AskIndicine: Live Now

Q. Have heard rumours about Raees vs Sultan not happening and it is Raees that is moving ahead. Any truth in that? – ANK

A. Although an official announcement is yet to be made, it’s more or less certain now that Raees will be moving to a different date. Reliable sources have now confirmed that Sultan will get a solo release.

Two massive films like Raees and Sultan simply cannot get the release they deserve, if they release on the same day. Given Salman’s record during Eid and the average performance of Dilwale at the domestic box office, Sultan was always the hotter film in the trade. Right from the day YRF announced the film for Eid, there was never really any question or doubt over that.

Q. Will the excellent opening and a potential strong weekdays hold of The Jungle Book affect the final screen count of FAN? – Ashish Thapar

A. FAN might lose out on a few shows at multiplexes, as exhibitors might retain more shows of ‘The Jungle Book’. It would also depend on how well the Hollywood film holds on Friday, but it isn’t going to make much of a difference. The fate of FAN is dependent on how well the film is liked by the audience, nothing else matters.

Q. Which film takes 100% opening on first day & collected to its full potential? – Pratik

A. No film in the last 10 years has taken a 100% opening. The last film that really opened to a earth-shattering response was Ek Tha Tiger, followed by Dhoom 3. The year-on-year growth was phenomenal - Bodyguard did 21 crore and Ek Tha Tiger collected nearly 50% more.

Q. Most popular song of 2016? Kamran Ahmed

A. It has to be Kar Gayi Chull from Kapoor & Sons. It has topped every chart – including iTunes, Radio Mirchi, Ormax (just to name a few) and continues to dominate. It also helped Kapoor & Sons to post a bigger total on Day 1.

Q. How are Sultan and Shivaay shaping up? Also, has the post production of Dangal started? And when can we expect the theatrical trailer of Mohenja Daro?

A. Early reports for Sultan are positive. Teaser will be out in 4 days from now, reports for which are incredible. Not much is known about Shivaay, except for the fact that the film is being made on a massive scale and the visuals are going to be incredible. The only question mark is over Ajay Devgn as director, he wasn’t very impressive in his first film ‘U Me Aur Hum’. Yes, the post-production work on Dangal has already begun, most of the shoot is complete. The trailer of Mohenjo Daro doesn’t have a date, it’s expected to release in June.

Q. Is Shah Rukh Khan doing Imtiaz Ali’s next? – Shaker

A. Yes, the film is confirmed.

Q. Can you list down the films that have the potential to take a Good, Excellent, Bumper or Record Breaking opening for this year?

A. Expected opening response to upcoming movies – FAN (Good), Baaghi (Good), Azhar (Average), Sarbjit (Slow start), Housefull 3 (Excellent), Udta Punjab (Slow start), Sultan (Bumper / Record Breaking, solo release), Raees (Bumper, solo release), Great Grand Masti (Good), Dishoom (Excellent), Mohenjo Daro (Excellent), Rustom (Average / Good, similar to Airlift), M.S Dhoni (Good / Excellent), Baar Baar Dekho (Slow start), Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (Good), Shivaay (Good), Rock On 2 (Average/ Good), Dangal (Excellent / depending on appeal could be Bumper).

Q. What are the internal reports about FAN? How the movie has shaped up finally?

A. Like always, the ‘internal reports’ are positive. But almost every pre-release report of big films is nothing more than the PR machinery at work. ‘Censor board gave a standing ovation’, ‘best film of all time’, ‘career best performance’ are things that we read about every big film prior to release. Even early screenings are only organised for people who won’t go out and thrash the film if they don’t like it. The only verdict that matters is from the audience on Friday morning. Let’s wait for that.

Q. Why Hindi movies release a day before in Dubai?

A. Because Friday in Dubai is like Sunday in India. Weekend is Thursday / Friday and Sunday is a normal working day.

Q. In today’s time ticket prices are really costly even for smaller films? How much impact it will have on the number of films releasing every year. because audience are going to be very choosy.

A. The audience is already very choosy. In 2016, only good films have worked. Even sex isn’t selling this year, like we’ve seen with movies like Mastizaade and this week’s release Love Games. Even when it comes to box office clashes, content is going to be the deciding factor, not star power.

The challenge for filmmakers is now going to be about tapping into audience at smaller centres. In majority of cities and towns in India, no film this year has worked. This is going to be a real concern in the next few years, as some filmmakers are content with making films for a very small section of the audience. If smaller centres become all about regional films and with the growing threat of Hollywood films at big centres, Bollywood might struggle in the next few years.

Q. If Ranveer Singh scores real biggie at box office with Befikre (solo film), will that put him above next generation stars like Ranbir, Varun & Sidharth Malhotra?

A. At this moment, Ranveer is ahead of all those names that you mention, with Varun taking the second spot. Bajirao Mastani is like the DDLJ of his career. A landmark film. Big directors now want to sign him for their films.

Q. Any inside news of Hera Pheri 3. When is it releasing or how much shooting is completed?

A. The shoot has been stalled for now. It will resume once the financial and star dates are sorted out. Won’t release this year.

Q. Who creates whom? An actor creates a Director and Producer or vice versa?

A. No one creates anyone, they survive in the industry and succeed because of their own talent and hard work. Even a great director will fail if he doesn’t have good actors, script and technicians. An actor would fail too if the director isn’t competent enough. A film is a team work.

Having said that, most of the top superstars that we currently have, are capable of ensuring recovery even if the film doesn’t meet expectations. That’s because of the fanbase that they’ve earned over the years. There is also a reason why top actors earn the kind of money that they do, it’s their presence that sells tickets at the box office. For example, if Kabir Khan would cast Saif Ali Khan in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, it wouldn’t earn a third of the money that it did. A popular actor in a good film is essential for a universal blockbuster.

Q. Why SRK has not promoted FAN like all his other movies like Dilwale,HNY,CE ……. He was all over TV promoting it at every single place?

A. A Shah Rukh Khan film creates enough awareness even without him going all over to promote it. About FAN, it could be because the makers are confident of the film that they’ve made. It’s also because the film is such, that it doesn’t really need a huge promotional campaign.

Q. 5 days to go for FAN. With all your experience of watching and reviewing movies, what is your gut feel for this one?

A. It has to be a good film to work. The trade isn’t very excited about its box office prospects. The early response to the advance booking is good though. Do not want to comment about ‘gut feel’. It doesn’t matter, a film like Chak De India didn’t carry any pre-release excitement, but went on to be one of SRK’s most loved films.

Q. What will the total collection of Housefull 3 , if it is accepted?

A. Has the potential to do 175 crore plus. Could do 200 plus if it really finds appreciation. The period of release (Post IPL) is very good, most films that have released during this period have done well.

Q. When will be the trailer of Udta Punjab release? How much it need to collect at box office to be a hit? Please reply.

A. Trailer will be out this month. The budget isn’t high, so the film would be a decent grosser at around the 45 crore mark. Business economics will be published couple of days before release.

Q. Who are the top critics according to you,besides Indicine? As we can’t watch all movies either in theatres or on mobiles,laptops etc whom should we believe so that we can know which movie is good or bad?

A. The top critic is the audience. Trailer and song promos should help you decide whether you should watch a movie or not. If you’re still unsure, it’s better to ask your friends who have already watched the film. Do note that watching movies on mobiles or laptops is illegal. Downloading a copy from the internet is illegal too. Tickets during weekdays are cheap and movies are best experienced on the big screen.

Q. Has Katrina signed any new film?

A. Yes, her next film is Baar Baar Dekho. Stars Sidharth Malhotra. Directed by Nithya Mehra. Releases September 9.

Q. Your personal favourite movie of Karan Johar? And the reason why do u think its better than others?

A. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is his best, followed by Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and My Name Is Khan.

Q. Today the advance booking of FAN started.. How is the response for it?

A. By far the best response of the year so far. Decent when compared to other big Shah Rukh Khan films in the recent past.

 

Q. Looking at a Bajirao vs Dilwale scenario, how much screens do you think Mohenjo Daro and Rustom will get?

A. Rustom is targeted at the multiplex audience. Mohenjo Daro has wider appeal and should get a good single-screen release too.

Q. Do you have any details about the story, music director, editor etc of the film Befikre?

A. Music directors are Vishal – Shekhar, Story by Namrata Rao – both according to press release by YRF. No details about the story.

Q. Has Salman signed Makkhi 2 and Kabir Khan’s next ?

A. Kabir Khan’s next is official. Makkhi 2 has been confirmed by Vijayendra Prasad – writer of the film and father of S.S. Rajamouli.

Q. SRK’s next with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, is it confirmed?

A. No. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s production house has denied the news.

Q. A news channel described SRK as the biggest superstar in the world. What do you think?

A. Not sure about biggest superstar in the world, but for a lot of people in the world outside India, Bollywood = SRK.

Q. What is ur take now on Fan’s buzz?

A. Not exactly where it should have been 5 days before release. Not as hot in the trade as SRK films usually are.

Q. Where does Varun currently stand in terms of ranking and star power amongst his contemporaries?

A. He doesn’t really have a failure against his name, which speaks volumes of both his consistency and fan following. One of the more promising young star that we have, if not the most – along with Ranveer Singh.

Q. There is no other songs in Fan, only Jabra?

A. That is right.

Q. Can Dangal do unthinkable and cross 400 crore mark in domestic Box Office?

A. It will be very difficult. But it’s been Aamir who has been doing the unthinkable for several years now. Ghajini, 3 Idiots, Dhoom 3, PK.. all did the unthinkable, setting records by a distance.

Q. Ramadan starts after about 5 days of Housefull 3 release, will it affect it in India and mainly overseas (Gulf,UK,US, Pak mainly as high Muslims). It has a big potential but for that 300 cr worldwide grosser it should have few factors going for it, do u think if the Wom is good it should achieve its potential despite Ramadan?

A. Not really. Ramadan doesn’t really impact business like the Pre-Diwali period does. Films like Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag have been very successful even though they released during the Ramadan period.

Q. Whats is the final verdict of Kapoor & Sons? How well has it performed overseas?

A. Super Hit, overall. It’s the biggest overseas grosser of the year, ahead of Airlift.

Q. How Fan will recover its cost ? What is the verdict at 150 crore for it.

A. Hit at 150.

Q. Any official confirmation on the clash between Sanjay Dutt biopic and Aanand L Rai’s dwarf movie (possibly starring SRK).

A. The movie will star SRK, that’s confirmed. Clash is not. No release date either.

Q. Has Kabir Khan casted Salman instead of Hrithik?

A. Kabir Khan has a script for Hrithik, that’ll happen after Salman film.

Q. Why don’t Bollywood make films like Baahubali and Robot?

A. Maybe because we do not have a director who has the confidence to make such big films? Our best director makes very different films, they aren’t larger than life.

That ends the QnA for today. More than 35 questions were answered. Thank you for joining us.