 cr
Lifetime: Rs. 4 cr
(ALL INDIA FIGURES ACCORDING TO BOX OFFICE INDIA AND TRADE ESTIMATES)
Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan jo bhi tha, mere liye bahut achha tha. Rates badh gaye me-Raghav Juyal
8:28 AM
Raghav Juyal says the Salman Khan-starrer has been a blessing for him; also talks about his days of struggle and why it wasn’t a ‘bad phase’
Vinay MR Mishra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 7, 2023)
His latest Bollywood outing, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (KKBKKJ), may not have fared well at the box office, but for Raghav Juyal, the film has been a stroke of luck. The actor admits that his market value has boosted ever since he featured in the Salman Khan-starrer. With three big releases lined up, including films with producer Guneet Monga Kapoor and filmmaker Karan Johar, the dancer-turned-actor is liking how his career trajectory seems to be coming along.
All is well
Juyal played Khan’s brother in KKBKKJ and he admits that it was a great deal for him. “I am not in the league to worry about crores. For me, doing a 100-crore movie is enough. I don’t know what Salman Khan thinks about it. But for me, it has been good. You are as good as your last release. Jo bhi tha, mere liye bahut achha tha. Rates badh gaye mere,” Juyal shares.
Pushing the limits
The actor recalls pushing his limits for the film. “I worked double shifts for the movie. I would sleep in the vanity van and I even shot when I had dengue,” he recalls. While he is back to auditioning for other projects, he mentions how KKBKKJ was the only film for which he didn’t audition. “Bhai (Khan) called me,” he states.
Rejection se darr nahin lagta sahab!
Many actors find auditions intimidating, especially the criticism from casting directors that comes along. But Juyal looks at it differently. Recalling the time when he started auditioning for films while he was having a great ride on TV, he says, “Wohi (criticism) toh chahiye tha… I had a ghar, a car and everything was fine. I was getting crores on TV. But I like it when people point out my flaws. I’ve been rejected in auditions. When I started acting, main Sanjay Mishra (actor) ke ghar par pocha lagane ke liye bhi tayyar tha, as my motive was to learn.”
Waqt waqt ki baat hai
Juyal came to Mumbai in 2011 for a dance reality show and he’s amazed with how things turned around for him, professionally. “Main dancer banne aaya tha. Yeh sab kuch (career as an actor) bonus chal raha hai,” he quips. Back in the day, the 31-year-old worked at a dance studio. “I would stay back in the studio at times. It was jannat for me, as I got to practise all night and there was no rok-tok. There were struggles, but I never romanticised them. Ek vada pav mein pura din chalta tha. Back then, I used to live with 25 guys in a room. But I never looked at it as a bad phase. It was fun,” he reminisces.
It is a new struggle now after I’ve made my film debut-Siddharth Nigam
9:17 AM
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 29, 2023)
Siddharth Nigam started his career as a child artiste (he was seen in Dhoom 3 as junior Aamir Khan) and now he has stepped into Bollywood as a grown-up. He made his debut in Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan recently and is looking forward to bagging more films. He feels like his actual journey has just begun. “I have done a big film, but it is not that I have signed five films after that. It will be another struggle and a new journey for me now.”
Recounting the time when he first met Salman, Siddharth says, “I was shooting in Karjat years ago and got an opportunity to meet him. Salman liked my work because I was a gymnast. I remember at that time I told my mom, ‘Imagine if I get to do a film with him’. And years later, it actually happened!”
In the last few years, Siddharth did a few TV shows with Aladdin Naam Toh Suna Hoga being his last show. He has kept away from the small screen for almost two years now. He says, “I began my career on TV with Mahakumbh (2014). Thereafter, I was chosen to play the younger Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat. It was a two-month role, which got extended to two years. And though it was a role of a lifetime, I got categorized as a child actor for a long time. After that show, I got several film offers to play the younger version of the hero. ”
‘WANT MY ROOM TO BE LIKE A 7-STAR HOTEL’
Siddharth recently bought a 5-BHK in Mumbai and is very excited about it. He shares, “This is my dream house. It is huge and I am so happy that I have reached this far in life,” says the actor, who lived in Allahabad before moving to Mumbai in 2016.
He adds, “There are many obstacles that we have crossed in life to reach here. I still remember those days when we used to go to a fair in my hometown and not buy toys because we would feel it’s better to save that money for something else. So from those days to reach this point feels surreal.”
The actor is currently busy doing the interiors. “Even though we have interior designers on board, I like to choose what I want in my house. I am enjoying this process.”
Talking about his room, Siddharth says, “When I enter my room, it should look like a 7-star hotel with every facility. That’s what I really want for my room. There are many ideas in my mind, which hopefully I can implement.”
— Hasti Doshi
Flop Bollywood films leave cinemas in crisis?
8:34 AM
Experts weigh in on the reasons for the situation and assert that Hindi films alone can’t be blamed
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 22, 2023)
The big screen might be back to life after the pandemic-induced lull, but the business is yet to return to normalcy with Bollywood films failing to elicit expected response at the box office. And it is turning out to be a worrisome situation for cinema halls across India.
If we talk about this year, only a handful of projects from the Hindi film industry such as Pathaan, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan and The Kerala Story have fared well at the box office. Lack of footfalls at the theatre is creating a loss scenario for the theatre owners. Recently, PVR INOX Ltd reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 333.99 crore for the fourth quarter that ended on March 31, 2023, revealing that they are planning to shut nearly 50 loss-making cinema screens in the next six months.
“At the moment, the biggest sufferers are not the producers or the distributors but the exhibitors. When films don’t work, the theatres are the first to be hit. The producer can take time and plan next films, and the distributors can take a decision to not release a few films for a certain period. But the exhibitors need to have one or two films every week. And the exhibition sector is bleeding at the moment, with many theatres closing down,” says trade expert Taran Adarsh, adding, “it is a very grave scenario at the moment”.
Some time back, a report by Ormax also stated that while Hindi is the most-watched language, with 5.8 crore audience, the Hindi theatre-going universe has shrunk by 21.5 percent from the pre-pandemic time. It also stated that India box office revenue crossed the Rs 10,000- crore mark, but footfalls remain lower than the pre-pandemic levels.
According to trade expert and producer Girish Johar, the first quarter of 2023-2024 was 30-35 per cent behind the 2018-2019 quarter. Expensive ticket price is one of the reasons behind the drop in footfalls,
Explaining the ticket business, trade expert Atul Mohan shares, “You can’t price Rs 600 for a ticket for Shah Rukh Khan film, and a small or medium budget film. The pricing system has to be different, especially when it is known that people are aware that the content will soon come to the OTT space. Cinema is a business of volume. Apne mehnga karke pehle hi disconnect kar diya hai.”
“The dynamics of the box office have completely changed. Much higher superiority quality of content is available at the push of a remote button. Now, venturing out to the cinema is for a larger experience. It has become an expensive proposition. The single outing for a family turns out to be over Rs 5000. And if the content is sub standard, you feel cheated. That is why only tentpole projects are working, and other projects are crashing from the first show itself,” he adds.
Here, Devang Sampat, CEO, Cinepolis, adds, “The first quarter was disappointing, apart from Pathaan and few south Indian tiles, nothing worked. We are not seeing this for the first time, and hope to be back to normal soon”.
Things might seem grim at the moment, but industry insiders are expected to pick up going forward with films such as Maidaan, Satyaprem Ki Katha, Adipurush and Jawan slated to release.
Breaking down the scenario, Gautam Dutta, Co-CEO, PVR INOX Ltd, shares, “The recent concerns are not significant, and should settle down in the near future. The Hindi cinema industry has always been resilient and has managed to bounce back from difficult periods in the past…We surely expect the Hindi cinema to make a comeback with new exciting releases in the coming months”.
Here, Raj Kumar Mehrotra, general manager at the Capital’s Delite Cinema, shuns the idea that it is a dark time for cinemas, because Hollywood films as well as South Indian titles are filling the gap.
“For instance, the third part of Guardians Of The Galaxy worked well, and the new instalment of Fast And Furious is also seeing good business with 85 percent occupancy. People want good content, no matter what language,” he says.
Director Anees Bazmee also feels it is wrong to blame Hindi films for the closure of cinema halls in India. “There are times when cinema halls don’t work at one point, but some other place. It can’t be blamed on the poor performance of Bollywood films in the theatre. Yes, pictures are not working because they are not good, and people are used to watching content on OTT. But it is not right to blame that cinema halls are closing because Hindi films are not working. There are many factors involved,” he ends.
Industry open nahi hoti, open karni padti hai-Shehnaaz Gill
8:22 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; May 16, 2023)
Shehnaaz Gill, who became a popular name after she participated in Bigg Boss 13, made her Bollywood debut last month with Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan starring Salman Khan. And even before her debut film released, the actress bagged her next film.
For someone who’s just stepped into the Hindi film industry, ask Shehnaaz if she is happy with the way her career is shaping up and she says, “Main yeh bolna chahti hoon ki industry open nahi hoti, open karni padti hai. You have to work on yourself…apne aap ko change karke. Mere liye kuch bhi open nahi hai, main jo kar rahi hoon, apni mehnat se kar rahi hoon.”
Shehnaaz started working on herself from the time she was seen on the reality show hosted by Salman. From getting fit, to upping her fashion game and hosting a chat show in which she interviews celebs, this seems to be a new version of the actress.
Shehnaaz explains, “I have always been inspired by myself. Main khud se hiroz inspire hoti hoon. I genuinely feel that if you want to grow in life, then you have to be open to change and work on yourself. Do it day by day... take your time, but introduce that change in yourself because it is important. If you present yourself the way you are and give nothing new to your audience, then they will get bored. Hum public figure hai and if we don’t offer variety to the audience, they will get bored of us.”
And this is exactly what she intends todo. Loved by fans for her bubbly personality, Shehnaaz admits that she has been attending workshops to hone her acting skills. “I have been going for workshops. Aur jaise aapko farak meri styling mein aaj kal dikh raha hai, meri acting mein bhi zaroor dikhai dega bohot jald.”
The actress who’s not supposed to talk about her next project, which also stars Anil Kapoor, says, “It feels good to be working with an artiste of that stature. Even if you share screen for two minutes with them, you get to learn so much. You should always look forward to such learning experiences.”
I remember, when I was shooting my first scene with Salman Khan, I was totally zapped-Vinali Bhatnagar
8:33 AM
S Farah Rizvi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 9, 2023)
Vinali Bhatnagar feels that to a newcomer, nothing matters more than getting to work with the right people. And this is why the actor finds herself fortunate to have made her debut with Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan.
She tells us, “I had been auditioning like crazy and many a time, I would reach the final stage, too. I cleared auditions for the best in the business, but something or other didn’t work out and I had to start from scratch. Films were my only option; I had to try for the right break instead of opting for other mediums. And all the wait was worthwhile as I made my debut with (actor) Salman Khan.”
Meeting the star for the first time, in Bhatnagar’s words, was a “surreal experience”. “We got to do a couple of scenes with him. I remember, when I was shooting my first scene with him, I was totally zapped. It felt like there was a Salman Khan film playing and I was watching it, completely awestruck. It took me a moment to realise that I was also a part of the scene and I needed to act too!” she quips, adding, “Also, I was surprised when he spoke to me about me being from Bhopal and the MP connect we had in common (Khan’s birthplace is Indore, MP). It’s amazing to see how he bonds with everyone on the sets and the way he’s involved in every department.”
The actor, who played Chahat in the film, recalls “getting a call for the film’s audition while visiting a gurudwara”. “I went to the studio the next day and had to go for an audition the very same day,” she adds.
On the film getting a mixed response, Bhatnagar says, “It was a big film and I am happy with the response. Some [films] earn critic reviews while some get public love. I am no one to judge or assess. It was and always will be a dream debut for me.”
I'm single just like Salman Khan bhai-Raghav Juyal
8:18 AM
The actor-dancer sets the record straight about his relationship with Shehnaaz Gill
Vinay MR Mishra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 8, 2023)
Raghav Juyal, who has been in the spotlight recently for his alleged relationship with co-star Shehnaaz Gill, has put the rumours to rest. The actor-dancer denies any romantic involvement with Gill, stating that they are just good friends. He tells us, “No truth at all; wo (rumours) faaltu ki cheezein hain.”
The 31-year-old hints that these speculations came to light as a result of actor Salman Khan’s advice to Gill during the promotions of their recently released Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. Khan had suggested Gill to “move on” in life after the death of her alleged partner, Siddharth Shukla. Many took Khan’s comments as confirmation of Juyal and Gill’s alleged dalliance.
In 2021, we reported that Juyal had been dating Swedish intimacy coordinator Sara Arrhusius for more than four years before Gill’s name popped up in the media. “Woh bhi relation tha nahin, bas bana diya gaya. She is still a friend,” the actor-dancer clarifies, claiming that he is not dating anyone at the moment. “I’m like bhai (referring to Khan), single,” he says, adding, “My focus is on my films. There’s a lot to be done.”
Opening up about his equation with Gill for the first time, Juyal shares that it is similar to that of any two cordial co-stars: “When you spend almost three to four months shooting for a movie, dosti yaari ho jaati hai.” He goes on to blame Gill’s participation in a reality show for the conjectures that spread like wildfire.
Juyal explains, “Shehnaaz ki dikkat yeh hai ki usne Bigg Boss 13 (2019) kiya hai. The audience is invested in their (the participants’) personal lives, so it becomes like a drug, and they want that drug even after the show ends. I have travelled and spent time with others as well, lekin uske saath logon ko drama create karna tha. I don’t know what it is! Dukh hota hai,” says Juyal, who became a household name with his stint in Dance India Dance. But these stories don’t bother Juyal or make his camaraderie with Gill awkward, as he puts it: “Hum hansi-mazaak hi karte hain.”
Salman Khan clarifies ‘move on’ advice to Shehnaaz Gill
7:59 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (May 3, 2023)
During a promotional event for his latest film, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, Salman Khan spoke about actor Shehnaaz Gill’s bond with late actor Sidharth Shukla and advised her to “move on” in life. Recently, during an appearance on the television show Aap Ki Adalat, the actor has cleared the air.
While speaking of how Khan wanted to be a father but didn’t want to get married, host Rajat Sharma reminded him of his advice to Gill. To this, the actor said, “I told her to move on. Sid (Shukla) ab iss duniya mein nahin rahe. I’m sure he will also want Shehnaaz to move on. Ye nahin ki unki shaadi ho jaye, bachche ho jaye.”
He laughed, “Abhi nahin, bahut time hai. But to get out of that Sidnaaz [phase], woh bohot hi heavy tha uske upar aur woh toot rahi thi bechari bachchi. Toh maine bola ki move on. Iska ye matlab nahin ki main bring it on bol raha hun.”
Shukla and Gill were both a part of Bigg Boss 13 and grew closer to each other. In September 2021, the former died of a heart attack.
Gill, who made her Bollywood debut with Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, was linked up with co-actor Raghav Juyal. However, the latter denied the same.
After lukewarm response to Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, Salman Khan in introspection mode?
8:19 AM
After lukewarm response to Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, sources say Salman in introspection mode; actor to not sign his next until Tiger 3 hits screens in November
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; May 1, 2023)
At a press conference a few weeks ago, Salman Khan, in his say-it-like-it-is manner, had told the media that it was the first time in years that he has no film in hand after Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (KKBKKJ). Of course, filmmakers are making a beeline for him.
But sources close to the superstar say that after the underwhelming response to his passion project, he is in introspection mode, and has decided to take a break from signing anything new until Tiger 3 hits the screens in November. Khan apparently wants to gauge the audience’s reaction to his Diwali release, before cherry-picking his next.
Word on the street is that six projects have been offered to the actor, including Sooraj Barjatya’s Prem Ki Shaadi, and Karan Johar’s yet-untitled production. A trade source says, “If Salman doesn’t sign a movie until November, it means he may not have an Eid 2024 release. While he has been flooded with offers, he is reflecting on his choices after KKBKKJ is struggling to touch the Rs 100-crore mark after 10 days of release. His previous Eid offering, Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai [2021] that had a hybrid release, too had not made much noise. So, after much thought, Salman felt that rushing into a project only to meet the Eid 2024 deadline would be wrong. He’d rather take his time to find a worthy film.”
Khan will, however, remain one of the busiest stars in the coming months. He is expected to shoot the Tiger 3 portions with Shah Rukh Khan, who has a cameo in the Maneesh Sharma-helmed spy thriller, in the third week of May. He will also focus on the next season of Bigg Boss, and the Dabangg Tour, which is currently in the planning stage.
The source adds, “On the film front, besides Barjatya’s drama and KJo’s next to be helmed by Shershaah maker Vishnu Vardhan, the actor has been offered Atul Agnihotri and Nikhil Namit’s next, Arbaaz Khan’s Dabangg 4, Sohail Khan’s Sher Khan, and Pawan Putra Bhaijaan. As of now, they are all on hold. But Salman is whimsical; if he finds an exciting story, he might just announce his next before Diwali.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 775
10:33 PM
KISI KA BHAI KISI KI JAAN HAS A FINE WEEKEND BUT FACES A DROP IN THE WEEKDAYS; OVERALL NUMBERS ARE BELOW EXPECTATIONS
The much-awaited film Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan was released last Friday, April 21. A lot of expectations were riding on this action entertainer as it was Salman’s first proper release in a leading role after more than 3 years. But the trailer got a mixed response and moreover, it was released a day before Eid. Hence, the trade and industry were apprehensive about how it would fare. Their fears came true as the film opened at just Rs. 13.75 crores. The industry hoped that it’ll at least open at Rs. 15 crores but that didn’t happen.
However, Eid fell on Saturday and this is when Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan showed a huge jump. On day 2, it collected Rs. 24 crores while on Sunday, it earned Rs. 24.50 crores. Hence, its weekend collections amounted to Rs. 62.25 crores. On Monday, it collected a good Rs. 9.50 crores due to the post-Eid holiday effect. But things were back to normal and this is when the film dropped. While it accumulated Rs. 6.25 crores on Tuesday, it collected just Rs. 4.25 crores on Wednesday. Today, Thursday, April 27, it is expected to collect Rs. 3.50 crores. Hence, the first week collections of the film will be approx. Rs. 85.75 crores.
In a way, the numbers are not encouraging. A film starring a superstar should have collected Rs. 100 crores in the first week, if not the first weekend. But on the other hand, the numbers are fine considering the word of mouth was mixed and more on the negative side. Post-pandemic, films with bad reports have instantly got rejected. Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan is the first film in the post-pandemic era to have some sort of respectable collections despite negative word of mouth.
It all depends on how the film fares in the subsequent open weeks. If it holds well on the second Friday and grows on Saturday and Sunday, it’ll cross the Rs. 100 crores mark on its tenth day. At this rate, it’ll manage to have lifetime collections of around Rs. 115 crores. If it crashes tomorrow, then it’ll face a struggle to cross Rs. 100 crores.
The much-awaited film Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan was released last Friday, April 21. A lot of expectations were riding on this action entertainer as it was Salman’s first proper release in a leading role after more than 3 years. But the trailer got a mixed response and moreover, it was released a day before Eid. Hence, the trade and industry were apprehensive about how it would fare. Their fears came true as the film opened at just Rs. 13.75 crores. The industry hoped that it’ll at least open at Rs. 15 crores but that didn’t happen.
However, Eid fell on Saturday and this is when Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan showed a huge jump. On day 2, it collected Rs. 24 crores while on Sunday, it earned Rs. 24.50 crores. Hence, its weekend collections amounted to Rs. 62.25 crores. On Monday, it collected a good Rs. 9.50 crores due to the post-Eid holiday effect. But things were back to normal and this is when the film dropped. While it accumulated Rs. 6.25 crores on Tuesday, it collected just Rs. 4.25 crores on Wednesday. Today, Thursday, April 27, it is expected to collect Rs. 3.50 crores. Hence, the first week collections of the film will be approx. Rs. 85.75 crores.
In a way, the numbers are not encouraging. A film starring a superstar should have collected Rs. 100 crores in the first week, if not the first weekend. But on the other hand, the numbers are fine considering the word of mouth was mixed and more on the negative side. Post-pandemic, films with bad reports have instantly got rejected. Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan is the first film in the post-pandemic era to have some sort of respectable collections despite negative word of mouth.
It all depends on how the film fares in the subsequent open weeks. If it holds well on the second Friday and grows on Saturday and Sunday, it’ll cross the Rs. 100 crores mark on its tenth day. At this rate, it’ll manage to have lifetime collections of around Rs. 115 crores. If it crashes tomorrow, then it’ll face a struggle to cross Rs. 100 crores.
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