When it is well-known that the first week of January is jinxed, why do producers release their films in that week?

– The first week of January may be a jinxed week because producers are wary of releasing their big films in that week. Some big films should release in the first week for us to know conclusively if it is a jinxed week. The films which are released every year in the first week are so bad that they’d flop even if released some other time of the year. So why blame the first week of January?

Which film of 2020 would you bet your last shirt on?

– Aamir Khan’s LAAL SINGH CHADDHA, being directed by Advait Chandan, and Kabir Khan’s 83, starring Ranveer Singh.

Will Shah Rukh Khan have a film release this year?

– I guess so. He hasn’t announced anything so far but he must be planning it all the same.

Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior and Chhapaak will release on the same day, 10th January, 2020. Likewise, Street Dancer 3D and Panga will hit the screens together on 24th January, 2020. Can’t these four films come on four different dates?

– There are 52 weeks in a year but the number of films made every year is far more than that. So this kind of a clash is inevitable.

Now that the year is coming to an end, how would you describe 2019?

– It’s been a great year for content-driven cinema. But that doesn’t mean, stars have had it tough. Even star-studded films have worked at the turnstiles. But only star power, without content did not work!

Who is the actor who has contributed the maximum to the box-office in 2019?

– Undoubtedly, Akshay Kumar who had four successful releases — KESARI, MISSION MANGAL, HOUSEFULL 4 and GOOD NEWWZ.

Why was the opening of Dabangg 3 not extraordinary today (20th December)?

– There are several reasons for it. The music was not as good as it should’ve been. Therefore and even otherwise, the buzz for the film was not great. Thirdly, the advance booking of the film was not extraordinary and, therefore, the start couldn’t be extraordinary. The agitations against the Citizenship Amendment Act in different parts of the country and extreme cold in North India also played their parts in adversely affecting the initial of the film.

What kind of an initial do you predict for Good Newwz next week?

– The initial will be very good because both the trailers of the film have been extremely well accepted by the audience. Its music is also of the popular variety.

If Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior and Street Dancer 3D score, will it start a trend of 3D films?

– Yes, it could inspire more filmmakers to make 3D films.

Are the producers of Chhapaak right in going ahead with the release plan on 10th January, 2019?

— Yes, they are justified in going ahead with their original release plan despite the fact that a big-budget TANHAJI: THE UNSUNG WARRIOR is hitting the screens on the same day. After watching the first trailer of CHHAPAAK, you realise that this may well be another content-driven film.

A big Kannada film like Avane Srimannarayana is slated for release on 27th December and it has been dubbed in Hindi too. Since the Hindi dubbed version will release simultaneously, why is it not being promoted in the Hindi-speaking regions as it is being promoted in the Kannada-speaking region?

— It’s rather unfortunate that not much attention is being paid by the producers and distributors to the promotion of the dubbed version which is titled ADVENTURES OF SRIMANNARAYANA. This is the case with most of the dubbed films released. The fact that nowadays, they often hit the screens on the same day as the original versions, should be enough reason for the producers to promote the dubbed version also with the same vigour and enthusiasm.

What will be the extent of loss to the producers of Panipat?

— The monetary loss will be huge, probably to the tune of Rs. 30-35 crore. There’s also the loss of reputation for having gone so drastically wrong in such a big-budget, star-cast film.

What do you predict for the month of December?

– Happy times for the film industry! PATI PATNI AUR WOH has opened very well this week. Next week’s MARDAANI 2 is looking promising. Then we have DABANGG 3 which will open huge. It will be followed by GOOD NEWWZ which also looks like a super fun film. Why December only, even January 2020 holds promise. There are TANHAJI: THE UNSUNG WARRIOR, CHHAPAAK, STREET DANCER 3D and PANGA, all due in the first month of the new year.

Is it really necessary to have the huge outlays for promotion and marketing of films before release?

– Nobody has the courage to find out if it is wasteful expenditure or necessary expenditure. The producer of a big film with a superstar or a big star can experiment by reducing the promotional budget by half and then decide whether such huge outlays are really needed or not. But who will experiment? Since it’s all about initial business (first weekend, first week), what if the experiment backfires? That’s the fear!

With music losing its importance in our films, will songs become a thing of the past in films?

– HOUSEFULL 4 owes at least 25% of its total collections to the ‘Bala Bala’ song. Music is not losing its importance in our films. Music directors and filmmakers need to concentrate more on music because the number of hit songs has reduced in recent times.

Your YouTube channel video mentions that Shah Rukh Khan’s next film will be directed by Raj-D.K. Is this the right choice for the actor, considering that he hasn’t done any film since a year?

– Why not? That Raj-D.K. know their job as directors is proven. Now, it all depends on the script. If the content is good, the two directors will be able to pull off a hit.

What is Hrithik Roshan’s next?

– Perhaps, Farah Khan’s remake of SATTE PE SATTA. That’s the only film of his that’s been announced — unofficially, though.

How did Hotel Mumbai fare worldwide? When did it release abroad?

– It was released in March 2019 and it was critically acclaimed. It did well in financial terms too, grossing around Rs. 140 crore Overseas.

With Dabangg 3 and Good Newwz slated for release in the last two weeks of 2019, and Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior due in the first month of 2020, can we assume that this year will end with a bang, and the new year will start likewise?

– Yes, it is safe to assume so. This is because all the three films viz. DABANGG 3, GOOD NEWWZ and TANHAJI: THE UNSUNG WARRIOR would command fantastic initials. The trailers of all the three films are outstanding.

Are the stars paid for inaugurating events like the IFFI?

– The stars are a considerate lot. They do not charge for events like the IFFI.

If content is king, what is the writer?

– King maker!

If an action film like Satyameva Jayate can open very well, why did Marjaavaan, also an action fare and directed by the same person as Satyameva Jayate, not open as well?

– SATYAMEVA JAYATE had John Abraham, who has an action image, while MARJAAVAAN stars Sidharth Malhotra and Ritesh Deshmukh, both of who are not action heroes.

Does a hero select a script or does a script select a hero?

– It works both ways if a hero is talented. Like a talented hero is in search of a good script, a well-written script is also in search of a hero who would be able to deliver.

With some films now being made devoid of lip-synch songs, is music really important for a film’s success?

– Important?! It is supremely important – especially in a commercial entertainer. Some films can do without lip-synch songs or without any songs but commercial potboilers need to have songs because songs are integral to our culture.

What is this brouhaha about incorrect box-office figures doled out by the producers of Housefull 4?

– It’s much ado about something that’s been prevalent since years. Many producers do give out inflated box-office collections of their films but it is up to those reporting to correct them and put out the genuine figures. Frankly, not many so-called trade analysts and, of course, the self-styled trade analysts have the werewithal to get their hands on the genuine box-office collections and, therefore, either depend upon the producers for the same or randomly reduce the figures to appear unbiased. Both are dangerous moves. Film Information has a network of more than 200 representatives across India, to not just source the collections but also to verify those provided by the producers.

Will the fate of next week’s Bala be adversely affected because the other film on premature balding — Ujda Chaman — has released a week earlier?

– It’s the other way around. Perhaps, the fate of UJDA CHAMAN is going to be adversely affected as members of the public know that BALA is due next week and they may want to wait for that film.

What’s the whole purpose of bringing Radhe to the cinemas on Eid next year? Don’t you think, the film, which is still to roll, will have to be made in a tearing hurry?

– If Salman Khan is particular about releasing RADHE on Eid 2020, who is anybody to object? He feels, he can make the film and release it in six months, so that’s it.