Is the heat for Dhurandhar: The Revenge building up? With which sequel do you compare the excitement for the Dhurandhar sequel?

– The craze for the sequel of DHURANDHAR: THE REVENGE is tremendous, thanks to the unprecedented success of DHURANDHAR. The craze is comparable to that which was there for BAHUBALI: THE CONCLUSION following the then unprecedented success of BAHUBALI.  

Almost the entire trade feels that the clash between Dhurandhar: The Revenge and Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups on 19th March should’ve been avoided. What are your thoughts on the same?

– A clash of two or more big releases is always undesirable. It adversely affects the box-office collections of both, or all, the films which clash. 

Why did The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond not take a good opening in spite of the first part, The Kerala Story, being a blockbuster?

– The promotional materials of THE KERALA STORY 2: GOES BEYOND clearly indicated that the issue tackled in the film was no different from the one dealt with in the first part. In other words, unlike the trailer of the first part, which had tremendous shock value, the trailer of THE KERALA STORY 2: GOES BEYOND lacked shock or novelty value. Hence it was a given that the film would not take a great start, given its lack of face value. Incidentally, THE KERALA STORY had not opened strong. Collections had picked up after the first day due to great word of mouth. The opening of THE KERALA STORY 2: GOES BEYOND also got adversely affected because of the confusion over its release due to the court battle.

When sale of cigarettes and alcohol is permitted, why are scenes, which show cigarette smoking and consumption of alcohol in films, required to be accompanied by disclaimers?

– It’s because films are considered to be very potent influencing platforms. The intention behind the disclaimers that cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption are injurious to health is to warn people about the ill-effects of smoking and drinking so that they think ten times before emulating those smoking and drinking on screen.  

Prior to the film’s release, were the makers of Dhurandhar aware that their film would become such a huge blockbuster or even reach anywhere close to the blockbuster status?

– Director Aditya Dhar was aware that he was making a super-blockbuster. Artistes, who’ve worked in the film, recall Dhar often saying during shooting schedules that the film was turning out to be one that would write box-office history — of course, in a manner of expressing supreme confidence in the project rather than boasting.

What is the budget of Yash-starrer Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups?

– Reportedly, over Rs. 600 crore!

After the runaway success of Dhurandhar, what could the opening day’s collection figure for Dhurandhar: The Revenge be?

– It could be Rs. 65 crore. It could be Rs. 70 crore or Rs. 75 crore! This, in spite of TOXIC: A FAIRY TALE FOR GROWN-UPS releasing the same day in Hindi too!! 

Why hasn’t O’Romeo taken a good start today?

– Yes, I agree, the opening today (Fenruary 13) should’ve been much better. I’m as clueless as you about why it hasn’t opened better.

Why is no big film scheduled for release on 13th March? There are not too many releases on 6th March and 27th February either. Any specific reason?

– The only reason why no big film will hit the screens on 13th March could be because DHURANDHAR: THE REVENGE and TOXIC: A FAIRY TALE FOR GROWN-UPS would be releasing after six days — on 19th March — and hence almost all the shows in every single-screen cinema and every multiplex would be allotted to the two Eid releases.

There are murmurs in trade circles that the release of Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups may be postponed. Is it true?

– Not at all true. TOXIC: A FAIRY TALE FOR GROWN-UPS will release on 19th March alongside DHURANDHAR: THE REVENGE. 

How will multiplexes apportion screens and shows between Dhurandhar: The Revenge and Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups (Hindi dubbed) on March 19? And what about single-screen cinemas?

– It’s going to be a very tough fight between the two films. DHURANDHAR: THE REVENGE will be coveted because the first part — DHURANDHAR — has turned out to be the biggest blockbuster ever and hence every exhibitor would want to screen the sequel in the maximum number of shows. However, TOXIC (Hindi dubbed) is being distributed by Anil Thadani all over India and hence multiplexes and single-screen cinemas can’t afford to displease him as he always has an impressive line-up of films.

Which will be Rasha Thadani’s second film?

– Rasha’s second film to hit the screens will be LAIKEY LAIKAA. The actress has lent her voice to a song in the film. And her rendition as well as the music for the song is very good.

What is the ideal time to stop milking a franchise? Should there be a limit on the number of films which a producer can make in a franchise?

– Who will set the limit and who can force a producer to make or not make a film? It’s a free trade! One should not milk a franchise if the script for the next film in the franchise is not good enough. This principle applies as much to franchise films as it does to non-franchise films.

Will O’Romeo take a decent opening on 13th February?

– It should definitely take an impressive start because of several reasons: the trailer is being loved by the public; the violent love story, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, will release in the Valentine’s Day weekend; Shahid Kapoor seems so much at ease in the role, going by the trailer; Tripti Dimri is popular among the youth.   

Why are the producers of Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups not postponing the release instead of clashing with the mighty Dhurandhar 2?

– They are not thinking in terms of a postponement because their main attention is on the original Kannada version, not the Hindi dubbed version. The original version is bound to take an absolutely flying start in Karnataka. 

Why were the shows of Border 2 cancelled at many cinemas today? Couldn’t this have been avoided?

– Of course, this could’ve been avoided. But in the film industry, things do not always move as planned. The producers tried their best and that is how only the first shows were cancelled wherever the content was not fully downloaded at the scheduled time. In the case of BORDER 2, the reason for the cancellation of shows was that the content took longer than expected to be finalised for downloading by cinemas.

There are rumours that Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups (dubbed) will be postponed as Dhurandhar 2 is slated for release on 19th March. Is it true?

– The rumour is baseless. TOXIC: A FAIRY TALE FOR GROWN-UPS will come on the same day as DHURANDHAR 2. It’s a different thing that exhibitors will give far more weightage to DHURANDHAR 2 during the tug-of-war for show allocation.   

Any inside reports of Mardaani 3?

– With both the earlier MARDAANI films — MARDAANI and MARDAANI 2 — having clicked at the box-office, there is all reason to assume that the third film will also score. 

What did you think of the trailer of Aamir Khan’s forthcoming film, Happy Patel Khatarnak Jasoos?

– Very different and entertaining. Before the trailer, the curtain-raiser to the film was simply kick-ass. It got the audience prepared for something different. And the trailer thereafter kept that ‘different’ angle intact. But sadly, the film was nothing close to what the trailer and curtain-raiser suggested.

If I were to ask you what the one main reason for the failure of The Rajasaab (dubbed) is, what would your answer be? What was its budget?

– Its weak script! The producers spent a huge amount of money on visual effects and computer graphics but neither that nor the presence of popular star Prabhas could camouflage the absence of a solid script. The film’s non-success once again underlines the fact that script is a film’s backbone. If the very backbone is not strong, even the biggest hero cannot make the film stand erect (at the box-office) for too long. The budget of THE RAJASAAB was more than Rs. 400 crore!  

Any predictions for this year’s box-office?

– Let’s hope that year 2026 turns out to be bigger and better for the film trade in every which way! 

How much loss will the producers of Jana Nayagan (Tamil) make because of the film’s release being postponed due to censor problems?

– Effectively, the producers will stand to gain because the public will now be keener to watch the film. They would want to know why the film was stuck at the CBFC, and for that, they will rush to the cinemas whenever it hits the screens. Loss of interest on money due to the release delay will, of course, be the monetary loss.

What did you think of Yash Raj Films’ public compliment paid to Aditya Dhar on the grand success of Dhurandhar?

– It was well-meaning, of course. But it was too late in the day. Almost five weeks to pay a compliment publicly for a film which has been writing history from the first day itself is a bit too much of a delay. 

Will Dhurandhar be in the cinemas till Dhurandhar 2 releases on 19th March?

– DHURANDHAR will very likely be running in cinemas till mid-March. 

How justified is Akshaye Khanna in walking out of Drishyam 3?

– One has not heard of Akshaye Khanna’s reason for walking out of DRISHYAM 3 and, therefore, one presumes that he doesn’t have a solid one. To walk out of a film for no solid reason — that too, just days before it is to mount the sets — reeks of unprofessionalism.

Did the fact that Ikkis is the last film of Dharmendra help boost its opening on 1st January?

– Dharmendra is a character actor in IKKIS, not the hero. Character actors don’t ensure opening to a film. Besides, IKKIS stars a newcomer as a hero and hence the question of a handsome initial was ruled out. Still, it took a fair start because of the partial holiday on 1st January for New Year.

Where is Dhurandhar headed in terms of box-office collections? Does it deserve the success it is getting?

– It will easily become the biggest blockbuster of Hindi screen ever! It could do an all-India net total of over Rs. 750 crore!! Deserve?!?! What kind of a question is that? If people are thronging to the cinemas to watch the film even in its third and fourth weeks, the question becomes redundant. It is after ages that one has seen a film with such tremendous repeat value. A lot of people have seen the film twice and even thrice! 

What kind of an initial do you expect Dhurandhar 2 to take in March next year?

– Earth-shattering! In all likelihood, it will be the biggest opening the trade has ever seen! The best thing about DHURANDHAR 2 is that it will release after just three-and-a-half months of the first part’s release. In other words, the excitement will not abate when the second part releases because the first part will be in cinemas for several weeks more.

How is it that Avatar: Fire And Ash did well in the first week despite unencouraging reports?

– Whose reports were unencouraging? Only many among the media and the trade were speaking badly about the film. And that is because the first half was slow and a bit boring. But those who were sceptical about the film forgot to appreciate the fact that the second half was rivetting. And that’s the reason their judgement proved incorrect.

Why did Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri not take a good start on December 25?

– Obviously, because of the opposition of the hurricane called DHURANDHAR. Besides, this blockbuster of a film coupled with Hollywood’s AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH ensured that TMMTMTTM did not get the best showcasing in multiplexes and single-screen cinemas.