Posts Tagged ‘hit’
Luck By Chance
Posted on: January 2, 2010
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; January 2, 2010)
Yet, the reality of the matter is something else. It is usually who is available; and sometimes who is more saleable.
Take the latest: Aamir Khan was never meant to be playing the idiot in his latest film. It was to be Shah Rukh Khan. Since SRK and producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra had a difference of opinion, the Bollywood Badshah was replaced by Aamir. And while the rest is history, there are innumerable such examples in the film industry.
History knows that Amitabh Bachchan was not Prakash Mehra’s first choice for Zanjeer. It was meant to be Dev Anand or Raaj Kumar. When both actors said no, the Big B stepped in. Jaya Bachchan even thanked Dev saab for refusing the Zanjeer role. The film gave her — her real life husband and it gave Bollywood one of its most revered screen couples.
Today you wonder how Dev saab would ever have fit into the angry young man mould. But that’s an after-thought.
Hrishikesh Mukherjee wanted Raj Kapoor to play Anand. When he couldn’t, Hrishida sent for Shashi Kapoor but Rajesh Khanna wormed his way in. And till today Anand is synonymous with the 70s phenomenon.
Shatrughan Singh continues to smart that it was he who was to be Jai in the Jai-Veeru jodi of Sholay but because he was riding a crest of super-success then, he didn’t want to do a twohero film. Amitabh Bachchan got the role instead.
Aamir had been pencilled in for Yash Chopra’s Darr but at that point he ‘accused’ Yash of playing games. And SRK made a permanent place for himself in the YRF camp.
Saif Ali Khan had qualms about playing a pansy in Dostana so John Abraham was brought in. John got male and female temperatures rising with this fun flick and is now a part of its sequel.
Kareena Kapoor asked for too much money for Kal Ho Na Ho; result — Preity Zinta landed this memorable film. Shah Rukh was meant to be playing Munnabhai but since he walked out after some miscommunication, Sanjay Dutt became Munna. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was in Chalte Chalte till Salman dropped in as an uninvited guest forcing SRK to call Rani Mukerji to replace her… and Rekha and Jaya would never have had their screen face-off in Silsila had Parveen Babi and Smita Patil done their roles.
Unlike real history, reel history is often made by default.
It could be atonement for his past deeds, or should it read, atonement for his past fees. Trade circles say that Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar who attained notoriety as the actor who was reportedly signed for as high a fee as Rs 71 crore for a film, has had a change of mind.
Reliable market sources say that the entire completion cost of Akshay’s next two films -Khatta Meetha directed by Priyadarshan and Tees Maar Khan directed by Farah Khan will reportedly not exceed Rs 35 crore.
So how did this miracle happen?
According to one trade source, “The cost of making Khatta Meetha and Tees Maar Khan will not include the actor’s fee.”
The same source adds that when Akshay realised that his films Chandni Chowk to China, Kambakkht Ishq and Tasveer lost money because of his individual fee as an actor, he decided to make a market correction.
Having studied the current Bollywood trade scene, the actor in concurrence with his filmmakers has decided not to charge a single penny for his films.
However, Akki’s banner Hari Om Productions is a co-producer on Khatta Meetha and Tees Maar Khan.
The actor explains the logic behind this drastic move of not charging his market fee, saying, “My fee for both films will be zero. If both films are hits, then my production house will stand to benefit by getting a part of the profits. If the film is average, the profit margin will automatically be reduced. However, it’s important to note here that even if the film flops, no one will lose money because the budget has been controlled. By not charging my personal remuneration as an actor, I’m making sure that these films will at least romp home with no losses.”
Trade sources say that the Akshay module is being closely watched by all actors who have home productions.
Anees Bazmee-the sequel junkie
Posted on: December 24, 2009
By Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 24, 2009)
Anees Bazmee is becoming a sequel specialist now. He is working on as many as four sequels simultaneously and if all goes well, the fifth is not far away. The four sequels that he is working on right now are No Entry 2, Welcome Back, Mr. India 2 and Hera Pheri 4.
 |
| Anees Bazmee |
Anees informs us about his sequels in making, “I am in the process of writing all these films and so far I have only managed to complete Hera Pheri 4. I have also been busy with the shooting of No Problem and that’s the reason I have not been able to finish writing the other films. In fact No Problem also has a possibility of a sequel.”
When asked what precaution he takes while making a sequel considering that the original is already a hit, he tells us, “I do not need to spend any time establishing a character in the film and there is a major disadvantage as a writer and a director. However, since the film is already a hit, I need to work doubly hard on every scene. Be it an emotional, comic or an action scene, I have to make sure that they are even better than the first one so that there is some novelty factor.”
Saturday 19th December 2008 09.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Avatar opened very well all over India and in all versions. It remains to be seen if it can match or surpass the business of 2012 which was released last month and emerged the biggest Hollywood hit ever in India.
Rocket Singh – Salesman Of The Year grossed a below expectations 14 crore nett approx over the first week. The film will earn for makers due to low costs but theatrical business is well below expectations. Eight day had low collections in most of the country.
Paa remained steady in week two with 7.75 crore nett approx in week two to take its total to around 24 crore nett after two weeks. The film should emerge a Semi Hit/Above Average fair but if it can bring in good collections after the release of Three Idiots it has chances to become a hit.
Judwaa sequel being planned
Posted on: December 15, 2009
| |
Salman Khan is finally ready to play the quirky Raja and the sober Prem in the sequel to his 1997 hit Judwaa. The actor has given his nod to team up once again with director David Dhawan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala for the sequel to the twin-comedy only after he was completely convinced with the script.
So far the idea of a sequel to Judwaa had been quelled mainly because the story ideas did not appeal to Salman. Now, David has finally come up with an idea that the team feels is worth pursuing.
Producer Sajid says, “We’ve been going back and forth with David on the story of Judwaa’s sequel for years. Since Judwaa released there have been innumerable films about twins and their adventures, so films about twin heroes had become stale. Before making Judwaa 2 we first had to make sure the plot not only went further than the first Judwaa but also goes beyond all the other double-role films that have come lately.”
Fact of the matter is that double roles have not been doing well lately. Sajid says, “We’ve gone back to the story board repeatedly to ensure Judwaa has very high novelty value.”
“David is working on giving Salman’s character a special new spin. We’ll give the two Salmans a very different look and the story moves ten years ahead but Salman is still as boyish as he used to be,” adds Sajid.
 |
Judwaa 2 won’t feature either Karisma Kapoor or Rambha who were lead actresses in the first film.
But yes, Kareena Kapoor is being considered to star in the sequel.
About Judwaa
Directed by David Dhawan, Judwaa is about identical twins (Salman Khan) who get separated at birth. The quiet and mature Prem, one of the twins, and his father visit India to get Prem married to Mala (Karisma Kapoor).
Prem also meets his twin brother in India and a series of comic situations follow. The highlight of the film was Anu Malik’s music especially the songs Chalti hai kya nau se baraah and Unchi hai building lift teri bandh hai, which were an instant hit and are popular even today.
 |
| Mahendra Singh Rathore |
Here is another idiot er…. crazy fan of Aamir Khan. 42-year-old Mahendra Singh Rathore wants to be the first person to be issued the 3 Idiots ticket. If that happens, he will gift Rs 11,000 to Aamir Khan or Vidhu Vinod Chopra, whoever helps him fulfill his wish.
The man is travelling by train all the way from Jodhpur to reach Mumbai today. A TV producer will guide him to Aamir or Vidhu’s office. Rathore will meet Aamir with the request to arrange for the very first ticket to be issued to him only.
During his train journey yesterday, Rathore informed us, “I will stay in Lokhandwala Complex in Mumbai till 3 Idiots releases (December 25). I hope I don’t go back disappointed.”
But what triggered the need to offer the odd amount of Rs 11,000 to Aamir or Vidhu? Rathore explains, “Aamir or Vidhu certainly don’t need that amount but I will offer it to them as shagun, nothing else.
That’s my way of expressing joy. I want to be the first man to get the 3 Idiots ticket, that’s all. I love Aamir.
This man is just amazing. He never seems to fail. Saal mein ek film karta hai aur woh hamesha hit hoti hai. I have seen all his movies.”
 |
| 3 Idiots |
 |
| Aamir Khan, Raju Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra |
Saturday 5th December 2008 09.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Paa opened to a poor response on its first day and evening collections did not jump as was expected. High end multiplexes in places like Mumbai and Bangalore did manage an up tick and evening collections were 60-65% but overall there was not a major turnaround with first day finishing at around 40% at multiplexes and 20-25% at single screens. The reports are fantastic and now it remains to be seen if the outstanding reports translate into good collections on Saturday and Sunday.
Radio is a very poor with first day figures around the 20% mark at multiplexes and single screens recording very low collections. The film has little chance at the box office.
De Dana Dan had a good first week of around 33 crore nett. Multiplexes collections in metros fell on Monday while other places started falling on Wednesday. Despite a solid first week it remains to be seen how well the film can go from here. It should emerge at least an Average fare but Hit status may be a step too far.
Kurbaan fell in week two with collections around 4 crore nett in week two. The total two week total is around 24 crore. FLOP
