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Cleaning up the ‘System’ might be <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword>’s latest passion, but it reverts to stereotypes all too soon and the art of conveying a pertinent message becomes an imperfect endeavour. The saga started with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Queen-OutshinesGulaab-Gang-Total-Siyapaa-Tanks/articleshow/31848837.cms">Gulaab Gang</a>, continued through <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Youngistaan-Falls-FlatDishkiyaoon-O-Teri-Are-Clear-Flops/articleshow/33127458.cms">Youngistaan</a> and climaxed with superstar <keyword id="6357912" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="amitabh-bachchan">Amitabh Bachchan</keyword> returning with the much-hyped <keyword id="828468" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Supernatural">supernatural</keyword> comedy sequel, <keyword id="1906261" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhoothnath-Returns">Bhoothnath Returns</keyword>. This time, we have an adorable 70-plus ghost trying to set things right for the <keyword id="6361831" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="dharavi">Dharavi</keyword> <keyword id="56930" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="slum-dwellers">slum dwellers</keyword> and rooting out corruption in the process. But unlike the 2008 prequel, <keyword id="14780" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="bhoothnath">Bhoothnath</keyword>, finger-snapping alone doesn’t do the trick. Instead, <keyword id="2217" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Big-B">Big B</keyword> (<keyword id="291868" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kailash-Nath">Kailash Nath</keyword> aka Bhoothnath in the movie series) gets ready to contest polls, preaches people to go out &amp; vote, and does loads of good work in-between, amply helped by the street-smart brat <keyword id="2199671" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Akhrot">Akhrot</keyword> (<keyword id="1068845" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Parth-Bhalerao">Parth Bhalerao</keyword>). Undoubtedly a great gesture from a spirit who cares, but it carries too much baggage than is good for the <keyword id="678332" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Subtle">subtle</keyword> art of influencing, impacting and entertaining – all at the same time. 
 But that does not mean the fantasy-comedy won’t become a Bollywood hit. In spite of its many faults, Big B spins his magic on-screen and the movie has managed to shake off a slow start. Directed and co-written by <keyword id="368516" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nitesh-Tiwari">Nitesh Tiwari</keyword> of <keyword id="248958" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Chillar-Party">Chillar Party</keyword> fame, Bhoothnath Returns hit around 1,300 theatres at home but had a dull opening on April 11. It netted around Rs 4.07 crore on the debut day and witnessed a low occupancy rate of 25-30%. But <keyword id="2199678" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Weekend-business">weekend business</keyword> literally touched the sky and the movie netted a little over Rs 18 crore at the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword> after the first three days. 
 
“BhoothnathReturns Fri 4.07 cr, Sat 5.85 cr, Sun 8.10 cr. Total: 18.02 cr nett. India biz… Excellent growth over the weekend,” tweeted film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh. 
 
But the numbers dwindled on the crucial Day 4 and Day 5 (April 14 and 15). Although official figures are not available yet, the movie totalled a little more than Rs 7 crore on these two days, according to <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">Box Office</keyword> Collection, thus reaching Rs 25 crore (approx) at home. Interestingly, the budget of this movie has not been disclosed yet, but some industry insiders put it at around Rs 30 crore. However, the initial numbers are definitely much better than Kangna Ranaut-starrer <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Queen-OutshinesGulaab-Gang-Total-Siyapaa-Tanks/articleshow/31848837.cms">Queen</a> (Rs 12 crore in first 4 days). Incidentally, <keyword id="6377522" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="queen">Queen</keyword> has already netted more than Rs 60 crore at home, as per industry reports. We can’t really predict whether this Big B movie can get into that Big League or enter the Rs 100 crore club, but going by the current trend, it may overtake Bhoothnath’s earnings that managed to gross around Rs 68 crore worldwide. 
 And that brings us back to the basics. With the <keyword id="6355187" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha">Lok Sabha</keyword> polls in full swing, Bhoothnath Returns was expected to do much better at the domestic box office, especially as it aims to blend some meaningful messages with fantasy to present a <keyword id="2199680" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Socio-political-satire">socio-political satire</keyword>, loaded with <keyword id="1802565" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="tongue-in-cheek-humour">tongue-in-cheek humour</keyword> and sharp, <keyword id="2199682" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Witty-one-liners">witty one-liners</keyword>. The movie follows that script, but only up to a point, and then loses its pace and crispiness as is the wont of traditional Bollywood flicks. 
 The first half of the movie is quite entertaining, though. Bhoothnath returns from the <keyword id="2199683" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhoot-World">Bhoot World</keyword> as he is under pressure to prove his mettle as a ghost and must be able to scare a kid (his previous caper with Banku clearly hadn’t won the approval of fellow-ghosts). But this time, he has been won over by the slum kid Akhrot (Parth) and soon has a face-off with the <keyword id="2199670" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="evil-politician">evil politician</keyword> <keyword id="602825" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhau">Bhau</keyword> (Boman Irani). The rest of the story gets painfully predictable and then downright preachy, dragging on eternally before reaching an over-the-top climax. As most critics have pointed out, the second half of this flick could have easily passed muster as an infotainment video on ‘<keyword id="2199685" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Why-you-should-vote">why you should vote</keyword>’ and ‘<keyword id="924262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vote-for-change">vote for change</keyword>.’ 
 
As the story gets stretched and execution gets lacklustre, Bhoothnath Returns loses its appeal of fantasy (something that never happens in a <keyword id="1837502" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="harry-potter-movie">Harry Potter movie</keyword> in spite of its markedly pronounced good-versus-evil theme), its appeal for kids (hardly a <keyword id="2199690" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Fun-movie">fun movie</keyword>, compared to the earlier one) and its appeal for thinking adults (<keyword id="6354633" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajkumar-Hirani">Rajkumar Hirani</keyword>’s Munna Bhai series will impact you better). 
 
But Bhoothnath Returns has its special charms as well. The <keyword id="2199696" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bachchan-magic">Bachchan magic</keyword> and his easy frolic with kids are bound to win many hearts. But the star of the show is the <keyword id="5334" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood-debutant">Bollywood debutant</keyword> Parth Bhalerao who is absolutely brilliant. Then there are the cameos – <keyword id="1671" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shah-Rukh-Khan">Shah Rukh Khan</keyword>, <keyword id="6357861" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="ranbir-kapoor">Ranbir Kapoor</keyword> and <keyword id="7929" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anurag-Kashyap">Anurag Kashyap</keyword> all fall in line to support the message Bhoothnath is trying to convey. All in all, Bhoothnath Returns is a movie worth watching in spite of its none-too-impressive initial performance and execution flaws. Business may pick up further as the (release) timing has been perfect and Bachchan fans are known to form that <keyword id="828348" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="critical-mass">critical mass</keyword> of movie-goers that can always spell massive success, even if it is a bit late in the day.

Box Office: Bhoothnath
Returns In Style In Spite Of Chinks In Armour And A Tepid Start

Here is one <keyword id="2045029" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood-rom-com">Bollywood rom-com</keyword> that could have raised some serious questions about recession and its backlash, hollow consumerism and Gen Y lifestyle, without losing its frothiness. But Nupur Asthana-directed <keyword id="2045255" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bewakoofiyaan">Bewakoofiyaan</keyword> (from the house of <keyword id="36603" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Yash-Raj-Films">Yash Raj Films</keyword>) does not go beyond the first layer of the grim reality and tanks at the <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword>. The flick, starring <keyword id="6354535" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ayushmann-Khurrana">Ayushmann Khurrana</keyword>, <keyword id="710" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sonam-Kapoor">Sonam Kapoor</keyword> and <keyword id="6357910" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rishi-Kapoor">Rishi Kapoor</keyword>, was released on Friday the 14th, exactly a month after Valentine’s Day, and turned out to be a damp squib – netting around Rs 6.75 crore at home after the first weekend. That’s quite disappointing as business should have picked up during the <keyword id="2144242" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi-weekend">Holi weekend</keyword>. Also, the crucial Day 4 figures are not available yet as movie theatres across Northern India did not open till 3 pm on Monday (March 17) on account of Holi. As per a report by Rentrak, the opening weekend collection stood at $46,888 (Rs 28.64 lakh) in the US where Bewakoofiyaan was released in 51 theatres. 
 
Interestingly, Kangna Ranaut-starrer <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Queen-OutshinesGulaab-Gang-Total-Siyapaa-Tanks/articleshow/31848837.cms">Queen</a>, released on March 7, continues to rule the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword> in the second week and has netted a little over Rs 31 crore after Day 10, according to trade estimates. The flick has grossed around Rs 5.3 crore overseas during this time span and could be well on its way to become another <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> top-grosser in 2014 after Salman’s Khan’s <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Sunny-Leone-SizzlesIn-Ragini-MMS-2-Jai-Ho-Finally-Enters-100-Crore-Club/articleshow/29870204.cms">Jai Ho</a>. On the other hand, the much-touted <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Queen-OutshinesGulaab-Gang-Total-Siyapaa-Tanks/articleshow/31848837.cms">Gulaab Gang</a>, starring <keyword id="289" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="madhuri-dixit-nene">Madhuri Dixit Nene</keyword> and <keyword id="6371319" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Juhi-Chawla">Juhi Chawla</keyword>, has considerably slowed down at the domestic box office, collecting around Rs 13 crore till date, as per Koimoi. 
 
The other release of the week is <keyword id="329977" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="W">W</keyword>, a <keyword id="2144245" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Musical-thriller">musical thriller</keyword> directed by <keyword id="2077464" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tarun-Madan-Chopra">Tarun Madan Chopra</keyword> and starring <keyword id="2144218" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Leeza-Mangaldas">Leeza Mangaldas</keyword> (Sandy), Leslie Tripathy (Ruhi), Sonal Giani (Manu) and others. This one is a movie with a message and deals with the trauma of three rape victims, seeking justice in a male-dominated society. But don’t try to compare it with the regional but hugely acclaimed Adalat o Ekti Meye, directed by Tapan Sinha. The emotional pain and conflict are <keyword id="6357415" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="missing">missing</keyword> here even though the movie is dealing with a sensitive issue like rape. Instead, we land up in a stereotype <keyword id="1321184" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="revenge-drama">revenge drama</keyword> that works out all too smoothly. The <keyword id="2034852" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Box-office-numbers">box office numbers</keyword> are yet to arrive and we will keep you updated. 
 
Coming back to the storyline of Bewakoofiyaan, it is not difficult to see how ‘grave’ issues like joblessness and the consequent loss of social status have been watered down till everything falls into place as per Bollywood tradition. Here, we have <keyword id="793543" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="mohit-chaddha">Mohit Chaddha</keyword> (Ayushmann Khurrana), an <keyword id="2144224" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="ambitious-airline-executive">ambitious airline executive</keyword> who has landed the infamous pink slip; his girlfriend <keyword id="2144220" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mayera-Sehgal">Mayera Sehgal</keyword> (Sonam Kapoor) – an upper class, brand-worshipping Delhiite, and her highly placed, ‘practical’ father VK Sehgal (Rishi Kapoor). While Ayushmann’s fall from grace, his anger and frustration at losing the top-end lifestyle look convincing enough, Sonam never walks the talk she hands out to cheer up a depressed Ayushmann. For her, there’s no maturing of role and she looks eminently confused – trying to cope with a dictatorial papa and a boyfriend in distress. As for Rishi Kapoor, there is no saving grace either. Once again, he is the quintessential Bollywood father, ruling his daughter’s life. 
 Overall, not an inspiring movie and fails to go beyond the obvious. <keyword id="210839" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Critic">Critic</keyword> Sanjukta Sharma sums it up well when she says the film is flat, monotonous and defying all manner of reason, and it is no better than ‘a soap opera.’ 
 
Image: Indiatimes

Box Office: Bewakoofiyaan Is Lacklustre, W Verges
On Stereotype

It’s proven! Akshay Khiladi Kumar hates body double and prefers doing all stunts by him. After the success of his films, he is in news again! And this time for undertaking the most expensive accident <keyword id="35450" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="insurance">insurance</keyword> ever! If a news report by The Economic Times is to be believed, he has been insured for Rs 35 crore under a personal accident policy purchased by Hari Om Entertainment and Sunshine Pictures for 'Holiday. 
 The financial daily has learnt about the fact from an <keyword id="2871350" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Oriental-Insurance-executive">Oriental Insurance executive</keyword>. 
 "This is the highest cover taken by a Bollywood star," the <keyword id="6420527" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="executive">executive</keyword> told the ET on condition of anonymity. Unlike Kumar, Bollywood's highest-paid actors, <keyword id="6357753" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="shahrukh-khan">Shahrukh Khan</keyword> and <keyword id="6355923" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aamir-Khan">Aamir Khan</keyword>, do not generally seek accident covers in their film contracts. Production houses take a cover of Rs 5-10 lakh for every member of the crew to cover medical expenses towards any shoot-related accident. 
 While accident insurances of movie stars are quite popular in the Hollywood, it’s Indian counterpart is yet to catch on the trend. Some years ago, actress <keyword id="14640" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kangna-Ranaut">Kangna Ranaut</keyword> is said to have included a personal accident clause with a Rs 1-crore cover in her contract for '<keyword id="6377522" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="queen">Queen</keyword>'. Kumar's recent hits include 'Rowdy Rathore', 'Baby', 'Khiladi 786' and 'Special 26', which feature him in action-oriented roles. He got hurt in 2013 while shooting the Vipul Shah-directed 'Holiday'. 
 
The superstar has recently started shooting for ‘Airlift’ and has got for himself a personal insurance cover. 
 
(Image: India Times)

Did you know Akshay Kumar had
got accident insurance worth Rs 35cr for his ‘Holiday’?

Female protagonists are ruling <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> nowadays and we were definitely looking forward to some spectacular showing when Kangana Ranaut-Vir Das-starrer comedy-drama <keyword id="1132893" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Revolver-Rani">Revolver Rani</keyword> and Subhash Ghai-directed <keyword id="2214753" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kaanchi-The-Unbreakable">Kaanchi: The Unbreakable</keyword>, yet another <keyword id="2097207" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Woman-centric-movie">woman-centric movie</keyword>, were released on April 25. <keyword id="1718118" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Samrat-Co-">Samrat &amp; Co.</keyword>, a whodunit movie directed and co-written by <keyword id="1097593" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kaushik-Ghatak">Kaushik Ghatak</keyword>, was the third release of the week. 
 Going by the numbers, it was an extremely poor weekend at the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword> and the Monday business did not look up either, predicting more gloom and doom. After her stellar performance in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Queen-OutshinesGulaab-Gang-Total-Siyapaa-Tanks/articleshow/31848837.cms">Queen</a> (it has netted around Rs 60 crore at home and grossed nearly Rs 93 crore worldwide), Kangana-led Revolver Rani has turned out to be a surprise slow-starter at the <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> in spite of an intriguing storyline. Sure, it had the best start among the three but netted around Rs 6 crore at home after the first three days in spite of hype and the positive word of mouth. Debut day occupancy was as low as 15% although the movie has hit around 1,500 screens, nearly double the number of <keyword id="6377522" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="queen">Queen</keyword>. 
 
Interestingly, Queen, too, picked up pace pretty late, but managed to nett around Rs 9 crore after the first three days. For Revolver Rani, the crucial Day 4 (Monday, April 28) business was equally dismal and the movie collected around Rs 1.4 crore at home. It has an estimated budget of Rs 24 crore. 
 
However, <keyword id="1417195" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kaanchi">Kaanchi</keyword>, directed by <keyword id="6354581" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Subhash-Ghai">Subhash Ghai</keyword>, suffered a worse fate. This one looks like a clear <keyword id="2076872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Box-office-bomb">box office bomb</keyword> and collected a paltry Rs 75 lakh on the opening Friday. Weekend earnings remained extremely disappointing and the romance-cum-revenge drama could only manage Rs 3 crore in the first three days. Monday collections stood at an estimated Rs 1.1 crore. With the budget of the movie projected to be Rs 30 crore-plus, industry experts are already calling it another disastrous outing by Ghai. Kaanchi has opened in 1,150-1,200 theatres at home, but the occupancy was less than 15%, especially at single screens. In fact, Kaanchi is the lowest debut-day grosser among Ghai’s recent flops including Yaadein (Rs 1.6 crore on opening Friday), Kisna (Rs 1.5 crore) and Yuvraaj (Rs 2.9 crore). 
 <keyword id="2218677" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Samrat-and-Co-">Samrat and Co.</keyword>, a <keyword id="25276" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="detective">detective</keyword> thriller starring <keyword id="15130" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajeev-Khandelwal">Rajeev Khandelwal</keyword>, <keyword id="110704" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Madalasa-Sharma">Madalasa Sharma</keyword> and <keyword id="1600791" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gopal-Datt">Gopal Datt</keyword>, hit around 500 screens at home and was immediately declared a flop. First day collections at the domestic box office were an appalling Rs 25 lakh and total earnings in the first three days stood at Rs 1.45 crore, as per trade figures. Interestingly, first Monday (Day 4) collections were better than the opening day, amounting to Rs 60 lakh. But keeping the film’s budget in mind – in the zone of Rs 18 crore or so – this rahasya (mystery) ride won’t be going anywhere in terms of <keyword id="1996031" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Box-office-performance">box office performance</keyword>. 
 
 
 If you are still wondering what has led to the wholesale box office debacle, a close look at all the three flicks may help decode the failures. Directed by <keyword id="2218682" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sai-Kabir-Shrivastav">Sai Kabir Shrivastav</keyword> (he also did the story and the screenplay) Revolver Rani narrates the story of <keyword id="315181" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Alka-Singh">Alka Singh</keyword> (<keyword id="2201" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kangana-Ranaut">Kangana Ranaut</keyword>), a dacoit-turned-politician in the thick of power game and in love with Bollywood aspirant <keyword id="1555785" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rohan-Mehra">Rohan Mehra</keyword> (<keyword id="671" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vir-das">Vir Das</keyword>). Kangana plays the <keyword id="2218683" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chambal-girl">Chambal girl</keyword> to perfection – raw, raunchy, power-loving and trigger-happy. But one must not write it off as another one of the Bandit Queen saga. The ground realities, the ingrained satire and the layers of turbulence unfold well in the movie, but the story fails at times – losing the smooth flow and meandering during the second half. Overall, it has loads of merit, but it’s hardly a feel-good movie and that could be one of the key reasons behind the slow business pick-up. As <keyword id="122490" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="film-critic">film critic</keyword> Anupama Chopra so rightly said, “If you can enjoy bad people doing bad things, then Revolver Rani will be fun.” 
 
Kaanchi, on the other hand, simply drags on and loses all the suspense of a revenge drama that it later turns out to be. The movie features two newcomers in lead roles, <keyword id="562167" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kartik-Tiwari">Kartik Tiwari</keyword> (aka <keyword id="2104801" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kartik-Aaryan">Kartik Aaryan</keyword>) and Hindi movie debutante Indrani Chakraborty (aka Mishti), while the ‘big baddies’ are played by <keyword id="6357910" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rishi-Kapoor">Rishi Kapoor</keyword> and <keyword id="14672" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mithun-Chakraborty">Mithun Chakraborty</keyword>. The naïve rural beauty Kaanchi fights against power and corruption as her love Binda, her land and her life are at stake. But as is the Bollywood norm, the twists and turns get too filmy to be convincing, the characters become stereotypes and the dialogues are mere lip service. At the end, we are looking at a mere shell instead of a strong script, powerful performances and the ‘gale’ of change. 
 Samrat and Co. does no better in terms of cinematic art. Rajeev Khandelwal (<keyword id="239627" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="private-investigator">private investigator</keyword> Samrat Tilakdhari) lacks the earlier sparkle of Table No. 21. And if you are expecting Rajeev and Gopal (Samrat’s <keyword id="6419345" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="assistant">assistant</keyword> and friend, <keyword id="2218675" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chakradhar-Pandey">Chakradhar Pandey</keyword>) do a Holmes-Watson act, you could be mightily disappointed. But currently you have a mystery to solve. Try and predict if these three would do well at the domestic box office over the first week. Your guess is as good as ours. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Box Office: Kangana Fails To Lift Revolver Rani; Kaanchi Lacks Ghai’s Golden Touch

When <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> has a mission, you don’t expect it to break the traditional mould and deliver something spectacular. That’s why we were not feeling wildly enthusiastic when two <keyword id="624" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Women">women</keyword>-centric movies hit the screen just a day before the much-coveted International Women’s Day. One is, of course, <keyword id="1523830" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gulaab-Gang">Gulaab Gang</keyword>, the intensely hyped drama flick starring <keyword id="289" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="madhuri-dixit-nene">Madhuri Dixit Nene</keyword> and <keyword id="6371319" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Juhi-Chawla">Juhi Chawla</keyword> as leads. It is <keyword id="132056" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Soumik-Sen">Soumik Sen</keyword>’s directorial debut and going by the storyline – a group of pink-clad women hell-bent on social reform and getting justice for women – loads of fire and spice were expected from this movie. 
 But that was not the case. To begin with, <keyword id="1408081" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sampat-Pal-Devi">Sampat Pal Devi</keyword>, the <keyword id="19496" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="leader">leader</keyword> of the original Gulabi Gang, filed a case against the makers of Gulaab Gang and the <keyword id="6355014" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Delhi-High-Court">Delhi High Court</keyword> passed a stay order against the pan-India release of the movie. However, Delhi HC lifted the ban after another hearing and Gulaab Gang hit around 1,600 screens on March 7 as scheduled. 
 
The pre-launch controversy has, however, taken its toll and in spite of the positive buzz, Gulaab Gang has bombed the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword>. It managed to nett around Rs 2.41 crore at home on the opening Friday, followed by Rs 2.97 crore nett on Saturday and another Rs 3.46 crore nett on Sunday, taking the total weekend collection to Rs 8.84 crore nett. Collections tanked again on the crucial Day 4 (Monday, March 10) and were pegged at a little over Rs 1 crore nett. It means the film is literally struggling to get past the Rs 10 crore nett mark in spite of a huge release. 
 
Just like Gulaab Gang, Kangna Ranaut-starrer <keyword id="6377522" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="queen">Queen</keyword> started on a slow note on the opening day (Rs 1.75 crore nett at the domestic box office, which was lower than Gulaab Gang). But business picked up soon, thanks to excellent reviews and positive word of mouth. The coming-of-age comedy drama hit 800 screens, against Gulaab Gang’s 1,600, but collected around Rs 10 crore nett in the first weekend at home. Surprisingly, Day 4 collections were better than the opening Friday and stood at around Rs 2 crore nett, taking the total to Rs 12 crore nett in four days. 
 
In contrast, <keyword id="1952335" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Total-Siyapaa">Total Siyapaa</keyword>, the third flick released on March 7, tanked at the domestic box office and only managed Rs 4.09 crore nett in the opening weekend. The rom-com, directed by Eeshwar Niwas and starring <keyword id="6451231" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ali-Zafar">Ali Zafar</keyword> and <keyword id="6356250" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Yami-Gautam">Yami Gautam</keyword> (along with veterans <keyword id="6533" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anupam-Kher">Anupam Kher</keyword> and <keyword id="6738" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kirron-Kher">Kirron Kher</keyword>), has hit around 850 screens. But the lacklustre response at the box office is quite a dampener. The Monday numbers are not out yet but according to industry insiders, the movie has made a little over Rs 1 crore. 
 
What makes or breaks these movies 
Going by the box office response, Total Siyapaa is a washout and Gulaab Gang has failed to draw the audience while Queen is slowly building a solid base. Now let us take a close look at what has or hasn’t work for these <keyword id="569603" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood-flicks">Bollywood flicks</keyword>. 
 
Gulaab Gang – Old wine in new bottle: It’s not difficult to understand why Gulaab Gang has apparently failed. In spite of some good points, writer-director Soumik Sen has essentially portrayed the age-old Bollywood theme – the good versus the bad. Be it Rajjo the revolutionary (<keyword id="6355846" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Madhuri-Dixit">Madhuri Dixit</keyword>) valiantly fighting against gender discrimination, violence, abuse and poverty, or the <keyword id="2122747" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="all-black-politician">all-black politician</keyword> <keyword id="339288" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sumitra-Devi">Sumitra Devi</keyword> (Juhi Chawla) controlling and manipulating every life – they do it all in the archetypal Bollywood style. So you get some high-sounding dialogues and stick-wielding action sans the inner growth of the protagonist. 
 
Most of Madhuri’s socially committed actions are rituously punctuated by dance numbers as if we are in a kind of dream sequence. And the epic grandeur is essentially missing from this make-believe corrupt world, controlled by a failed system and ruled by larger-than-life women. Nothing is too oppressing or overwhelming in this supposedly sombre world; every issue can be dealt with, however trite the solution, and Women’s Lib has been made easy for the masses, without being given the required depth. The original Gulabi Gang founder has not been acknowledged anywhere in the movie as the makers claim that Gulaab Gang is a work of fiction. And that’s exactly what it is. This flick never rises to the classic height of real life but remains dwarfed in a scripted ambience. 
 
 
 
Queen – A <keyword id="6374782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="journey">journey</keyword> worth taking: Recently, <keyword id="6355923" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Aamir-Khan">Aamir Khan</keyword> has taken to <keyword id="6354616" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword> to praise the film, director-writer <keyword id="143066" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vikas-Bahl">Vikas Bahl</keyword> and <keyword id="203866" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="lead-actor">lead actor</keyword> <keyword id="2202" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kangana">Kangana</keyword>. “What a film!!! Guys you have to watch QUEEN!!! Anyone who hasn’t seen it, please go now and see it. Such an important film for every girl, every woman to watch... and in fact every male to watch too! Thank you to Vikas Bahl and his team which made the film. And Kangana... you rock,” he tweeted. 
 Well, that speaks volumes about quality and the flick is worth every word of it. The plot seems pretty familiar, at least in the beginning. Rani (<keyword id="2201" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kangana-Ranaut">Kangana Ranaut</keyword>) is a simple Punjabi girl hailing from Delhi and she gets turned down by the UK-returned fiancé Vijay (Rajkummar Rao) a couple of days before their wedding just because she is not his sort any more. But instead of breaking down, Rani goes on her honeymoon trip alone through <keyword id="106" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Paris">Paris</keyword> and <keyword id="22442" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amsterdam">Amsterdam</keyword> – trying to cope, having fun and finally breaking free &amp; living life on her own terms. Of course, you will find stereotypes and clichés here but Kangana sparkles in this coming-of-age movie – making <keyword id="343" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Friends">friends</keyword> and growing inwardly as the journey of discovery continues. A must-watch and we must say that the BO verdict has been quite right this time. 
 
 
 
Total Siyapaa – Not totally doomed: We say that in spite of the poor box office response. Inspired by a Spanish film, Seres Queridos (Only Human), this rom-com features an Indo-Pak pair – Asha (Yami Gautam) and Aman (Ali Zafar) – and their many attempts to iron out the clashing cultures and countries. The backdrop of <keyword id="6354968" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="London">London</keyword> looks both beautiful and homey, but the characters, at times, look lost and confused, as if trying to find their way back to the centre stage. Anupam and Kirron Kher (Aisha’s parents) do their best while <keyword id="16657" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="sara-khan">Sara Khan</keyword>, as Asha’s sister, proves to be tantalising, vivacious and gutsy. You get large dollops of humour as well even as the eccentric and whimsical characters try to make their mark. Overall, an average movie but offers some fun moments. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Box Office: Queen Outshines
Gulaab Gang; Total Siyapaa Tanks

Looks like it’s time for mending all the broken relationships in <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword>, and flaunting the same in style. 
 
A day after <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Guess-who-released-Salmans-first-look-in-Bajrangi-Bhaijaan/articleshow/47430828.cms">Shah Rukh Khan released the first look </a>of once-rival Salman Khan’s upcoming movie Bajrangi Bhaijaan, we are hearing the news of <keyword id="6355887" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shahid-Kapoor">Shahid Kapoor</keyword> and <keyword id="333" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Saif-Ali-Khan">Saif Ali Khan</keyword> coming together for a movie. 
 It’s not hidden from anyone that Shahid was once in an intense relationship with <keyword id="2165" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kareena-Kapoor">Kareena Kapoor</keyword>, who broke up with him after falling in love with Saif Ali Khan while filming the movie Tashan. This obviously must not have gone down too well with Shahid, who however chose to be wise and never washed his dirty linen in public. 
 
Even though both of them were reported to be on amicable terms after the break-up, no one ever saw them under the same roof after their break-up. The brunt of their estranged relationship was bore by the makers of Milenge Milenge, a movie shot when they were a couple but released years after they broke up. Both of them were not interested in making any appearance to promote the movie, which led to its blink-and-miss release, making it one of the biggest flops of 2010. 
 
Well, what’s gone is gone, it seems. While Kareena and Saif got married and have moved on in their lives, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Finally-Shahid-and-Mira-in-a-single-frame/articleshow/47356669.cms">Shahid is also set to marry </a>Delhi girl <keyword id="2775998" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mira-Rajput">Mira Rajput</keyword> sometime next month. 
 
This development in their personal life is also visible in the movies that the three stars in question have agreed to be a part of. Shahid and Kareena have started shooting for Abhishek Chaubey’s <keyword id="6356850" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Udta-Punjab">Udta Punjab</keyword>, also starring Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh. 
 
Here is an image from the set of Udta Punjab: 
 
 
 
 Saif and Shahid would also be seen together in <keyword id="17467" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vishal-Bhardwaj">Vishal Bhardwaj</keyword>’s upcoming movie, tentatively titled Rangoon. While Vishal has had a massive hit with Shahid in his last release Haider, he has worked with Saif in 2006 movie Omkara. Both the movies were critically acclaimed and performances of both Shahid and Saif were well received. 
 
Rangoon, which is set in the era of the Second World War, is reported to be the most expensive film to be coming out of Vishal’s kitty till date, and would be a musical. 
 
The movie would also have Kangna Ranaut, who is riding high on the success of <keyword id="2600630" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tanu-Weds-Manu-Returns">Tanu Weds Manu Returns</keyword> and receiving a National Award for her movie <keyword id="6377522" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="queen">Queen</keyword>. It would be the first time that Vishal would work with Kangna, and we can’t wait to see the collaboration, given that both are masters of their respective crafts. 
 
Now watch the best scene from the movie Omkara, which got Saif the Filmfare award for Best Villain. 
 
 
 
Image courtesy: BCCL and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/udtapunjab/photos/pb.781884335190060.-2207520000.1432715095./904612492917243/?type=1&amp;theater">Udta Punjab Fan Page</a>

Shahid’s tryst with ex-flame Kareena and her husband Saif!

This year, we have seen some very interesting woman-oriented movies being released. This week solo release Priyanka Chopra starrer '<keyword id="47387" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mary-Kom">Mary Kom</keyword>' tried its luck at the box office.

	'Marm Kom' is a biopic; and even from the promos, we could safely make out that Priyanka has worked hard for her look and body. The movie has been directed by debutant director Omung Kumar and it is produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali in association with Viacom 18 Motion Pictures.

	The movie has been made with a budget of Rs 37 crore and managed to get 1,500 screens.

	The Friday collections of the movie were promising as it managed to earn a total of Rs 8.5 crore. Over the weekend, it collected around Rs 8.8 crore on Saturday and Rs 11.05 crore on Sunday, taking its total weekend collection to Rs 28.27 crore.
 It is noteworthy, that none of the other woman-oriented films in this year, namely Rani Mukerji starrer '<keyword id="1633187" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mardaani">Mardaani</keyword>' or Kangana Ranaut’s '<keyword id="6377522" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="queen">Queen</keyword>' <a href="http://boxofficecollection.in/trade-database-records">could manage such a positive opening</a>. 'Mardaani' had garnered Rs 14.46 crore in its first weekend at the box office while 'Queen' had grossed Rs 10 crore in the same period of time.

	'Mary Kom' is being appreciated by the junta and the critics, and hopefully the movie will continue to go strong over the week with this positive word of mouth. Another factor that is going in favour of 'Mary Kom' is that it has been declared tax free in some places in the country.

	Meanwhile last week’s release 'Raja Natwarlal' failed to rule at the box office. In its first week, the movie had accumulated only Rs 25.88 crore (all figures are from <a href="http://boxofficecollection.in/">Box Office Collection</a>).

Box Office: Mary Kom Delivers A Big Punch!

<keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> is full of trends and traditions that start off as gestures but end up being remarkable traditions in the Hindi Film Industry. 
 Be it Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar’s Holi party, the #AskSRK sessions by Shah Rukh Khan on Twitter, or the Sunday gatherings outside Salman Khan’s and <keyword id="6357912" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="amitabh-bachchan">Amitabh Bachchan</keyword>’s residences, these traditions, private or public, tell us how strongly connected Bollywood is, in itself or to the fans. 
 
One such tradition, off late, has stemmed from the humble nature of megastar Amitabh Bachchan. Whenever Big B finds a performance appealing, he writes a letter to the actor and sends him or her bouquets. 
 
Getting appreciation from none other than someone who is an institution of acting in himself is surely something to be proud of, which is why the whole young brigade of Bollywood secretly aspires to get this letter from Mr. Bachchan. 
 While in the past we have seen <keyword id="598" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Deepika-Padukone">Deepika Padukone</keyword>, <keyword id="106133" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ranveer-Singh">Ranveer Singh</keyword>, <keyword id="6354535" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ayushmann-Khurrana">Ayushmann Khurrana</keyword> and <keyword id="6363098" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Richa-Chadha">Richa Chadha</keyword> getting such letters, it was the turn of Kangna Ranaut, who is busy collecting rave reviews for her performance as both Tanu and Datto in the recent release <keyword id="2600630" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tanu-Weds-Manu-Returns">Tanu Weds Manu Returns</keyword>. 
 
What makes her even happier is that this is not the first time that Kangna has received this appreciation letter from Mr. Bachchan. She had got one for the 2014 movie Queen as well, in which her performance also earned her a National Award. 
 
In a candid chat with the Times of India, the actress shared her delight of getting not one but two letters and bouquets this time, for playing both Tanu and Datto. Below is an excerpt from the interview: "Mr Bachchan sent me a letter for Queen too, but that was written in English and that too, the level of English that he himself speaks, which is high end. This time, he has written a poem and that too in Hindi, so I could read it out as is to my parents as they understand only Hindi. I felt like his two letters were my two medals. I am going to frame these and keep them for life as my memory. For my parents who are not artistes and don't understand performance, this is their proof that I have performed. Mr Bachchan has written about the minutest of details of my performance which makes it so fulfilling for an artiste, coming from a legend like him. This time he has sent me not just one, but two letters and bouquets, one for Tanu and the other for Datto. He wrote, 'It happens very rarely that our eyes fill up watching a performance. You made me cry'. He said for Datto, 'For the girl who is Tanu's lookalike called Datto, I don't know her but please extend my warm wishes to her.' What broke me down reading his letters was when he wrote, 'Main apne aap ko bhagyashali samajhta hoon, ki main uss udyog se juda hoon, jisme Kangana basti hai' (I feel fortunate to be a part of an industry in which Kangana is a part). Being an outsider, I was ridiculed for the longest time with people openly making fun of me. But the flowers Mr Bachchan sent have not just filled up my room, they have left me overwhelmed." 
 
Well, all we can say is that the other actors from the young brigade need to pull up their socks if they want to have this appreciation letter from Mr. Bachchan, who is an idol for many. 
 
Image courtesy Indiatimes

Guess who got a letter and bouquet from Amitabh Bachchan, once again?

Descendants of royal families, who are contesting the 2024 <keyword id="19923279" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-elections" source="keywords">Lok Sabha elections</keyword> on <keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords">BJP</keyword> tickets, have performed fairly well with a majority of them leading with a huge margin on their respective seats. <keyword id="29632" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jyotiraditya-scindia" source="Orion">Jyotiraditya Scindia</keyword>, the scion of the erstwhile royal family of Gwalior who severed his 18-year-long ties with the <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword> in 2020 and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is leading with over 5 lakh votes from the Guna parliamentary constituency in <keyword id="19898705" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Madhya-Pradesh" source="keywords">Madhya Pradesh</keyword>. The Union civil aviation minister is pitted against the Congress' Rao Yadvendra Singh. This is the first time in his political career that Scindia (53) is contesting as a BJP candidate from Guna, which was earlier represented by his late father Madhavrao Scindia and late grandmother Vijayaraje Scindia. The BJP is having a clean sweep in Madhya Pradesh by securing huge vote margins on all 29 seats. Another royal candidate Dushyant Singh, Prince of Dholpur state in <keyword id="19898913" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajasthan" source="keywords">Rajasthan</keyword>, who has been elected four times in the past, is also leading from Jhalawar-Baran with over 3.5 lakh votes against his rival Urmila Jain of the Congress. Mahima Kumari Mewar, the wife of <keyword id="21351143" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vishvaraj-singh" source="keywords">Vishvaraj Singh</keyword> Mewar who is a descendant of Maharana Pratap, is also leading from Rajsamand Lok Sabha seat in Rajasthan with around 4 lakh votes against her nearest rival Dr Damodar Gurjar of the Congress. In Rajasthan, the BJP has won one seat and is leading on 13 out of 25 parliamentary constituencies. In the south, <keyword id="20932800" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="yaduveer-krishnadatta-chamaraja-wadiyar" source="keywords">Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar</keyword>, 31-year-old US-educated who was crowned as the titular head of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family in 2015 making him the 27th 'King' of the Wadiyar dynasty, is a BJP candidate for the Mysuru Lok Sabha seat. Yaduveer is leading with over 1.3 lakh votes against Congress' candidates M Lakshmana from this seat. As per the latest trend, the BJP has won one seat and leading on 15 seats out of 28 parliamentary seats in Karnataka. The Congress is leading on 10 seats. In Odisha, while contesting as a BJP candidate, Malvika Devi, wife of former MP Arka Keshari Deo, a member of the royal family of Kalahandi district, is leading with about one lakh votes against her nearest rival Lambodar Nial of Biju Janata Dal (BJD). The BJP has put up a significant performance in Odisha as its candidates are leading on 19 out of 21 seats. Among the Northeastern states, Kriti Singh Debbarma, a member of the Tripura's erstwhile royal family, who is a joint candidate of the regional party Tipra Motha and the BJP, is leading with over 5.5 lakh votes on Tripura East seat from her nearest rival Rajendra Reang of the Communist Party of India (CPI). Tripura has two parliamentary constituencies and the BJP is leading on both of them. Among the losing royal challengers of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is Vikramaditya Singh, who is contesting from the Congress from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat. Singh, the heir of the Rampur royal family and son of the late Virbhadra Singh, a six-time chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, is trailing as his rival, actress-turned-politician Kangna Ranaut of the BJP, is ahead of him with over 70,000 votes. Another royal candidate is Rajmata Amrita Roy from the Krishnanagar seat in West Bengal, who is also trailing by over 50,000 votes against Trinamool Congress' (TMC) Mahua Moitra. Roy, married to the family of Maharaja Krishnachandra Roy, is revered as the "Rani Maa" or Queen Mother by the constituency, carrying a legacy rich in tradition and aristocracy.

Lok Sabha polls: Royal family candidates heading towards a comfortable victory

<keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> actresses are having a gala time. Never ever in the history of <keyword id="4636" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Cinema">Indian cinema</keyword>, Indian actresses enjoyed power like they enjoy today. Women-oriented films are on the rise, and audiences accepting them whole-heartedly. Recent success of Queen testifies the fact. But who would be the queen of Bollywood in 2014—and get the coveted ‘Heroine No. 1’ title? Let’s take a look. 
	 
	 

	1. <keyword id="6354526" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alia-Bhatt">Alia Bhatt</keyword> With three back to back hits in a year, Alia is on a roll. Her first release of the year was Imtiaz Ali’s Highway, which brought pride and appreciation her way. After this coming-of-age story, we saw Alia in 2 States next, where she enacted the role of a Tamilian to perfection. Alia’s third movie was Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya, where she was at the top of her act. 

	2. Kangana Ranaut

	Queen proved to be a game changer for Kangana Ranaut. This unconventional movie not only won her accolades for her powerful acting, but also changed contemporaries’ perception about her. 
 

	3. <keyword id="89958" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shraddha-Kapoor">Shraddha Kapoor</keyword> The Aashiqui 2 girl too had a great run at the Box Office this year. Her film, Ek Villain was a hit and she won appreciations from all corners for her brilliant performance. She will soon be seen enacting the role of a journalist in director Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider, based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. 
	 

	4. Vidya Balan

	Vidya appeared twice on screen this year. While her first movie, Shaadi Ke Side Effect failed to impress audience, Vidya managed to make up for the loss with Bobby Jaasoos. The story of an aspiring girl detective struck a chord with the audience and set cash registers ringing at the Box Office. 
	 

	5. Rani Mukherjee

	It won’t be wrong to call Rani Mukherjee’s Mardaani as the movie of the year. After a dud called Aiyya, Rani bounced back with this movie. She excelled in the role of Shivani, a crime branch inspector, and won accolades and adulation from all corners. Not just that, the film was declared tax free in some parts of the country. A Hero-ific act indeed!
 

	6. Priyanka Chopra

	Seems Priyanka Chopra will earn many awards and honours with Mary Kom, a film based on the life of Olympic legend. Critics and junta are going gaga about Priyanka’s performance that packs a punch and lots of power. A well-deserving name for the coveted number one title?
 

	7. Deepika Padukone

	Last year, she was the queen of Bollywood and delivered four back to back mega hits. However, this year Deepika seems to be in a relaxing mood and has only two movies in her kitty. First up is Homi Adjania’s Finding Fanny, where she is playing a Goan girl and next is Farah Khan’s multi-starrer Happy New Year. Will Deepika be able to replicate her last year’s success this year as well? Only time will tell.
 

	8. Parineeti Chopra

	After Hasee Toh Phasee, Parineeti will soon be seen playing a Hyderabadi girl in Daawat-E-Ishq. News is rife that Parineeti took formal training from actress Elaahe Hiptoola to get the deccani accent right. Hope her hard work pays off!
 

	9. Katrina Kaif

	After last year’s Dhoom 3, Katrina will be seen in Bang Bang next. In this much-awaited movie, the sexy lass would be seen romancing Hrithik Roshan and performing some kickass action. Will this bring Katrina back in the ‘number one’ game?

Alia, Kangana, Deepika: Who will be on Number 1?

June is at the fag end and we almost have a mid-year report card of Bollywood. Though the year started on a dismal note, it picked up towards May and June. 
 
This year, January was like a drought month and even movies starring big names did not interest the audience. As Arjun Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha starrer-'Tevar'- failed to take off, even the Horrex (horror + sex) formula did not work out for ‘Alone’ and ‘Khamoshiyan’. 
 
Other movies that released in January and failed to make a mark included Sonam Kapoor-starrer ‘Dolly Ki Doli’, 'Sharafat Gayi Tel Lene', ‘Crazy Cukkad Family’, ‘Hawaizaada’ among others. 
 
The only respite that the Bollywood lovers got was from Akshay Kumar’s ‘Baby’, which also became the first movie of 2015 to enter the Rs 100 crore club. 
 
But the jinx did not end in January as February continued to bring more bad news for the industry. 
 
The big shocker came in the form of ‘Shamitabh’. The movie, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Dhanush, was directed by R Balki, the maker who has given us movies like Pa and Cheeni Kum. 
 
Later in the month, ‘Roy’ released, which recorded a good start but by weekend the movie fizzled out. Most trade pundits pegged the crucial India-Pakistan match at the World Cup as the reason for the drop of sales on Sunday but the movie could not recover much post this phase also because of negative word of mouth. 
 
Thankfully, later in the same month we had movies like ‘Badlapur’ and ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’. Both managed to gather decent collections at the Box Office. In fact, ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ was a complete surprise package and managed to pull crowds even in its third week . 
 
March threw a mixed bag as Anushka Sharma starrer 'NH-10' received critical acclaim. April again was a dry month as Bollywood had nothing to offer that could have clicked with the Bolly buffs. 
 
However, Bollywood saw a turnaround in May. It started on a high note with Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Gabbar is Back’, which went to collect Rs 86.55 crore at the Box Office. This was followed by Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Irrfan Khan’s 'Piku', which struck a right chord with the audience and collected Rs 111 crore worldwide. 
 
Later in the month, Kangana Ranaut wowed the audience with her spectacular acting in ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’. As per reports, the movie managed to collect Rs 190.87 crore worldwide. Given that the movie was made with Rs 31 crore budget, it stood out and is the most profitable movie of 2015 till date. 
 
But, the disappointment came from ‘Bombay Velvet’. Everybody had high hopes from Ranbir Kapoor’s flick but it fell flat. 
 
The momentum seems to continue with ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ and ‘ABCD 2’. ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ has managed Rs 37.05 crore in the first weekend and is holding the fort well. Also ABCD 2, sequel of ABCD, managed to get the biggest opening for 2015 and continues to do a good business over the week. 
 
The later half will see a slew of big- starrer movies such as Salman Khan starrer ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, Vikas Bahl of Queen fame’s ‘Shaandaar’, ‘Singh is Bling’ featuring Akshay Kumar, Nikhil Advani’s ‘Katti Batti’, Aishwarya Rai’s comeback movie ‘Jazbaa’ and also ‘Dilwale’ in which fans will see Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol paired together. In addition, there will also be a third installment of ‘Hate Story’, ‘Hera Pheri’ and ‘Kya Kool Hai Hum’ to look forward to. 
 
Commenting on the movie sentiment of 2015, Komal Nahata, Trade Analyst shared, “It has been a good 2015 so far. Sure there were some upsets in the start of the year but May has been extremely kind and the rest of the year looks really promising." 
 
We hope that the forthcoming movies get the cash ringer buzzing for Bollywood and we continue to see some entertaining movies in the latter half of the year. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Mid-year assessment: It was a roller coaster ride for Bollywood

The relationship between India and <keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> can be compared to that of neighbours who cordially greet each other on formal occasions but are wary of each other’s achievements and failures. Despite the three conflicts in 1962, 1967 and 1987, and India offering asylum to Tibetans and the Dalai Lama, it cannot be denied that China and India have managed to coexist peacefully for millennia through trade and cultural exchanges. 
 
The Silk Road paved the way for traders, artists, doctors and many more who moved from the Orient to the rest of Asia (including India) and back. Both India and China are literally obsessed with each other’s culinary traditions. The number of Chinese restaurants in India and Indian eateries in China helps prove this point further. But due to China’s foreign policies and the Communist history, Indian movies could not find a sweet spot among the Chinese audience for years, in spite of the fact that Indian viewers grew up with Chinese flicks like The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, <keyword id="54923" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="bruce-lee">Bruce Lee</keyword> movies and more recently, a slew of <keyword id="20885" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jackie-Chan">Jackie Chan</keyword> films. 
 
Current rule in China Culturally, China has always done its best to keep itself isolated from foreign influences. This is also reflected in its outlook towards foreign films in general. Every year, the Chinese government allows only 34 foreign films to be screened publicly in the country. Out of these 34, India is to sell five films to the <keyword id="385802" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="China-Film-Group-Corporation">China Film Group Corporation</keyword> (CFGC) every year. However, the Indian government has not been doing that for the past few years. But whether it is due to the lack of marketable movies or due to bureaucratic incompetence – remains to be seen. 
 
It’s all about money The trade deficit between China and India is about $35 billion in China’s favour but since India has a more trade-friendly government in the Centre now, there is a sense of hope right there. One of the ways through which this gap can be narrowed is the marketing of <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> in China. In 2009, the Bollywood film 3 Idiots earned Rs 11 crore in the first couple of weeks of its release in China. And this year, Aamir Khan-starrer Dhoom 3, which had earned more than Rs 500 crore worldwide, is set to be screened across 200 theatres in China on July 26. 
 
In October 2014, the CFGC president will visit India and a wide range of Hindi movies will be shown to him. The Indian ministry is expecting the CFGC to purchase at least 2/3 films for screening those in China. 
 
But is China keen about it? 
Now, the real question is, is there a crowd for mainstream Bollywood films in the Chinese movie market? According to a news report in January 2014, a 23-year-old Chinese citizen, Jiachen Fang, told a visiting IANS journalist “youngsters in China love to watch Indian love stories.” 
 
While Bollywood is not lacking in love stories, the worrying factor for the Indian film industry is the lack of quality content. The CFGC is a government body and this means it will have to toe the line of screening Bollywood films that are culturally significant. While Dhoom 3 was a hit in India, it did not do well with critics. A huge number of <keyword id="6355923" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aamir-Khan">Aamir Khan</keyword>’s fans even panned the film. 
 
Other films that might be up for sale in the Chinese market are Kangana Ranaut-starrer Queen and the biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Both the films were critically acclaimed, compared to Dhoom 3, and they do stand a better chance of being more meaningful cultural exports. 
 
Thanks to the Internet and the rise of movie piracy, the Chinese audience already has access to good foreign movies. For a film to make money abroad, the key lies in offering something to the crowd that they cannot access otherwise. India has a plethora of options when it comes to selling movies but the Indian ministry may have to look at promoting regional films abroad that do not have pan-India releases. 
 
The Chinese watch Bollywood films and base their assumptions about Indians on these movies. What they don’t see is that most of these films do not really portray the real India. Perhaps there will be a day when a Gujarati film like Kevi Rite Jaish or a Marathi film like Fandry will see a Chinese release. But until that happens, Indians cannot blame the Chinese for assuming that we have a song and dance for every occasion.

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