Showing posts with label P V Sunil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label P V Sunil. Show all posts
Christopher Nolan brings back the audience with Tenet, wonders expected from Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman 1984
8:28 AM
Makers of Sooryavanshi and ’83 should fix release dates by first week of Jan
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 8, 2020)
Three weeks later, on December 4, Christopher Nolan’s long-awaited espionage thriller, Tenet, featuring our own Dimple Kapadia, finally opened in 750 screens across the country, primarily in multiplexes. The Indian release was delayed by over three months because theaters here were shut. The film recorded encouraging footfalls over the weekend despite a delayed release and the resulting piracy, along with the fact that the rogue virus has restricted occupancy to 50 per cent. P V Sunil of the Carnival chain of cinemas, is delighted with the box office response. “The IMAX screen in Wadala recorded 65 per cent occupancy through the weekend; that’s a positive sign,” he exults.
He predicts that the next Hollywood biggie, Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman 1984, which is releasing in India during the Christmas weekend, will collect at least four times more than Tenet. “It’s a commercial superhero film, which has a big market in India,” he asserts.
However, he believes that we are still at least 45 days away from a big Hindi film release. “India is the primary market for Bollywood while for the West, it’s just a secondary one. Hopefully, Hindi cinema will be back on big screen by January-end,” he says.
Shibasish Sarkar of Reliance Entertainment, who has two big ticket films lined up for release, the Akshay Kumar-fronted Sooryavanshi and Ranveer Singh’s sports drama ’83, is ebullient after seeing housefull shows of Tenet in certain pockets of Mumbai. “If the most premium audience has come out to see a film which is three months old and got mixed reviews, I’m sure collections will increase every week. Wonder Woman whose buzz is huge and positive, will get more bullish numbers, and that’s a positive sign. Even if Wonder Woman 1984 does the business of the last film from the franchise, it would be an achievement”.
Prod him on the status of Rohit Shetty’s cop thriller and Kabir Khan’s World Cup movie and he assures that both films will get big screen releases and not open on OTT platforms. “We will sit with our directors after the release of Wonder Woman and hopefully by the first week of January, we will have a date in place. Both films should release between January and March,” he signs off.
Theatres in Maharashtra reopen today; Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari set for a Diwali opening now
8:31 AM
Trade jubilant even though ’83 and Sooryavanshi release pushed to next year
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 5, 2020)
Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, featuring Manoj Bajpayee, Diljit Dosanjh and Fatima Sana Shaikh, will be among the first new releases. Shariq Patel of Zee Studios confirms it will open on November 13, in theatres. “Discussions are on with multiplexes, we need to be on the same page on VPF charges, OTT release window, showcasing, and revenue sharing model of box office collections, but I’m not thinking of a digital release at the moment. We have to support our fraternity but we need a longer run for every film as footfalls will be lower,” he points out, adding that there’s also a financial risk as they will be forgoing UK and Canada, big markets for a Diljit starrer. “I’m hopeful of a Diwali release.”
Trade analyst Komal Nahta believes that there will be a steady flow of releases till the year end of small and mid-sized films as they can recover their investment from the sale of satellite and digital rights. “Yes, there would be some loss of profit but not a loss in monetary terms. Big budget films like Sooryavanshi and ’83 will, however, wait to see how the smaller films fare,” he avers.
Theatres say 'no' to screen OTT releases; Producers debate on VPF, 6-8 week window between digital, theatrical release
8:05 AM
Theatres which reopened on Oct 15 feel lack of fresh content as producers debate costs like VPF and want 6-8 week window between digital and theatrical release to be reduced
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 20, 2020)
Zee has another film, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, fronted by Diljit Dosanjh, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Manoj Bajpayee, lining up for a Diwali release. And while Shariq has committed to a theatrical release, he wants exhibitors to make it financially viable for the studio too by reducing VPF and the gap between theatrical and OTT release. “Any producer planning a release with only 50 per cent capacity is taking a huge risk. It’s important for exhibitors, large multiplex chains and service providers to re-calibrate the terms for the first few months. Hopefully, they will take a step in a positive direction,” he says fervently. He is, however, quick to assert that the family comedy won’t arrive before Mumbai, the biggest market for Hindi films, and Punjab, where Diljit rules, reopen. “We are hopeful that these markets will start business before Diwali,” he avers.
P V Sunil, MD, Carnival Cinemas, stands by the multiplex association’s collective decision to not screen a direct-to-digital release, as it would set a wrong precedent. “We will be following all norms which existed before the lockdown, including a six to eight-week window between a theatrical and OTT release,” he informs.
Sunil is confident that the filmmaking business will undergo a huge change in the coming year leading to a clear demarcation between the two platforms. “It will become common for content to be identified much in advance for theatrical and digital platforms,” he predicts.
VPF made news last year when Ronnie Screwvala filed a case against multiplexes in the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for its imposition. The CCI pronounced its verdict in favour of the multiplexes. Prod Sunil on the subject in the light of the ongoing pandemic and he shares that the issue is under discussion and a number of changes are on the way. “The service providers, UFO and Qube, are getting into distribution by offering a cut in VPF charges, and in some cases even waiving it off totally. It will be a new system of distribution which will lead to cost saving. Positive changes lie in the future,” he promises, but reiterates that there’s no possibility of reducing the window between theatrical and OTT release as things stand today.
Trade analyst Komal Nahta feels that getting even one OTT film to the theatre will set a new trend. “As far as VPF is concerned, it’s a policy decision to be taken by the stakeholders,” he signs off.
WHAT IS VIRTUAL PRINT FEE?
Virtual Print Fee (VPF) is an amount charged by national multiplexes to producers/distributors for upgrading the technology, thereby improving the cinematic experience for the audience. On an average, producers/distributors pay Rs 20,000/ per screen as VPF to the theatres.
In case of non-national chains, VPF is collected by service providers like UFO, Scrabble and Qube. Interestingly, the charges are levied only on Indian films. Hollywood studios are exempt from paying the fee.
As movie theatres gear up to reopen, Tanhaji, Malang, Thappad and more reruns join the list
8:25 AM
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 15, 2020)
On September 30, The Ministry of Home Affairs announced new unlock provisions whereby movie theatres outside the containment zones are allowed to reopen from October 16 with 50 per cent occupancy. While theatres in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and some other states continue to remain shut, exhibitors across the rest of the country are ready to resume business. Ananya Panday and Ishaan Khatter’s Khaali Peeli, and Vivek Oberoi’s PM Narendra Modi were the first films to be announced, now a few other films, including Thappad, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, Malang, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (SMZS) and War, have joined the list of reruns.
Thappad director Anubhav Sinha believes that his film, which opened on February 28 this year, had its run cut short by the Coronavirus-triggered pandemic. “We got only two weeks in theatres despite doing around 80 per cent business of the first week in the second which is a fair indicator that the film would’ve run for roughly six more weeks. It’s heartening that eight months after its initial release, it still has promise at the box office,” he says.
Meena Iyer, CEO, Ajay Devgn Ffilms, is happy to contribute to the resurgence of the business with Tanhaji. “The film had an amazing run, but if exhibitors feel that it can attract more footfalls, we’re happy to help. The further it travels, the happier we are,” she asserts.
For SMZS director Hitesh Kewalya, reruns are not for box office glory. “We got a good three-week run during the initial release and the film has a social message that is still relevant. Right now, the aim is to just gauge the audience and accustom them to community-viewing,” he reasons.
Bhushan Kumar, producer of four films up for re-release—Malang, Thappad, Tanhaji and SMZS—agrees that reruns are a way to learn the audience’s needs. “Reopening of theatres is good news for the industry. All four of our films have been successful during initial release. This time they’ll help us gauge audiences’ concerns and plan future releases accordingly,” he shares, adding that, not just theatre owners but also the audience need to strictly follow guidelines.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh believes that these are just baby steps towards bringing the audience back to theatres. “It’s time to press the reset button. No one is looking at box office figures right now, it’s just about cultivating the habit of going back to cinema. The returns will be very low initially,” he avers, adding that the priority is to provide livelihood to people who’ve been out of business for the last seven months. “Over the years, cinema has faced a lot of roadblocks, but it has always survived and this too shall pass,” he concludes.
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After seven-month shutdown, theatres in Delhi, UP and other states to reopen tomorrow; trade predicts low footfall even as cinemas slash ticket prices
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; October 15, 2020)
Even as a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the fate of cinemas in Maharashtra, the seven-month theatre shutdown comes to an end today in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Delhi. The exhibitors will open business with the early offerings of 2020 — Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Thappad — and Sushant Singh Rajput's Kedarnath (2018).
Trade analyst Akshaye Rathi says theatres across the board have slashed ticket prices in a bid to encourage footfall. "Most movie halls will open up by October 16. In the first few weeks, the revenue is not the focus. We need to rebuild the audience's habit of going to cinemas," he says, indicating that footfall may be low on the opening day. "We will instill confidence in the masses by following the standard operating procedures and ensuring their safety. The idea is to be war-ready by the time the big movies start releasing."
P V Sunil, managing director, Carnival Cinemas, reveals that apart from offering 25 per cent discount on tickets, the multiplex chain has rolled out several schemes. "COVID-19 warriors can watch movies free of cost. For the masses, we have developed a scheme where on buying two tickets, they will get a free ticket for their next outing."
There had been chatter that Rajput's Dil Bechara would be released again on the big screen. However, trade analyst Taran Adarsh says, "Exhibitors won't screen films that have premiered online as they feel these movies should have ideally been released in cinemas."
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Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 15, 2020)
After seven months of total shutdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the central government has given the green signal to reopen theatres, though many states such as Maharashtra are yet to join the bandwagon. Since then, the focus has been on the much-in-demand, lucrative Diwali weekend.
As of now, only the Manoj Bajpayee-Diljit Dosanjh starrer Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari (SPMB) has been announced as the Diwali release. The Ishaan Khatter-Ananya Panday starrer Khaali Peeli, which earlier took the pay-per-view route, will hit the big screen on October 16. Plus, from this weekend onwards, Hollywood films such as My Spy, Force Of Nature and The Rental will open in theatres.
But will audiences turn up at cinemas? “People still have a lot of fear of Covid-19. So, they might go to theatres or give it a miss. But, it’s imperative for cinemas to reopen, as many livelihoods are at stake,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
Insiders feel ‘smaller movies’ releasing on Diwali may have an added advantage too. As exhibitor-distribitor Akshaye Rathi puts it: “It’s true that during a pandemic, people may not turn up in big numbers to watch mid-budget films but such films may fly due to pent-up demand.”
Even before earning a single penny, theatre owners have to spend from their pockets to adhere to all safety guidelines. Estimates say it will cost ₹3-5 lakh per month. But exhibitors/theatre owners are ready. “We are mentally prepared that in the first couple of weeks, a month or even a couple of months, there may not be much revenues. What’s most important is that we need to reintroduce and help inculcate the ‘theatre habit’ in people again,” says Rathi, adding: “Till you don’t open the shop, how will you know whether there’s a demand for your product?”
Filmmakers are keen to see theatres running again. “As a film aficionado, I am very excited. I feel people are fed up of sitting at home,” says Suraj Pe... director Abhishek Sharma, adding: “The movie exhibition sector has suffered maximum losses. I’m happy that my film will, in a way, kick off the theatre culture again.”
Unless all-India screens open up, no big film will release theatrically, say exhibitors
8:37 AM
While many exhibitors are cheering the Centre’s decision to reopen theatres from Oct 15 at 50 per cent seating capacity, several admit that for business to revive, theatres in Maharashtra cannot remain shut
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 2, 2020)
“We will be relying on the tried-and-tested franchises like Golmaal, Dhoom, Tiger and Hera Pheri for now, as in these gloomy times, people prefer comedy and action films,” informs Raj Bansal, an exhibitor from Jaipur, quick to add that the pricing policy will have to be reworked to bring in the footfalls.
P V Sunil, managing director of Carnival Cinemas, has already started prepping for the October 15 reopening. “Our software is being modified in accordance with the 50 per cent occupancy norm. And we’re waiting for the I&B Ministry’s guidelines on SOPs for cinema halls. We promise watching a film will be a memorable experience again,” he shares, adding that conversations are on with multiple producers on the release calendar. “In the first few weeks of business, there may not be an overflow of content but normalcy will resume soon.”
Arun Mehra, the managing director of Kolkata’s Paradise Cinema, prefers to wait for the big Hindi films. “Bengali films don’t do well in Esplanade, where my theatre is located. So, there’s no point in reopening the theatre until the Hindi films announce their release date,” he sighs, quick to point out that while the Centre has given them the green signal, cinema halls will continue to be shut across Maharashtra as they are in the “prohibited activities” segment in the opening of the lockdown circular issued by Maharashtra Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray.
The shutdown of cinema halls in Maharashtra is a matter of concern for all exhibitors since no major Hindi film will arrive without this market, as the Mumbai territory, along with overseas, contributes a huge chunk to boxoffice collections. “Unless all India screens open up, no big film will release theatrically,” Mehra avers.
Manoj Desai, executive director of G7 Multiplex and Maratha Mandir in Mumbai, admits that he was optimistic about starting afresh from October 15. “But I’m still waiting for my achche din. Our representatives are trying to speak to the government to reopen cinema halls in Maharashtra like the rest of the country,” he says.
Kamal Gianchandani, CEO of PVR Cinemas, is confident that the audience will be back once the content flows within three to four weeks of the reopening and requests the Maharashtra government to reconsider its decision to keep cinemas shut through October. “The state is the torchbearer of the film business and we are confident that if theatres open in Maharashtra even by October end, it will be a Happy Diwali,” he signs off.
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Why is Maharashtra reopening critical for BO?
Big releases like Sooryavanshi, ’83 and Radhe among others will not release until the Mumbai circuit reopens. On an average, it contributes 30 to 35 percent of the total box-office collections. Around half of the business of Ajay Devgn’s period historical, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, and one third of collections of Aamir Khan’s PK and Dangal, Ranbir Kapoor’s Sanju and Salman Khan’s Tiger Zinda Hai, Sultan and Bajrangi Bhaijaan came from Maharashtra. Also, there is a thriving market for Marathi films, a sizeable number of takers for South films and a huge audience for Hollywood blockbusters here.
'Magnanimous' Akshay Kumar leaves the field for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat
8:30 AM
The actor pushes his Pad Man to February 9, saying Padmaavat needs the Republic Day weekend more, Sanjay Leela Bhansali responds that he will be indebted to him for a lifetime
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 20, 2018)
On Friday, Akshay Kumar took everyone by surprise by announcing that he was taking his home production, Pad Man, forward to February 9, leaving the Republic Day weekend clear for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama, Padmaavat, that has been mired in controversy since missing out its December 1 date with the box-office. Now, Pad Man will come up against Neeraj Pandey’s, Sidharth Malhotra-Manoj Bajpayee’s thriller, Aiyaary and the Luv Ranjan’s romcom Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety.
The actor-producer reasoned that the clash was pointless and magnanimously declared, “I can completely understand that his need is more for this date than mine so I will just go ahead. I am grateful to my studio Sony and KriArj for accepting the whole thing because unke bhi paise lage hue hain.”
He was quick to add however that both films could have come on the same day with 4500 to 5000 theatres offering more than enough screens to the duo but, he reiterated, at the moment, the stakes were higher for Padmaavat. Describing Bhansali as a “very personal, dear friend of mine”, Akshay informed, “he asked it and I went for it”. When asked why SLB shouldn’t move his release date, Akshay quipped, “It’s very essential for them to release it as quickly as possible.”
Bhansali’s reaction to his friend’s largess was an uncharacteristically humble, “I will be grateful to him for a lifetime for what he has done.” Adding that the film industry, the world as a whole, will understand that this is the way to stand by each other, respect each other, he asserted, “The fraternity will be proud of what Akshay has done today because it is a gesture which I think would otherwise seem quite impossible in this industry.”
Reacting to the sudden change in plan, trade analyst Amod Mehra said, “It’s a compliment to Padmaavat that Pad Man is avoiding competition. The film is special to Akshay so they want to avoid any kind of risk. They don’t want the film’s message to be drowned in the Padmaavat controversy. It’s a bold but wise move in the current circumstances. This is the way clashes can be avoided. Akshay is a big star and if he can be gracious to see the writing on the wall, why can’t Shah Rukh (Khan) or anyone else shift?”
Komal Nahta, another trade analyst, echoed Mehra’s views, lauding it as an “intelligent decision” given that the hugely anticipated Padmaavat is a bigger film after all the controversy. “Any which way, it will get more theatres and more shows as well as a bigger audience at least initially. This does not mean Pad Man will not work but between the two, Padmaavat will become the first choice. There will be people saying Pad Man darr gaya, but that’s not the case. It’s about being practical and thinking about not just the films but the industry as a whole,” he argued, adding that after both films announced that they were coming together, there was a lot of heartburn among the exhibitors who have not had a great year in 2017 and were hoping these two big films would come in separate weeks. “Everyone is thrilled now, Akshay and R Balki have taken a decision in the larger interest of the industry.”
Manoj Desai, the owner of Gaiety and Galaxy while surprised by Akshay’s move is happy that Bhansali will benefit from the change of date. “I will give Padmaavat both my theatres,” he beams.
Murli Chhatwani, an all-India distributor, agrees that by avoiding the clash, both films will benefit individually because the audience won’t be confused and there’s more scope to recover money. “But Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety and Aiyaary which are coming up may now have to look at shifting dates, which will create confusion and suffer losses because of their decision. It’s becoming a trend for producers to decide among themselves and settle issues without ego hassles, which is great,” he exults.
Akshaye Rathi, a Central India exhibitor, compliments Akshay for being an astute businessman who has given Padmaavat the release it deserves, after the testing times it has been through, making it the movie of the week. “All the exhibitors had sorted out the screens, show timings and bookings. Now we will have to start working from scratch again,” he sighs.
But P V Sunil of the Carnival chain of cinemas reveals that they had been in a dilemma over distribution of screens as both were equally important and Carnival was distributing both Pad Man and Padmaavat in Singapore. “Now we can give both the best screens and expect double revenue,” he smiles.
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Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; January 20, 2018)
At a time when most filmmakers refuse to budge from their release date — box- office clashes and the impending losses be damned — Akshay Kumar showed that there can be place for empathy instead of ego. In a press conference that saw both Kumar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali in attendance, the actor announced that he was postponing the release of Pad Man to avert locking horns with Padmaavat. While the Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor-starrer will release on January 25 as scheduled, Pad Man will now clash with Aiyaary and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety on February 9.
Kumar revealed that Bhansali met him last morning and requested him to bow out of the race. Explaining his reason behind the change in date, Kumar said that the filmmaker has “much more at stake” than him. “Our films can release on the same day and the business would be great, but there is no point clashing. They have already gone through a lot. I can completely understand that his need for this date is more than mine. So, I can wait,” said Kumar.
Bhansali, who has backed Kumar’s Rowdy Rathore (2012) and Gabbar Is Back (2015) in the past, expressed his gratitude to the actor. “As soon as I requested him to postpone his film, he told me that he was completely with me. I will be grateful to him for a lifetime, for what he has done today. The fraternity will be proud of what Akshay has done.”
The trade industry too welcomed the move. Terming Kumar’s call a “mature decision”, trade analyst Amod Mehra said, “Akshay has not let his ego come in the way and has allowed Padmaavat to have a clear release. This is a healthy sign.”
Mehra added that Pad Man’s release on the second Friday of February wouldn’t necessarily affect the collections of Sidharth Malhotra’s Aiyaary. “People like to watch content-driven films and both of them boast of solid story. But with these two films coming in, Sonu Ke Tittu Ki Sweety doesn’t stand a chance.”
Trade expert Komal Nahta reiterated that the makers of the Kartik Aaryan film should reconsider their release date. “I am sure they will look for another date now. As far as Pad Man getting postponed is concerned, I think it’s an intelligent business decision.”
On Friday, Akshay Kumar took everyone by surprise by announcing that he was taking his home production, Pad Man, forward to February 9, leaving the Republic Day weekend clear for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama, Padmaavat, that has been mired in controversy since missing out its December 1 date with the box-office. Now, Pad Man will come up against Neeraj Pandey’s, Sidharth Malhotra-Manoj Bajpayee’s thriller, Aiyaary and the Luv Ranjan’s romcom Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety.
The actor-producer reasoned that the clash was pointless and magnanimously declared, “I can completely understand that his need is more for this date than mine so I will just go ahead. I am grateful to my studio Sony and KriArj for accepting the whole thing because unke bhi paise lage hue hain.”
He was quick to add however that both films could have come on the same day with 4500 to 5000 theatres offering more than enough screens to the duo but, he reiterated, at the moment, the stakes were higher for Padmaavat. Describing Bhansali as a “very personal, dear friend of mine”, Akshay informed, “he asked it and I went for it”. When asked why SLB shouldn’t move his release date, Akshay quipped, “It’s very essential for them to release it as quickly as possible.”
Bhansali’s reaction to his friend’s largess was an uncharacteristically humble, “I will be grateful to him for a lifetime for what he has done.” Adding that the film industry, the world as a whole, will understand that this is the way to stand by each other, respect each other, he asserted, “The fraternity will be proud of what Akshay has done today because it is a gesture which I think would otherwise seem quite impossible in this industry.”
Reacting to the sudden change in plan, trade analyst Amod Mehra said, “It’s a compliment to Padmaavat that Pad Man is avoiding competition. The film is special to Akshay so they want to avoid any kind of risk. They don’t want the film’s message to be drowned in the Padmaavat controversy. It’s a bold but wise move in the current circumstances. This is the way clashes can be avoided. Akshay is a big star and if he can be gracious to see the writing on the wall, why can’t Shah Rukh (Khan) or anyone else shift?”
Komal Nahta, another trade analyst, echoed Mehra’s views, lauding it as an “intelligent decision” given that the hugely anticipated Padmaavat is a bigger film after all the controversy. “Any which way, it will get more theatres and more shows as well as a bigger audience at least initially. This does not mean Pad Man will not work but between the two, Padmaavat will become the first choice. There will be people saying Pad Man darr gaya, but that’s not the case. It’s about being practical and thinking about not just the films but the industry as a whole,” he argued, adding that after both films announced that they were coming together, there was a lot of heartburn among the exhibitors who have not had a great year in 2017 and were hoping these two big films would come in separate weeks. “Everyone is thrilled now, Akshay and R Balki have taken a decision in the larger interest of the industry.”
Manoj Desai, the owner of Gaiety and Galaxy while surprised by Akshay’s move is happy that Bhansali will benefit from the change of date. “I will give Padmaavat both my theatres,” he beams.
Murli Chhatwani, an all-India distributor, agrees that by avoiding the clash, both films will benefit individually because the audience won’t be confused and there’s more scope to recover money. “But Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety and Aiyaary which are coming up may now have to look at shifting dates, which will create confusion and suffer losses because of their decision. It’s becoming a trend for producers to decide among themselves and settle issues without ego hassles, which is great,” he exults.
Akshaye Rathi, a Central India exhibitor, compliments Akshay for being an astute businessman who has given Padmaavat the release it deserves, after the testing times it has been through, making it the movie of the week. “All the exhibitors had sorted out the screens, show timings and bookings. Now we will have to start working from scratch again,” he sighs.
But P V Sunil of the Carnival chain of cinemas reveals that they had been in a dilemma over distribution of screens as both were equally important and Carnival was distributing both Pad Man and Padmaavat in Singapore. “Now we can give both the best screens and expect double revenue,” he smiles.
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Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; January 20, 2018)
At a time when most filmmakers refuse to budge from their release date — box- office clashes and the impending losses be damned — Akshay Kumar showed that there can be place for empathy instead of ego. In a press conference that saw both Kumar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali in attendance, the actor announced that he was postponing the release of Pad Man to avert locking horns with Padmaavat. While the Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor-starrer will release on January 25 as scheduled, Pad Man will now clash with Aiyaary and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety on February 9.
Kumar revealed that Bhansali met him last morning and requested him to bow out of the race. Explaining his reason behind the change in date, Kumar said that the filmmaker has “much more at stake” than him. “Our films can release on the same day and the business would be great, but there is no point clashing. They have already gone through a lot. I can completely understand that his need for this date is more than mine. So, I can wait,” said Kumar.
Bhansali, who has backed Kumar’s Rowdy Rathore (2012) and Gabbar Is Back (2015) in the past, expressed his gratitude to the actor. “As soon as I requested him to postpone his film, he told me that he was completely with me. I will be grateful to him for a lifetime, for what he has done today. The fraternity will be proud of what Akshay has done.”
The trade industry too welcomed the move. Terming Kumar’s call a “mature decision”, trade analyst Amod Mehra said, “Akshay has not let his ego come in the way and has allowed Padmaavat to have a clear release. This is a healthy sign.”
Mehra added that Pad Man’s release on the second Friday of February wouldn’t necessarily affect the collections of Sidharth Malhotra’s Aiyaary. “People like to watch content-driven films and both of them boast of solid story. But with these two films coming in, Sonu Ke Tittu Ki Sweety doesn’t stand a chance.”
Trade expert Komal Nahta reiterated that the makers of the Kartik Aaryan film should reconsider their release date. “I am sure they will look for another date now. As far as Pad Man getting postponed is concerned, I think it’s an intelligent business decision.”
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