How much will the Hindi dubbed version of Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1 do? Can its net collections touch the Rs. 200-crore mark?

 – It should quite easily cross the Rs. 200-crore mark. It has netted Rs. 110 crore in the first week itself!  

Why is the heat for the Diwali releases not building up?

– There are several reasons for the heat not building up for the Diwali releases. For one, there is no big-ticket film scheduled for release this Diwali. Secondly, the magic of the promotion for both the major Diwali releases, THAMMA and DEEWANIYAT, has not yet worked in a big way. With 11 days still to go, let us hope that the heat for both builds up.       

After Diwali, which are the films to be excited about?

– As of now, the excitement is building up for the following four films: Aditya Dhar’s DHURANDHAR, Luv Ranjan’s DE DE PYAAR DE 2, Aanand L. Rai’s TERE ISHK MEIN and Hollywood’s AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH.  

Why did Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1 (Hindi dubbed) not open to bumper houses yesterday despite the Dassera holiday?

– The opening day’s collection of Rs. 19 crore is a pretty good one. The trade overestimated the power of the film. But one should not forget that the first KANTARA started at less than Rs. 1.50 crore. So the opening of the second film in the KANTARA franchise is more than 12 times the first film. Frankly, the film’s producers and distributors also forgot to appreciate the fact that the budget of the second film may have been ten times the budget of the first film, but that has no meaning for the paying public. Going by the huge budget of Rs. 160 crore, the opening might seem below the mark for a Dassera holiday release, but the fact is that the paying public does not ensure a great opening basis a film’s budget. The release strategy of the Hindi dubbed version was faulty because the film did not warrant such a massive release. The producers and distributors of the film gave the Hindi dubbed version a release which was much bigger than it deserved. The huge release was right for the original Kannada version but not for the dubbed Hindi version.      

What is going wrong with Varun Dhawan? None of his films seems to be working at the box-office.

 – His choice of films is very wrong. He needs to change his modus operandi of signing films, to avoid a devastating situation.  

What is the trade buzz around the Diwali release, Thamma?

– Since there’s no other big release on Diwali, producer Dinesh Vijan is lucky to have got the Diwali week for his THAMMA without opposition of a big film. But one has to wait and watch the public response to a horror film in the Diwali week!  

Will the fact that Homebound is India’s official entry for the Oscars make a difference to its opening today and its overall box-office performance?

– Not really! In India, the film-going public doesn’t give much importance to festivals and awards. As far as HOMEBOUND is concerned, the opening has been slightly better than what it would’ve been because the news of its selection for Oscars from India is very recent and hence the film has been in discussions of late.    

What kind of an initial do you think, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari will take?

 – It should take a good start. Its title brings a smile to the face because of its quirkiness. The teaser, trailer and songs are also giving a good feeling about the film. Besides, it will release on the 2nd October holiday of Dassera.  

Will Kantara The Legend: Chapter 1 (dubbed) take a flying start next week?

– Considering that KANTARA is a big brand after the success of the first part, the second part is expected to take a fantastic initial on Dassera. 

Why was there no clarity about the VPF charges for this week’s release, Jolly LL.B 3? Had there been clarity, the advance booking would’ve gone on smoothly, without PVR Inox having to suspend it twice in two days.

– There was no clarity because the rules are different for Hollywood films from what they are for Bollywood films. While Hollywood studios in India are not liable to pay VPF, the Indian distributors are required to pay VPF to the exhibitors. This is an anomaly which needs to be removed. It is high time, exhibitors stopped charging VPF. Coming back to JOLLY LL.B 3, it is being distributed by a Hollywood studio and hence it took the view that it would not be liable to pay VPF on its Indian film too. However, the PVR Inox multiplex chain claimed VPF from Star Studio18 because JOLLY LL.B 3 is an Indian film. The chain’s argument is that the waiver of VPF is for Hollywood films only.   

Can you explain how Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle, a Japanese anime film, did so well in India last week?

 – Japanese anime films are soon becoming a craze with the young brigade in India. 

How did Aabeer Gulaal fare in the Overseas circuit. I ask this question because I’d like to know whether releasing a film only in Overseas circuit, without releasing it simultaneously in India, can become a trend, like Aabeer Gulaal was released last week?

– AABEER GULAAL fared extremely badly abroad. Such a lopsided release was suicidal. Anyway, why would you even want to know whether such a release strategy would become a trend? After all, no one in his senses would want to release his film in just one circuit (Overseas) to the complete exclusion of the whole of India. The producers of AABEER GULAAL had no other option because there is no clarity on the point of India theatrical release of a film starring a Pakistani hero (Fawad Khan in the case of AABEER GULAAL). 

Is it true that Aabeer Gulaal has been released in Overseas circuit this week?

– Yes, it is true that the producers of AABEER GULAAL have released it all over today, except in India. The presence of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in the male lead may be objected to after the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and, therefore, the producers did not want to release it in India this week. But they are definitely contemplating releasing it after two weeks in India too. Incidentally, the film could not be released in Pakistan too. It may be mentioned here that Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor have given wonderful performances in the love story which boasts of lovely music. 

Why did Mirai not take even an average start in Hindi today?

– The awareness about the film’s release was minimal. The odd title also played a part in the weak opening. 

How is the Diwali week looking this year for the box-office?

 – The usual excitement may not be seen this Diwali as there is no clash one normally expects at the box-office. After all, THAMA and EK DEEWANE KI DEEWANIYAT are both not big-budget extravaganzas. They also don’t give the vibe of festival releases. Wish, some big film would release on the occasion of the festival of lights. 

While Baaghi 4 is the fourth film in the Baaghi franchise, The Bengal Files is the third in the Files film trilogy. Yet, both the films did not open to bumper houses today. Just why?

– The public had found the trailer of BAAGHI 4 too violent and hence the film was never expected to take off in a big way. Frankly, after watching the film, one feels, the film’s trailer did not do justice to the content which has so much more to offer. As for THE BENGAL FILES, it doesn’t boast of star names and, therefore, it couldn’t possibly have taken a flying start. Its opening today is very weak. 

So what was the public response to Hindi dubbed Vash Vivash Level 2? Was the response to the original Gujarati film, Vash Level 2, any different?

 – The response to the original Gujarati version was good in the first week. However, the Hindi dubbed version did not find favour with the public. 

Today, why do films not have repeat value, generally speaking, as in the good old days?

– In the good old days, films used to be available only in cinemas. Later, they started becoming available on satellite channels too, but much after their theatrical run was over. However, today, they are available on OTT within weeks of their theatrical release. They can also be downloaded — illegally, of course — on some apps. Hence today, the tendency of people to repeat a film in the cinemas has declined. Of course, that doesn’t mean that films nowadays don’t have repeat value. A much-loved film could inspire the audience to repeat it in cinemas, but, thanks to the above reason, repeat value of films has gone down. In recent times, SAIYAARA had been repeated by the youth, to some extent.         

Why did this week’s Param Sundari record dull advance booking?

 – There was not much reason for the advance booking of PARAM SUNDARI to be impressive because neither was the film very hot before release nor are the main actors of the kind which would warrant the plans to open big. 

The producers of Gujarati Vash Level 2 released the Gujarati Vash sequel this week after dubbing it in Hindi even though the first part was not dubbed in Hindi? Is this an advisable move?

– Strictly speaking, it’s not an advisable move because the second part may not be completely comprehensible to the Hindi film-going audience as they haven’t watched the first part in Hindi. The producers may have taken the liberty of doing what they did because VASH (the first part) was remade in Hindi by Ajay Devgan as SHAITAAN. However, the ending of SHAITAAN was very different from that of VASH. By the way, the title of the Hindi dubbed version of VASH LEVEL 2 is VASH VIVASH LEVEL 2.

There’s suddenly a rush of new releases on 5th and 12th September. Why is it so?

– Sometimes, there are too many releases for no apparent reason. The film release schedules are often like the Bombay traffic — unpredictable!        

If I were to ask you just one reason for the failure of War 2, what would that be?

 – The main reason for the non-success of Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR’s WAR 2 is its extremely weak script. The drama was so poor that the visuals looked like they were screaming, “Look, we are so beautiful, so much money has been spent on the film to make it a visual treat, look, it is so extravagant!” The huge budget irritated the audience even more because of the below-average content. 

How have the producers of Gujarati Vash made a sequel? Vash did not work at the box-office.

– VASH may not have done well at the Gujarati box-office, but the producers made profits on the project because they sold its remaking rights for other languages for a hefty price to Ajay Devgan. And Ajay remade the film in Hindi as SHAITAAN which did very well at the Hindi box-office. The producers of VASH also sold the OTT rights for a very good price. VASH LEVEL 2 (Gujarati) is slated for release next week — in Gujarati and Hindi (dubbed) too. The Hindi dubbed version is titled VASH VIVASH LEVEL 2.    

Since there’s no new Hindi film release today (22nd August), will War 2 reap the benefit of lack of new opposition?

– WAR 2 will not reap the benefit of lack of new opposition because collections dropped down markedly in the first week itself. The major part of the benefit will go to MAHAVATAR NARSIMHA.        

It is the South industry once again which has made a blockbuster animation film, Mahavatar Narsimha. Why is it that only the South filmmakers come up with winning ideas?

 – They do so because they think out of the box. Bollywood filmmakers often focus their energies on repeating a successful formula instead of tackling novel ideas.

How much business will Saiyaara do in the Overseas circuit?

– Its gross collections Overseas may probably cross $20 million! That would be a record for a love story starring new faces. In the UK, it is the fourth biggest Bollywood film!!     

Can Mahavatar Narsimha be called the modern-day Jai Santoshi Maa?

– Yes, you may call it the modern-day JAI SANTOSHI MAA because it has the same kind of following.        

What kind of an initial do you expect War 2 to take on Thursday, August 14?

 – Bumper! The trade is not quite confident about an earth-shattering start to the film but that’s because most of them are unable to understand and assess the magic of the Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR jodi. The thrill of watching them together on screen is something they cannot fathom today but will realise when the film hits the screens.         

With YRF’s Saiyaara still running in the cinemas, won’t the same production house’s War 2 eat into its collections from 14th August onwards? Couldn’t YRF have postponed the release of War 2?

– What you say is not easy, practically speaking. Yash Raj Films kept a gap of four weeks between the release of the two films, and that must’ve seemed good enough by any stretch of imagination at the time when SAIYAARA had not been released. To change the release plan of WAR 2 now or even one or two weeks earlier would’ve been an almost impossible task.    

Why did Dhadak 2 fare so poorly at the box-office?

– DHADAK 2 may have done far better if it had been made as a love story set against the backdrop of a casteist society. But what it turned out to be was a film about casteism set against the backdrop of a love story.