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266 Responses to “Bodyguard and what’s left of the box office!”
Bodyguard was always expected the challenge the opening day figures of Dabangg of around 14.50 crore nett but with the mind boggling opening and the holiday factor it is challenging the highest day ever.
Dabangg collected 18 crore nett on its first Sunday and with half the day gone that figure is under threat for the first day of Bodyguard.
It is difficult to put an exact number to the first day this early but its likely to be biggest day ever and even 20 crore nett cannot be ruled out. It will definitely emerge the biggest opening day by a long distance.
Bodyguard took an earth shattering opening in Delhi city like the rest of the country. Multiplexes and single screens were 100% in the capital. Delite, Liberty, Sheila, Regal, Samrat, Vishal, etc all were 100% for the first show. Below is how the opening shows went in the PVR theatres in the city and is looking like a housefull day at the PVR screens in the city on over 100 shows which would be a first,
PVR Vikaspuri
11.55 – 100%
12.50 – 100%
13.45 – 100%
14.40 – 100%
15.35 – (Full in advance)
16.30 – (Full in advance)
17.25 – (Full in advance)
18.20 – (Full in advance)
19.15 – (Full in advance)
20.10 – (Full in advance)
21.05 – (Full in advance)
PVR Prashant Vihar
11.00 – 100%
11.55 – 100%
12.50 – 100%
13.45 – 100%
14.40 – 100%
15.35 – (Full in advance)
16.30 – (Full in advance)
17.25 – (Full in advance)
18.20 – (Full in advance)
19.15 – (Full in advance)
20.10 – (Full in advance)
PVR Priya (single screen)
12.15 – 100%
15.00 – (Full in advance)
17.45 – (Full in advance)
PVR Saket
11.00 – 100%
11.50 – 100%
12.45 – 100%
13.40 – 100%
14.35 – 100%
15.30 – (Full in advance)
16.25 – (Full in advance)
17.20 – (Full in advance)
18.15 – (Full in advance)
19.10 – (Full in advance)
20.05 – (Full in advance)
21.00 – (Full in advance)
PVR Plaza (single screen)
12.15 – 100%
15.00 – (Full in advance)
17.45 – (Full in advance)
20.30 – (Full in advance)
PVR Naraina
10.55 – 100%
11.50 – 100%
12.45 – 100%
13.40 – 100%
14.35 – 100%
Noida: Bodyguard Takes Monstrous Opening
Wednesday 31st August 2011 11.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard has opened to 100% collections in Noida. The film has seen full houses in the early shows at all the cinemas in the city and the next few shows are full in advance. It is the first time Noida has seen such a big opening on such heavy volume. The opening in the city was better than Dabangg and Ready and is likely to smash all first day records in this multiplex dominated city of UP.
Bodyguard Has Historic Opening: Biggest Ever At Multiplexes
Wednesday 31st August 2011 12.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard has opened to a historic response at multiplexes all over the country. From North to West to East to South the response is the same all over. With multiplexes smashing all opening records it is a certainty that single screens will follow when they get going from noon onwards smashing all records in terms of collections.
The opening of Bodyguard is the biggest ever in the multiplex era beating likes of Dhoom 2, Ghajini, Three Idiots and Dabangg.
A city like Mumbai which is over saturated with multiplexes saw full houses in the morning and this is a rarity especially as releases keep getting bigger and bigger.
The first day is heading towards being the biggest ever although there is a major cricket match featuring India tonight so collections of the last few shows may be affected a little bit but even here looking at the momentum the film has at the box office, the affect may be minimal.
B.O. update: ‘Bodyguard’ has monstrous, earth-shattering, mind-boggling opening
- By Taran Adarsh, August 31, 2011 – 18:22 IST
BODYGUARD is all set to create history and emerge the biggest opener ever in the history of Hindi cinema. The film embarked on a 95% to 100% start everywhere in India and has been maintaining the momentum since the morning shows on Wednesday. Initially, everyone thought that the film would touch Rs 15 cr nett on its opening day, but at the rate it is faring, the film should cross the unimaginable and unbelievable Rs 20 cr mark on Wednesday itself, making it the biggest opener ever.
As per early tracking, the Wednesday figures should be in this range:-
Can anybody in Bollywood open a film better than Salman today? With other Khans/ Roshan its the package which opens (stars+ heroine, director, music etc). With Salman – he himself is the package, rest are kind of irrelevant….this is an amazing phase for him and l think no star in Bollywood has enjoyed this kind of ‘mass’ adulation post the AB era.
Salman Khan’s Bodyguard Breaks Opening Day Records At Box-Office
August 31st, 2011 by Komal Nahta
The Salman Khan and Eid combination has worked yet again, and how! Bodyguard has taken an extraordinary opening today (August 31). The Salman Khan starrer has broken all records for the opening day at various cinemas and centers all across India.
Since not many big-ticket films released during the month of Ramzan (except Aarakshan), the audiences were hungry for a star-studded film. Besides, Bodyguard opened at an unprecedented number of screens (more than 2,300 screens in India), much more than any other Bollywood film so far.
The first day’s collections of Bodyguard might be in the range of Rs. 16-18 crore (Rs. 160-180 million). This is good news for the film industry, which was going through a rather lean phase for the last few weeks.
The next time some psuedo-intellectual idiot starts an article about how Bollywood has entered a new era and how its producing a diverse variety of films of a global standard, lets just shoot him.
I’ve read so much about how Bollywood is going to take over the film festival circuit, how Hollywood is feeling threatened, how Bollywood has suddenly become a fertile ground for the Goddards and Fellinis of tommorrow, how Penolope Cruzand Natalaie Portman are ‘fighting’ to act with Aamir Khan in Dhoom 3, blah blah blah.
I cannot believe how pompous and deluded some of these stars and critics are. And then there are ‘serious’, ‘literary’ authors like Manu Joseph who seem to think that ZNMD was making a profound socioeconomic statement!
LOL, great point! What a worthy revenge dished out by masala on Bollywood. Johar is now praying that his Agneepath can partake of these spoils! How the tide has turned! Salman’s current box office run though is simply stunning.
Amazing run for Salman. He is ahead from the rest by a huge margin.
Honesty and dignity always pays off. One cannot have such bombastic numbers at the box office if one is not loved and worshipped. At last a true blue superstar after Bachchan though more in Rajesh Khanna mould.
Lol @annoyed.
U now deserve a hug for making me smile…—–
“Bollywood has suddenly become a fertile ground for the Goddards and Fellinis of tommorrow, how Penolope Cruzand Natalaie Portman are ‘fighting’ to act with Aamir Khan in Dhoom 3, blah blah blah.”
Anyhow reposting the Eid greetings—
Is Eid today/ tomorrow/ was yesterday?
Anyhow wishing Naveed, oldgold/salimjakhra & all others a happy Eid!!!
If time permits– may catch bodyguard today/tomorrow.
Bolly films get taken off from plexus b4 u know..
May have to go with a kareena specific scotoma…!!!
Btw that’s how times change—–
Contemplating seeing a salman starter in first week — omg!!
3I is still very unlikely given the trending patterns of most big films and certainly 100 crore hits. Of course a film might eventually open to 120 crores and cross 3I but that’s not that same thing. And here Aamir still has the trending records. 3I doubled it’s initial week. Neither Dabanng nor Ready did this. And 3I a lot more than this. This film went from 80 crores to a little over 200, Dabanng went from 80 to 140 plus. So even as Salman is doing phenomenally well let’s not undermine these very important differences. also remember that when Devgan gets 100 crores from a far more ‘serious’ (which is to say far less comedy here) Singham the right kind of mass star in the right kind of setup and with some wind behind his back can really profit from this structure. But Aamir was there first with Ghajini which is to say those numbers seemed shocking at the time. Today one expects it with the right film and star combo. 100 is really the new 75 at this point, an increasing number of films will do it. And of course the genre of the day is now masala which means that there is a wider audience base. Even 150 crores will be pretty reachable for an increasing number of films. Beyond this it will be still hard for the forseeable future. Again Salman’s resurgence after being in the doldrums for most of the past decade is nothing less than stunning. He’s right at the top now other than Aamir (and I’d still place the latter over him quite easily for reasons I have discussed before) but given three 100 crore grossers in a row I wouldn’t argue too much with anyone who wanted to place him even with Aamir as a pure box office draw, at least as long as the streak lasts. He’s certainly dominating the whole debate at the moment. And here at the risk of repeating himself the big loser is really SRK.
I don’t see anything remarkable in going from 80 to 200 as opposed to going from 120 to 200+.
It just means a higher percentage of people went to watch at the beginning (which is also commendable) leaving a lower number to follow in the coming weeks.
If the number of people is 200. Then 80 went at the beginning followed by the remaining 120.
In Bg’s case 120 went in the beginning followed by the remaining 80.
Also, I believe the prices for tickets aren’t as high as they were for 3i, in some cinemas the rates haven’t gone up at all.
So *more* people will end up watching BG. To me that’s success.
that’s not really the case though because it’s also about repeat audience.. people saw 3I multiple times.. that’s how historic grossers are made. This is why Dark Knight got the a historic initial but also trending far beyond any grosser. And Avatar obviously did way better in this sense. The theory you’re presenting holds only for films that start slow and have moderate initials. Presumably people didn’t suddenly become interested in Ghajini or 3I a week after release given the historical initial of each film!
Here’s the deal really (and some of us have been talking about for years) — Bollywood at the peak of SRK’s cinema really shrunk the pie and focused on the multiplexes. With the resurgence of masala a greater share of the audience has once more been activated. And so not surprisingly we suddenly have these 100 crore or more grossers, all within these genres. On the other hand ZNMD did exceptionally well in multiplexes but couldn’t do more than 90 or so. Meanwhile Singham, hardly comparable to those Aamir/Salman films nonetheless touched 100. This is then the perfect lab case! The pure multiplex hit will never beat the multiplex plus single screen hit (which is to say a decent performance at least one end of this equation) pound for pound. Suddenly the 100 crore barrier is being breached with fair regularity. I would actually argue that the Ready kind of grosser is actually an under-performer in terms of pure market potential. In other words Ghajini (the more workable model here as opposed to 3I) shows that you can certain double your initial with fair or better trending. Dabanng didn’t do this, ready did less than this. On the other hand Singham again was closer to the Ghajini model. Now I would argue that both these films have a stronger emotional under-current compared to Ready or even Dabanng. Haven’t seen Bodyguard so can’t judge this one. But without this factor you get big initials and ok trending and you offer a ‘timepass’ experience to most of the audience. But that’s not enough to double the initial. The film must speak strongly to some core audience. When D2 released my theory was that it could have done 100 crores then had it been a better film. Similarly these Salman grossers would actually do a lot more if these were better works. And that’s the key with Aamir. His films strike a chord with the audience more often than not.
Salman is doing massively well but he’s also exploiting a market potential that was already there but wasn’t being utilized by other stars one way or the other. Rajneeti and G3 did more than 90 crores each. The market is there. 100 crores is a very achievable target. to get to 150 crores off an 80 crore initial is still hard. off a 100 crore initial 200 crores is still going be very hard for most films.
The problem is that a sort of scam is being performed once again by the trade. However a film opens the trending ‘laws’ are still the same. In Hollywood they use the very same models whether the film opens at 80m or 200m. They don’t say it’s ok to open at 100m and then do 150! The big film attracts a much greater share of the potential audience. That’s how it gets those big numbers. But then it also has to retain a greater share in terms of WOM. Aamir did it on his big films. Salman hasn’t in the same way. The films are still big but so far he’s pulling the LAK/APKGK deal on a bigger scale as opposed to the D2/OSO deal. There’s a difference. All of this takes away nothing from his accomplishment but I have never been one to simply get caught up in the trade-generated hysteria and forget all ‘detail’. Once upon a time the trade was doing the very same with 60-70 crore grossers. How one gets there matters because the whole pricing structure of the industry is reflected in those numbers. This is why Hollywood looks at trending at every point. In Bombay we just have a trade-media structure that sells a narrative. Now it is fair to say that Salman’s films are generally not the most expensive productions and if they’re not going crazy at the distribution end even ok trending is probably good enough (again assuming that’s true). Or it might be true for a Singham (again assuming distribution costs are kept in check and crazy amounts are not offered and accepted for these films). If high prices are negotiated and/or if super-productions are launched like Ra 1 or Don 2 that necessitate those numbers then trending becomes far more important. In other words if Ra 1 or Don 2 did Ready like numbers these wouldn’t be solid hits for any distributor. Some would make money, some would just break even and some would actually lose. But if one just obsesses with 100 crores irrespective of contexts a different picture emerges. Contexts always matter. And the trade looks at all kinds of budgets for every small film and what not but when the numbers are huge for a film suddenly everything goes out the window! A big film is also sold at very high prices! You don’t get to 100 crores for the price of a 20 crore film! That happens very rarely when it’s something like HAHK. A historic grosser that was made at a low budget. In much the same way a 10 crore film doing 30 or 40 crores is pretty huge as a matter of pure profit but the trade never admits this]
again all of this takes nothing away from the stupendous numbers Salman’s throwing up.. but it’s like this — Pirates (any installment) even when disappointing throws up great numbers and fair trending, the Dark Knight is another ballgame, Avatar is yet another. Aamir usually falls somewhere on the Dark Knight-Avatar spectrum (of course even 3I isn’t Avatar).
Agneepath might just split the difference between two kinds of audience (multiplex-single screen). 100 crores is a possibility here, perhaps even more. Because here Dutt and the remake factor will go a long way in terms of convincing mass audiences. The Agneepath prestige will get young males fully on board in the multiplexes (even if the Bachchan comparison will disappoint many of them eventually) and even younger women who are otherwise not big on the original film might be drawn in by Hrithik. So I think there’s a good coalition here to get to 100 crores or to even exceed this by a margin given the right initial. Again a film with fair WOM could do it with the right coalition. That’s all it takes these days. But to get beyond this you have to make more authentic films for the genre which is what Aamir has been doing for so long.
I really don’t know what you’re getting at.
All I said was lets hope the 3i total is surpassed, and you jump to give some sort of a ‘haloed’ brightness to this total achieved by 3i. Some sort of a pre-emptive strategy to belittle the achievement of any other film that might achieve it (if BG doesn’t).
If it was repeat audience that brought this total, then what I’m saying is further proved ….that the crazy Amir fans went and saw the film several times, thus reducing the number of people who actually saw the film. LOL!
Oldgold, I realize you want every Aamir benchmark to be crossed but facts are frustrating things! I do not have any issue at all if for example Bodyguard crossed 3I. More power to Salman! But how it’s done matters. If it gets to 200 crores off a 100 crore initial that’s fine because 3I today would probably open to 100 crores. However if it opens at 120 (just a hypothetical) and gets to 200 that’s a lesser achievement. But even going from 100 to 200 is less than what 3I did because the latter’s final gross was more or less 2.5 times its initial. So if Bodyguard opens at 100 crores it really needs to do 250 crores to keep pace with 3I. Much as Dabanng needed to do 160 to keep pace with Ghajini. It actually did 140-145 crores. If one doesn’t account for these things then eventually there could be a film opening at 150 and doing 200. Quite absurd don’t you think?! How you get there matters and this is the way it’s done in every sane industry on the planet. Salman is getting a massive success either which way but I can’t ‘elide’ some of the facts just to incorporate it into a narrative. 200 crores seems like an impossible number assuming films don’t open much higher than 80 crores. When the latter number increases dramatically the impossible total suddenly becomes more possible,
I thought this tweet might shed light on the “repeat viewing” discussion between Oldgold and Satyam:
bhavin_007 PATEL BHAVIN
by SalmanKhan_bot
Watched “BODYGUARD” 7 Times Already And Will Go For More . . . . .
(posted at ~ 8 am EDT on 9/2/11 — i.e., on the third day of release of Bodyguard)
My comment on the earlier BO thread:
it is off to a phenomenal start and definitely will shatter first weekend records. It is a testimony to Salman’s undoubted BO prowess. Given the expected start, it will most likely overtake Dabangg but falls are going to be steep in percentages from Week one to two but given very high initial numbers, absolute numbers still will not be shabby. 3I is a pipe dream and it will be a looooong while before any film gets there.
Regardless, this is an evidence if any was needed of Salman’s clout. Hats off to Salman. May it long continue. At this point, in BO prowess, he is the unchallenged numero uno
After the tepid response to Chamak Challo due to poor
choreography and video, it would be interesting to see box office response of srk and ra1, even though it comes as a sole release of Diwali.
Since Tron, a movie on similar lines on bringing video games and computer visuals to the screen wasn’t too successful and with Anubhav Sinha at the helm I doubt this movie is going anywhere.
Worst will be srk and his dumbed down scripting interference and the chammak challo video amply displays that.
The field is clear for Diwali release and I hope audience is given a choice with more releases.
@ Alex Adams – Eid was today and yesterday and some will celebrate tomorrow aswell (if you know what I mean lol)
Dabangg came on 10th sep and this would be his 3rd film under 12 months to have hit BIG numbers. I expect 180 and don’t rule out the possibility of 200. Salman and Eid has OFFICIALLY become an event and I’m hoping they release ETT on Eid next year. They would be foolish not to
I would have watched it on Tues but am not at home so Next Thursday is when I’ll go watch it
I wish I could be enthusiastic about Salman’s track record, certainly don’t want to take anything away from what Satyam rightly calls a stunning resurgence, but wake me up when he starts making good movies.
agreed completely.. and just in case Salman fans think this is unfair as a Bachchan fan I’d add that I have never celebrated most of his 80s work (though he makes a lot of it enjoyable). I don’t have a problem with anyone finding Ready or Bodyguard or whatever enjoyable, just that the fans are simply happy with his box office track record and see no need for further discussion. Now of course Salman’s given them a lot to be happy about in recent times (!), any fan of any star would be happy with this sort of success but the point is that the discussion never gets expanded beyond this. If you’re a fan of Salman Khan perhaps the possibility of interesting cinema is foreclosed (!) but to only obsess with the numbers is to also fall in the SRK/Johar trap (and in which they are themselves currently ‘entrapped’!) where nothing matters but this. Much as I celebrate the resurgence of masala (even if this is an extremely dumbed-down variety by any standard), much as I am invested in the Akshay Kumar or Salman or Devgan kind of mass star being an important part of the mix, much as I am also enough of a box office aficionado (contradiction in terms!) to be always interested in pure numbers, the fact remains that the entire conversation about Hindi cinema has increasingly become about how many films make 100 crores in a given year or whatever.
With some of the other stars who also turn to prestige cinema from time to time the fans oscillate. So for the fans of Hrithik Krrish and JA and ZNMD are all equally acceptable. They’re fans of blockbusters when he does them, fans of different cinema when he indulges in this! The fans of SRK are fans of sunshine only when it shines on SRK and fans of hurricanes when he’s caught up in one.
The point I’m trying to make is that all of this makes for a rather debased set of standards for any cinematic discussion. And again I want Salman to prosper hugely much as I wanted Akshay to do the same even though I am not a fan of their films. Nor do I resent anyone’s excitement about the box office when their favorite star in onto his third straight 100 crore hit. All of this is fine. But it seems to me that there are certain implications here for the overall discussion as well as for an even more important question of ‘memory’. Suddenly the fact that Salman spent so long in the doldrums for most of the past decade when he didn’t seem very relevant to any important box office debate is completely forgotten. The naysayers are silenced. The fans are convinced the present represents the truth of Salman more than the past. And so on.
As an Abhishek fan I wouldn’t be engaged in massive celebrations if films like Bol Bachchan and Italian Job were huge grossers. He needs the box office at this point and so I’d certainly cheer those hits. But I’d want that potential success to open up pathways to Raavan and D6 for him once more! Perhaps better compromises with the box office but nonetheless that general direction. I’d always want these very commercial films to be fillers or a safety net for the other stuff. Which is why the UTV Rajkumar Gupta project (ghanchakkar) rumor has interested me most in recent times and which is also why I have always been a bit nervous about this very commercial lineup he has (I am actually afraid of too much commercial success by way of these films!). I’m not saying everyone needs to have the same priorities. Clearly different stars have different calling cards. But I fear that the fans of other stars too have fallen very deeply into the whole trap of believing it’s only about hard numbers and nothing else matters.
But to reiterate something I keep saying I am certainly rooting for Bodgyguard at the box office though much like Ready I am unlike to check it out even on DVD.
I think Salman is going to enjoy a good phase for next few years.
The two main reasons being :
a.He has learned his lesson
b. Todays audience is very predictable.
There is a certain formula for each star and a certain generic frmaework which some makers and stars seem to have figured out. And as long as they continue to work within that framework, feed the star’s aura and public’s expectation from that star and DO NOT ventrue out even a bit, these kind of monstrous hits will keep rolling. Don 2 is another example which is GURANTEED success. May be not as big as BG, since it is more metrocentric theme and SRK is not as big in single screens.
The product has to be only mildly entertaining and satisfy certain perceptions of quality. If it is SRK he has to look dapper, flash his smile, ham a bit, may be even look and act a evil. If it iis Salma, he has to do a little comedy, a little romance, show a heart of gold etc. If it is Rohit Shetty, it is just slap stick comedy within a franchise. It takes a little while for a sense of ennui to set in as it has with Akshay,
Well for all these guys (Aamir, SRK, Salman, Akshay) a few years is probably all that’s left in terms of staying relevant. They’re pushing 50 (and all of them look every inch of it) and they’re not exactly Bachchan to truly (TRULY) linger among the preeminent players of their industry. Aamir probably has the best chance as far as longevity goes becaue he’s the only one of these guys making movies that don’t have a two-week shelf life in terms of how memorable they are, how persistent they remain in the discussions surrounding this cinema.
yes Aamir continues to have the long run picture working for him.. Salman won’t be doing Ready at 50! Nor will SRK be doing Don at the same age. Having said that SRK could have chosen a better path of reinvention. with Salman at least one knows that this sort of deal has always been his ‘essence’.
None of them are going anywhere and will stay in limelight for a good period of time and the latest technologies and innovations in filming a movie will assist them to a much longer innings.
Another thing is these are all very savvy people and have kept reinventing themselves and keeping up with the times. None of the khans in 90s looked to be convincing anything “action” and it was suggested once the romance fad goes way and these stars will touch 40 they will be on their way out. Today out of all these people, aamir the quintessential chocolate boy had one of the biggest actioner of our times enabled by a fast moving plot.
To be frank these people have not even entered the Vinod Khanna / Jeetendra / Dharmendra stage of 80s cinema. IMO they are going to have a much longer stay.
Not completely persuaded by this.. because ‘refining’ Salman carries its risks.. his biggest audience is precisely in it for relatively over the top masala/comedy. A refined, spy thriller without the usual Salman ‘mass’ elements might be tricky. Still in this current phase anything will get a big initial with him.
Only relatively free day was 2day/2moro
Live update—tried bodyguard today.
Absolutely full including premier !!!!
First three shows jam-packed …
The manager confirmed that this was the biggest rush/ start she had seen for a Bollywood film EVER!!!! She’s given special ones for 2moro..
Anyhow— Back to some bowling n Italian !!!
Ps– an unrelated observation– some Pakistani girls can be really good looking !!!
Re: India’s middle classes who suddenly think a new country awaits them.
I hope it was tongue in cheek. Becuase it certainly is not the case.
UK audiences for Bolly films are a little bit like those who frequent single screens in Jhumri Talaiya. And, Salman has alwyas been kind of big in UK. I do think tho that BG is going to put up great numbers overseas as well. Slaman is a rage these days and it is particularly significant as he has kind of reemerged after a period f several years when he was marginalised. I dont think any Bollywood satr has ever been thru such an extended lull and then emerged with a hat-trick of consecutive blockbusters. For that,Sallu bhai deserves kudos.
I guess Indian Film Industry is raining Hits, When I left about a month ago, It was singham and come back to this. BTW how are the releases in between. And above all How was Aarakshan, I didnt see Satyam’s take on it. Did you write it up yet?
Argh..You missing a Bachchan movie?I know you wouldn’t miss it for the world. Really hope all is well with you and the family. Yeah, it went great, Had a blast man.
ETT will be ‘big’ that’s all that needs to be said as of now. Plus with Kabir Khan at the helm of affairs it will (hopefully) be a damn good product.
Salman will no longer experiment. He says this in every other interview. All his upcoming films are commercial entertainers with ETT being the daddy of them all.
I do hope this film challenges 3I otherwise I would be slightly disappointed.
By the way the film has smashed records in UAE (see Komal Nahta) plus it had a very good Tues in Eng (preview show). Should be bigger than Dabangg overseas hopefully.
Congrats to Salman. This is amazing,he is the Rajni of Bollywood. I think his resurgance started with Dus ka Dum. He really comes across as a geniune guy that any Indian can be friends with. He comes across as very approachable, i guess thats why he is Salman “Bhai” to his fans. SRK cant be very happy about Salman just killing it at the boxoffice with four straight BB films and more to come.
this is just insane. Sallu bhai is clearly on his own planet right now. this is called star power. he has left every body else behind. in my mind he is back on top. the bar keeps getting higher for SRK. lol.
Not anymore. Seems like the film is not upto the mark. Who knows the weekend might be big still. Its possible from Sat-Thursday to net the 50 crore needed but seems like the early drops already suggest its a mixed response.
gud 2 hear from u Kash.
Hope u have been v nice to your other half !!!
Did u manage some diving in the gt barrier reef? how was it
Might do that myself–deciding between that n orlando next….(but not for honeymoon purposes like u) lol
“and then my health didn’t cooperate! “–Satyam—hope u are safe n sound!
One of the rare occasions where our concern is genuine (on behalf of all others here….)
Dont believe in/bother bout “image”….
On a lighter note good 2 hear u havent got any “exotic” problems (wont name) or a wierd one like bird/swine flu…lol
Bodyguard has smashed all record in Kanpur by collecting nearly 19 lakhs from the city. Dabangg had collected 14 lakhs on day one. The day one figures from Kanpur are as follows.
Salman Khan’s Bodyguard sets record for first-day box office collections of Rs 20 cr
NEW DELHI: It has been a very happy Eid for Salman Khan three years in a row. After Dabangg in 2010 and Wanted in 2009, his latest movie, Bodyguard, released on Wednesday, has set a new record for first day’s box-office collections. It netted an estimated Rs 20 crore, beating the Rs 14.5-crore opening of Dabangg (last Eid), and the Rs 13.5 crore collected by his friend and rival Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots in 2009.
With several full-house shows and strong advance bookings even for weekdays, Bodyguard could even emerge as one of the biggest grossers of all time, cementing Salman’s position as Bollywood’s biggest boxoffice draw more than 20 years after he made his debut in Maine Pyaar Kiyain 1989.
Over the last two years, in terms of box-office collections, Khan’s movies have also been beating high-decibel releases of Tamil superstar Rajinikanth. But a reason for that could be the wider reach that Khan’s Hindi movies get across the country, whereas Rajinikanth’s Tamil movies are released primarily in theatres in the south, an exception being Robot, which had a Hindi version.
Long queues reminiscent of the openings of Amitabh Bachchan’s movies in the 1970s and 1980s were reported from cities and towns. “Our theatres in Gorakhpur, Patiala and Bijnor are witnessing a deluge of Salman fans. We are sold out for the next few days,” said Tinku Singh of SRS Cinemas, which has theatres across UP, Haryana and Punjab.
At Anurag Cinema in Meerut, shows of Bodyguard are sold out for a few days, said head booking clerk Bharat Kumar. “The crowds have gone mad. There is commotion all around here.”
The movie’s co-producer, Reliance Big Pictures, which spent Rs 22 crore on marketing, says it will raise thatamount through Day 1 collections alone. “We estimate the first day’s business can touch Rs 20 crore net, which will be unprecedented,” said Sanjeev Lamba, chief executive officer of Reliance Entertainment.
Bollywood trade analyst Komal Nahata said the movie would have garnered Rs 18-19 crore in collections. “This looks like the biggest opening weekend ever.
Salman Khan has achieved superstardom,” he said. “Bodyguard has monstrous, earth-shattering, mindboggling opening,” tweeted Taran Adarsh, another trade analyst.
Khan and his team followed a recent trend in Bollywood of launching films ahead of Friday – the day films are traditionally released in India – to take advantage of the extended weekend, which began on Wednesday with Eid. Many parts of the country will be closed for Ganesh Chaturthi on Thursday. The movie has been released across 2,800 screens in India. Multiplex chains are reporting houseful shows, with occupancies ranging between 85% and 100%.
“Bodyguard is witnessing 100% occupancy across shows. Even advance bookings for several shows in the coming days are sold out. We believe there will be repeat audience for the film,” said Gautam Dutta, chief operating officer at PVR, which operates multi-screen theatres in many cities in the country.
Tushar Dhingra, the COO at the ADAG-owned Big Cinemas, which runs theatres in many cities in India, said the film has done well across both big and small centres. “Bookings are averaging 85-100% across board. Audiences are pouring in and advance bookings for the rest of the week are also strong,” he said.
sallu is unstoppable….consecutive three 100 cr+ movie in a year…..well! i doubt anyone will be able to that in near future…..aamir does only one film in a year…..srk? BG might even break dabaang’s record…..
Must Admit that Salman in last 2 years enjoying same level of super stardom that Amitabh enjoyed for 13 Years (1975-1988) and to some extent even in dooms phase(1989-1992).
And this is where SRK is lacking .. SRK has given some good Hits .. but the heights of Craze was always missing ..
the fact that you’re obsessed with SRK’s BO pull proves how big he really is.. even Aamir’s best phase cant rescue him from not being included in Box-office discussions.. LOL
by that token Abhishek is the biggest star around because many can’t stop attacking him and despite his box office weakness a site like BOI cannot stop pulling him down!!
jeevan,
absolutely bulls eye…salman is on a hatrick here,
bodyguard is going even further then dabaang,
Amitabh record in 1978 ,particularly in 1 month,he gave 4 back to back super duper hits,
I recon srk films will be a big opening with raa one but salmans films will sustain and cross over 100cr easily.
between srk & salman it remains to be seen how raa one & don 2 pans out…but popularity depends on forthcoming films of srk..both his films will need earth shattering openings..if he can do it then srk will be still no 1 but if it falls flat which i think it will with raa 1 then…you know who is no 1…
Salman has really taken Box office by storm, a year ago I would have thought Shahrukh would be the second star to cross 100 crs lifetime business but Salman breached that with dabangg. then I thought Shahrukh would be the second star to have two 100 cr grossers in a year with Don and Ra.One but there again Salman followed up Dabangg with Ready. The only way Shahrukh could have come close to trumping Aamir and Salman was by getting a massive initial ( >100 cr first week) with Ra.One but it looks like Salman has that record in the bag as well. Truly at this point Shahrukh is chasing Aamir with Salman way ahead of the pack.
Will say this.. SRK is not maximizing his potential as a star in terms of his reinvention choices. Now in one sense there’s a logic to it. He clearly couldn’t go on with the Yashraj/Johar stuff (barring as exceptions), he is not the most authentic candidate to jump on the masala bandwagon as this world argues against the older one that brought him to his peak as a star. He’s always been big on hi-tech movies and so on but this also allows to move away from Raj/Rahul without totally abandoning the coordinates of that world and hence his signature as a star. So doing Don as pure thriller by emptying out its masala elements more or less can still go hand-in-hand with doing RNBDJ. But you can’t be doing singham and RNBDJ at the same time! The hi-tech thriller also has the virtue (for that mindset) of always seeming aspirational (I will someday make a film with Hollywood-like SFX!). The same goes for Ra 1 (it shall be like Hollywood). So keeping in mind all these factors his insistence on this sort of cinema is not simply a personal quirk. The problem though at a practical level is that he has to diminish himself with audience segments where he is strongest to make this sort of pitch and also as an aging star he is also attempting the highly improbable. In other words even if Ra 1 works this surely cannot be his career going forward?! The world over this genre depends on younger stars. so he has on the one hand the older audience for his love stories et al who will show up for him but won’t really love these films. And then a younger one that loves this sort of film but finds him passe and even moreso attempting it. Salman’s and Aamir’s choices are not dependent on age. However big 3I was and however improbable Aamir would seem to be as a student the fact is that this film has no bearing on his career following this (barring in the obvious box office sense). He’s not trying to do other films like 3I. Salman similarly will milk this genre as long as he can and given the same age Salman’s is less important for his films than SRK’s is for his choices.
It is also true that with SRK it’s always about trying to set himself apart from the competition. This too has become an increasingly implausible pursuit for him for more or less a decade now. And so it’s even amusing to see him voice some of the sentiments Anil Kapoor once did — I am beyond the competition, I am only competing with myself, I am playing a different game, I am making the most expensive production, so on and so forth. This kind of bravado always comes about when one is in decline never otherwise.
Going forward it’s easy to see what Salman’s plan is. Aamir has always had a plan anyway. SRK seems to be at a truly transitional, unsettled stage and for sometime now. This year he has two very big projects. He’s bet the house and more on these. The problem is that given the ‘I am beyond the competition’ narrative the Ra One kind of attempt or for that matter even the Don 1 doesn’t seem to be very removed from the ‘pack’ in terms of genre and/or aspiration. Moreover in a box office sense he’s not likely to outgun an opposition that’s producing 100-150 crore grossers with somewhat alarming regularity. If you do a Lagaan the final gross doesn’t matter. All you need is a success and the rest is about the critical attention. You can’t however get that sort of result with Don 2 and Ra 1!
But for all this I do believe SRK could have made better choices in this reinvention phase.
All of the mistakes that SRK has made over the last few years, his fallout with Farah is hurting him the most. the 2 movies that they have hit the right notes from an audience point of view. the big problem that SRK has now is that Aamir and Salman have ushered in the era of massy action flicks. this is a genre that SRK has never dabbled in but now everyone and their uncle has jumped on the bandwagon.
His best chance is now to forge partnerships with directors like Rohit Shetty. He still remains a major star but someone who does not have too many avenues open going forward
It’s not like Bachchan at his peak period. In 1981 Bachchan had Naseeb and Lawaaris within three weeks of each other but then he also had Yaarana, Barsaat ki ek raat, Kaalia the same year. Only Silsila did not work. I would like to say that this was one of his biggest years except that he had many like this one and some bigger than this. In 1978 for example he had Don, Trishul, MKS, Ganga ki Saugandh, Kasme Vaade. Besharam didn’t do much that year. I could go on but it’s just mind-boggling. The scale of success combined with that sort of frequency. And this is the point I’ve made again and again. That fundamentally however well stars have done in the contemporary age at different times, however remarkable their success might seem it simply pales in comparison with Bachchan who’s ahead of everyone by an order of magnitude. Between 1973 and 1986 less than half a dozen films of his actually lose money. Even between 1988 and 1992 when he was clearly on the downswing that number does not increase very greatly (though of course the scale of the successes was much diminished).
post 1988 Amitabhs films started to decline,
in 1989 his films like toofan & jaadugar were a gap of 2 weeks,toofan created 100% occupancy but from monday onwards it crashed.
jaadugar went on a similar faith..
1990,only aaj ka arjun saved him from total disasters.
pre-1988.
shahensha was most awaited film ever,
I remember i went on holiday to muscat which in oman and year was 1987 march,video shops had a poster of Amitabhs shahensha which i thought at that time that it was releasing in 1987..,a guy came in the shop and asked if shahensha had released and shopkeeper said it will be soon so instead he took a video of anil kapoors mr india.
In 1986 Aakhree raasta was released and at that time i had a video shop renting english & asian bollywood films,
Aakhree raasta cost me £42.00 at that time and we used to to buy additional copies with orignal and total vale came to £65.00 orignal + 10copies..
we recovered on that film in just 2 days and it continued for 2 weeks …Amitabh films were coming like 1 film a year and plus he entered in politics aswell.
membership wise i had 3000 customers and 2 third of them were always asking Amitabh films ,his old folms were rented almost everyday.
There will never be another Amitabh..srk do come second in popularity…
Toofan did quite ok though. The first two week percentages were in general very good. It didn’t really lose money. Jaadugar crashed completely. Aaj Ka Arjun was a big one. and of course Hum created hysteria (though didn’t sustain like Aaj Ka Arjun). He was nonetheless getting by far the biggest initials of the industry even in this period. But times had definitely changed.
satyam,
silsila did brilliant bussiness in overseas.
suppose video piracy was not there then overseas income of amitabh films would have been unthinkable.
In england the last ever film i saw was don in 1978 and after that maube 6 months almost all cinemas had closed showing indian films axcept in london where in remained opened until 1981.
in 1983 channel 4 in england started showing asian films on sunday afternoon and guess what..
all films were Amitabhs.
starting with sholay,AAA,Deewar,naseeb,and satte pe satta.
in 1991 hum opened huge ,due to chuma song..
1992 khuda gawah opened well but again it was khuda hafis for amitabh retirement.
like i said due to piracy in uk ,aMITABH SUCESS HAD BEEN LIMITE BUT IF NOT FOR PIRACY HE WOULD HAVE CREATED HISTORY.
As usual, Satyamshotites are going orgasmic on a single day figure, which may or may not be correct, and going uneasy on SRK.. lol.. if SRK isnt even the No. 2 star anymore, why bring him in every second comment related to box-office discussions..
seems like his influence as a star is unmatchable.. Let the Lallu panjus give BBs and be part of the insane rat race of who’s the No. 1 and who gave 150 crore grossers in a calender year.. LOL LOL!
It was all the more hilarious when some one above decided on Ra. One’s opening record based on the Chammak Challo song’s bad choreography based on some random data on YouTube.. Ha! *rolling my eyes in disgust*
Bodyguard Early First Day Estimate – 21 Crore Nett
Thursday 1st September 2011 09.30 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard has smashed all records on Eid and seems to have collected around 21 crore nett as per early estimates. The Eid holiday helped a bit but still it is 15-20% more than any other film has collected on any day let alone its first day day.
There were circuit records in every circuit while four circuits crossed the 1 crore nett for the first time ever on first day. They were West Bengal, CP Berar, Rajasthan and Nizam. Multiplexes and single screens were both phenomenal across the board.
Bodyguard will have extra shows at multiplexes today (Thursday) as many multiplexes started shows at Noon yesterday but there is still likely to be a drop in all India collections as yesterday was a holiday for Eid and today is a normal day.
taran_adarsh taran adarsh
Okay, here are the *actual* figures of ‘Bodyguard’ in India on Wednesday: Rs 21.51 cr nett. That’s a new record!
taran_adarsh taran adarsh
‘Bodyguard’: Despite 10% to 15% drop over Wed figures, the Thu total should be anywhere between Rs 16 cr to Rs 18 cr.
taran_adarsh taran adarsh
‘Bodyguard’ – Thursday trends: Should be 10% to 15% less than Wednesday. Two reasons: Ganesh Chaturthi pooja and non-holiday.
Salman Khan’s Bodyguard Nets Rs. 21 Crore On Opening Day
September 1st, 2011 by Komal Nahta
Salman Khan has done it once again! His latest film, Bodyguard, which released on Eid (August 31), collected a record-breaking Rs. 20.5 – 21 crore (approximate net collections) on the opening day in India. The film also broke records in the overseas, where Salman’s popularity has been on the rise. As already reported, the film broke all records at various centers and cinemas across India. Koimoi.com had predicted such an opening for Bodyguard.
Looking at the extended weekend ahead, the film is sure to cross the Rs. 70 crore mark and could even touch Rs. 80-85 crore mark in the first weekend! This is indeed good news for Salman Khan, his fans, the producers of Bodyguard and the industry in general.
Watching bodyguard v shortly — housefull..
Got some “Bollywood-naive” nubile company– would be interesting to hear their views…Nice to be the “guide” lol
Salman did it again.South movies are best for hero elevation and enetertainment and salman did right thing choosing remakes.Now ajith film is going to be big hit in Tamil nadu.This is the right time for abhishek do remakes with directors like rohit setty,prabhu deva and puri jaganaath.If no producer is ready to make movies with him better he try to produce movies from his banner.But he should act fast and competition is heavy for remakes.He need to choose good action fims from tamil and telugu .also he need to do altleast 3 to 4 films per year .But he should stop acting in multi starrers and even those films are hits no use for him.Now abhishek should relize big openeing and boxoffice is importatnt , no one cares about content and reviews if movie is bg hit proof is ready and now bodyguard
Well, I have to say that ‘this’ is a masala film in the true sense. It felt like watching a pre 70s film.
-The hero falling in love with a ‘voice’ ….like Rajender Kumar with Sadhana’s eyes or Madhubala with Bharat bhushan’s songs and shaiyri over the radio.
-The heroine’s role as important as the hero’s because of the dominance of ‘romance’
-there is even a Rajendernath type comedian for the CSP (comic side-plot)
-then there’s the fight scene with the heroine behaving as stupidly as the heroines of that time by running around during the fight, distracting the hero from his job of bashing up the villains, and getting caught, making the hero helpless for a moment, till he finds a way out of the situation
-the ending ( quite a surprise) could also be compared to the old films, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers.
Lovely film all the way
Salman has never looked so endearing before. He’s charm personified.
A clean family film, the way they used to be made.
Imagine no item song either with near naked women.
thanks for your review.. pre-70s is not masala cinema though by and large. There are some rare exceptions. These elements you mention are there in a number of latter-half 60s films but these don’t quite have that epic resonance or the authentic socio-political that define the truest masala. Clearly these films are moving in that direction but are not there yet. I certainly don’t associate the iconic Rajendra Kumar films with masala! Towards the end though he did a bit of this stuff.
From what I gather (as my father used to say, expressing the general sentiments of the people of those times, which gave the films this term) a masala film just meant….a film which was a mixture of everything. Song, dance, comedy, villains, fights, family emotion, and above all romance.
True, some films had more of one or the other ingredients. There was a time when violence dominated the other ingredients of the masala, at some point it was romance.
I don’t think the word was really used before the 70s, at least not in any commonly understood sense. For example see this Wikipedia piece that credits Desai with its invention:
I would have written this piece differently though it is certainly true that the Desai style if you will epitomizes masala more than anything else.
The difference between something like Evening in Paris and a quintessential masala flick of the 70s is that in the latter instance every aspect of that world is marked by those epic resonances or those ideological stakes while in the former the mode is a more ‘picaresque’ one where plot developments simply take place without being necessitated by the world of those films. Desai’s films have a certain inner logic even when various genres are mixed. The same is true for Prakash Mehra. It is not just about violence. Some 60s films have violence too in that same literal sense. But in the 70s you just have a more ‘violent’ world which is not about action sequences. In fact most of the important films of that period do not have that many action sequences. This is the bourgeois caricature of that period. Because people didn’t like the ideological implications of those films they accused them of indulging in excessive violence.
The only rare example of a love story that is truly a masala film is Bobby (and here one must yet again credit Raj Kapoor for truly understanding what masala was about when it was just emerging in its mature form). I wouldn’t call anything in the 60s masala though there are transitional films at times. Pieces like the wikipedia one place the advent of masala in the 70s but their definitions are otherwise often not precise enough. If it’s just a mix of genres your case would be a fair one but it’s more than this. And even to this very point I’d argue that there aren’t the sorts of extremely radical shifts across genres in the 60s (even where there is that mixture of romance and comedy and action) as there are later. When genres shift in masala a different time and order are often introduced. No such heightened sense is available in those 60s works.
What happened once masala became dominant was that people sometimes inaccurately associated commercial cinema with this or the terms became interchangeable. In turn a third synonym for the same was ‘escapist cinema’. So there were the 50s, then the frothy 60s and everything else was masala. All of this is necessarily a bourgeois framework and indicates ideological choices more than anything else. But not surprisingly it became important. One could then accuse ‘rickshawalas’ of loving violence and so on.
And my final ‘radical’ statement on all of this is that Bachchan epitomizes masala more than anyone else. Not for the obvious, mundane reason that he was the dominant star of that age but because masala becomes more credible when he attempts it. It is not that other heroes are less effective at it but that they are so for precise reasons. Desai certainly intuited this. But no star before him or since could ever be as ‘universal’ as he was, as persuasive doing that entire gamut of high and low types. He was the perfect messenger for masala. There are very enjoyable (and successful) masala films elsewhere too but no star could ever be consistently successful at it. Because the Bachchan absence was always felt and it was a massive one. And again it wasn’t about a star being more suited to it than any other. This would be nothing new (every genre has stars who are more convincing doing it than others). It is that the socio-political stakes of the authentic masala universe were most credibly incorporated in Bachchan’s signature. No one else could do the same. On Bachchan’s political resonance I have written very much and won’t repeat all of that here.
I read somewhere that the word ‘masala’ came about because of the comparison with Hollywood (as always) which were linear in their narration while the Indian films tended towards being a mixture of everything like *our* masala.
“Alex adams Says: Watching bodyguard v shortly — housefull..
Got some “Bollywood-naive” nubile company– would be interesting to hear their views…Nice to be the “guide” lol
GF Says:You’ll probably find more interesting “action” in the aisles than on the screen.”
Well: the prophesy of GF has come true lol
Havent read any reviews so just some random thoughts/observations—in the tradition of b rangan-some “bullet points”…am a bit “spent” so just some incoherent unstructured bits…
Background/setting–Houseful #my routine multiplex NOT in a conventional “bollywood ethnic ghettoised area” –bollywood films dont find many patrons here normally–”houseful” here counts more than some other places….
#expectedly more family crowd–(but including some lecherous vagabond-ish characters—-had to be a bit of ” bodyguard” esp due to the accompanying multiple-eyecandy lol)
#85% of the film is a somewhat listless premise /buildup to the last 10% which is not only the highlight but the saving grace of the film (although that too is full of loop holes/lacunae/issues)
#My ranking of salman films in his current “golden” phase–
Dabang>>>ready>bodyguard~wanted
#if one takes out the last 10-15% of bodyguard, it will get submerged way down into the rest of his long list of insignificant filmography!!!
But have to give it to salman & Salim khan (script consultant) for having the conviction that the ending WILL make up for the rest ..
#Dont think much money has gone into its making–shooting in india and significant bits indoors—relatively low cost excpet some songs
#good action (but sometimes too gimmicky)
#Salman carries the film (literally) on his shoulder and one cannot really fault him for anything here –he does his best to prop up this one..and he tries to put up an honest endearing/heartfelt yet massy act
#Kareena is (unsurprisingly for me) uniformly a pathetic eye sore. In addition the closeups were quite variable and unflattering mostly.
Overheard a guy somewhere–”she is so fair and “white”-what bollocks!!
A symptomatic mindset obsessed with “fair n lovely”-rest doesnt matter..lol
#There was herculean effort in making Kareena look as best as she can and the other girl (think her name is Hazel) as worst as possible. Unfortunately, imo Hazel still trumps her-although she had v little to do/say!!!
#this film has probably has more for the females than some other salman films. Could sense the females flanking me threatening to get “moved” somewhat towards the end lol(sic!)
#Music was a weaklink–desi beat was truly pathetic.
The title song & “teri meri” was reasonably alright .
Standout for me were the male vocals of Ash King in “I love u”
#it would have made this film much more worthwhile for me (not necessarily for the masses) if the last half hour was explored more.
Not a fan of how hazels character was made to look villianish towards the end and had to pay for her “sins” lol. If her character graph was more explored and “fleshed out”, wouldve been better…
btw my/our views dont represent the majority patrons of this type of stuff and for all u know, it will do v well/record breaking box office esp after the historic start……
Even in the most uttercrap films, my (hopefully) “discerning” eye does capture some key moments.
The shot (which may actually be unintentional on the part of the director)that i liked was the small child assuredly seeing the dustbin pass by from the train (where he had “disposed of the diary”)!!
With that shot the “germs” of a worthwhile film also passed by…….
Great review Alex! Thanks for sharing!
Ok so you found the movie underwhelming, hmmm,guess I will have to lower my expectations a little before I go and watch it.
Glad to know that you thought Salman did a good job, he’s the only reason I have any interest in this movie so I might just enjoy it because of him!
Lol, you really don’t like Kareena!
Now I’m looking forward to seeing it for Sallu only!
Three ques after watching Bodyguard’s box office performence.
1- Is salman has the highest number of Solo All time blockbusters
2- How many All time blockbusters are there of Amitabh Bachchan (Solo or multistarer)
3- Has Big B gave any ATBB or BB after the age of 40.
mard coolie both are blockbusters. And both are at the age of 41 and 43 respectively. And if you want to compare salmaan with bachchan. Then please also compare flops given by salmaan. And last thing yes i m big b fan. But i also salmaan fan. Basically i m fan of any successfull film and star. But yes the fact remains that currently salmaan is enjoying best ever period by any star in hindi film industry.
Will Bodyguard Hit The 100 Crore Nett Mark In Week One?
Thursday 1st September 2011 18.30 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard has smashed all opening day records with a collection of 21 crore nett approx and now the question will be can it do a 100 crore nett in its extended first week. This would have been unthinkable six months back but the releases are getting bigger and bigger at a very fast rate.
It can be said 100 crore is just a number so even if its 96 or 97 crore it does not really make much difference to the overall picture and that’s true but 100 is a special number and to be first film to get there in a week is a milestone although be it an extended first week.
Bodyguard is a SUPER HIT film even with a worse case scenario but this 100 mark for the week will depend on what happens on Friday. There is a drop today as its not a holiday like yesterday, it is more noticeable at multiplexes due to the heavy volume of shows. The important day will be Friday as a further drop will make it tough to get to a week of 100 and a jump would mean it is very much in range.
All in all its long term box office run is also dependent on how the film behaves on the normal weekend days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
If the absurd and by now stale Salman Khan logic at the box office works again, the disproportion between his appeal and his complete lack of talent will be more firmly established. In Bodyguard, his new film, Khan’s arms, which seem ossified, have moved further away from his body. His every expression is more robotic and frozen. There’s no semblance of acting—what he really does is puff his bare chest, purse his lips in rage, and stop short of growling. The best action sequences are digitally engineered, so he doesn’t have to do much in that department either.
This is the third time writer-director Siddique has made this film (the first was in Malayalam and the second in Tamil). Besides its mass marketability, there’s nothing meaty or engaging in the story.
The new-born Lovely Singh (Salman Khan) is rescued by Sartaj Rana (Raj Babbar), an arrogant man of inheritance. Lovely grows up to be a ferocious, fearless, muscle-flexing bodyguard. He flies in the air and springs atop steep peaks to rescue women in danger. So one day, he is hired as the bodyguard for Sartaj Rana’s daughter Divya (Kareena Kapoor)—her life is in danger. Will they fall in love and live happily ever after? There are minor hurdles, including a romance blossoming over telephone conversations and a friend’s betrayal.
The story is replete with crass digs at overweight people, homosexuality and physical disability. Everybody is a caricature; the humour could induce headache or depression—definitely not laughter. Kapoor has a few good moments on screen and she more or less effortlessly plays the sacrificial, ornamental, submissive female, a counterpoint to the invincible bodyguard.
If potboilers from the south have become a template for commercially viable Bollywood, it is, first, tragic, and speaks of the Mumbai film industry’s dearth of ideas even for mindless entertainers, of which there are many good examples from the past. Second, most of them are poor imitations. Producers who are remaking successful action flicks from the south—it is now almost a foolproof formula for box-office success—are begging for comparison. The few films of which I have watched both versions are better in the language they are originally written in and the milieu they are meant for—Singham is the most recent example.
The makers of Bodyguard obviously imagine a nebulous, brain-dead mass audience. They destroy the idea of a culturally vibrant and disparate country which is obsessed with cinema.
Bodyguard is not worth anybody’s money or time. It is a silly, humourless, offensive project, marching shamelessly towards a remarkably thoughtless climax and the puerile goal of making money out of thoughtless replication.
Salman Khan is at his worst; Chulbul Pandey, the enduring police inspector of Dabangg, is a faint memory after this film.
@
If this were a serious question I would have responded!
Is it necessary to see agenda behind every question related to bachchan ? Yes this is serious question and pls don’t give argument that what Big B has done before 1980. My que is specific.
1- Highest no of ATBB by salman ?
2- How many solo ATBB by Big B ?
3- How many ATBB or BB by Big B after 40.
Actually Salman doesn’t have an ATBB other than HAHK as far as I can tell. The trade though has cheapened a lot of the terminology these days and uses it indiscriminately. Depending on who you believe HAHK in 1994 had collections of 60-65 crores. Even 3I isn’t comparable to this. So Salman certainly has big ones today, calling them all time hits is simply ridiculous. Even Raja Hindustani with a gross of 45 crores in 1996 is closer to that than any of these Salman films.
On the rest the reason I responded as I did was that your question is completely arbitrary. I could have listed the big ones Bachchan has after the age of 40. I could have provided details on these films. I could have also mentioned other important stats of Bachchan after 50 or 60 as well. But to do this would have been to confirm the completely arbitrary structure you set up in your question. What does “after 40″ mean? Why is it important? Specially when the stars in question are hardly true blue superstars even in their 30s! Again the word has been cheapened by the media to simply mean ‘star’ but how many ATBBs does Salman have even in his 30s?! “After 40″ means something only for the greatest stars who remain at the top of their game for years and years. Not for someone like Salman who forget giving ATBBs was even close to being irrelevant for most of the last decade if you just consider his grossers and the kinds of films he was doing.
On the other hand for titanic superstars terms like “after 40″ or what have you don’t make any sense because their scale of accomplishment is already something for the ages. Rajesh Khanna was a titanic superstar for a few years. He didn’t last too long at those heights but most stars who’ve been very successful for very long still cannot compare with his peak period either! Again with Bachchan no matter where you set the marker he’s still ahead of everyone else but the Bachchan-Salman juxtaposition is so absurd that I would feel silly actually comparing the two to make a point either way.
So yes your question isn’t serious and I’m being polite here! Salman is doing hugely well at the moment but let’s not lose all sense of proportion here.
I did think about MPK. Bit on the fence about this one. It’s a difficult call on ATBB for this one. It was obviously absolutely huge specially relative to its budget and so on. ATBB I am not completely sure but I guess I wouldn’t argue too much here looking.
Satyam: “Actually Salman doesn’t have an ATBB other than HAHK as far as I can tell. ”
But you’ve gone on record many times that you don’t consider HAHK to be Salman’s success at all, but Madhuri’s. Then that would mean Salman has no ATBB’s to his credit in your book.
Those are two different points. Salman didn’t get much out of HAHK and his career after this film till he reinvented himself with Dhawan proves it (though he also had a big one in Karan Ajun the following year with SRK). It was all a Madhuri show. But he nonetheless was the hero of the film. It’s not what I consider though but what was the overwhelming sense at the time. Much as with Mr India it became a Sridevi show even though Anil Kapoor had the title role. The film was dubbed ‘Miss India’ by some. Salman after his initial success (even after MPK he had a number of plus films/hits) was in some drift for quite sometime, despite getting a HAHK or a Karan Arjun. His 1999 was big with HSSH (though it didn’t perform as expected), Biwi No 1, HDDCS were the top three grossers. But then there was serious drift again. Between 1999 and 2007 (Partner) you don’t find a Salman film in the top 5 grossers of the year in any of those years!
It’s fair to say that Salman’s appeal was always greater than the numbers might have suggested but nonetheless the fact is that his box office track record is a pretty ordinary after his initial wave of successes and even including high points like HAHK or KA and a year like 1999. When Dabanng released I remember saying this was his most important moment as a star literally after MPK. And I’ll say again today that this incredible run he’s been having since (on his third straight 100 crore grosser) is easily the very best phase of his career, there isn’t even a real comparison elsewhere. SRK himself has never had this kind of magnitude married to this sort of frequency. Aamir is a different ballgame because he’s not had a failure since Lagaan in any genre, anywhere! That’s pretty stunning. And for each genre he’s delivered some of the biggest numbers. And of course capped it off with Ghajini and 3I, still unsurpassed on the trending and were certainly the first films to shock us with such numbers.
The problem again and again in these discussions is that people think I’m being partisan. This is what people do when it comes to the box office. But that’s certainly not what I’m ever engaged in. And frankly I didn’t start following Salman or Aamir or SRK 5 years ago or 10 years ago! I was following the HAHK wave in real time! It’s like ten years later if Abhishek is in a fantastic box office position and someone mentioned D2 many of us would have to honestly point out that this was perceived as a Hrithik show. Certainly in the absence of scientific polling the media ran this narrative. The same was true for HAHK vis-a-vis Salman.
Agree that today ATBB term is such a lose talk .. If 3I at 200 Crore was ATBB then how come Dabangg after one year at 150 Crore can be ATBB ??? Just like Sholay at 15 Crore was ATBB but MKS, AAA, Coolie, Mard, Kranti etc though huge Hits and crossed 10 Crore magical figure, are not considered ATBB .. because standard was higher .. i.e. 15 Crore.
So today standard is 200 Crore .. so how come 150 or 100+ Crore can be considered as ATBB ?? And beyond that 50-60 Crore budgeted movies earning 100+ Nett … is any comparable to 1 Crore movie earmning 10+ Crore Nett ????
In fact based on business volume and profits and even Jubilees, Amitabh has more than 15 ATBB … and in 1983 trade magazine has written this fact that Amitabh has 13 All times Hits.
Can you please explain what is the criteria for ATTB ? If Dabang and Maine pyar kiya considered as ATTBs Bachchan might have minimum 20 ATTBs and out of 20 ,10 were solo ATTB’s..For expamle DON made in 1978 with budget of less than 50 lakhs and DON total collctions around 6-7 crores.Yes he gave blockbusters after 40 aslo.Lawaris,yarana,kaalia,akhari raasta,mard,sharabhi,shehenshah all are solo Blockbusters after Bachchan crossed 40
Bodyguard had a huge second day at the box office as it collected around 17.25 crore nett approx taking its total to 38.50 crore nett in two days. The second day territorial breakdown is as follows
Bodyguard has seen a huge varying rate of drops on the second day while some places hardly show a drop, others have fallen over 40%. Below are the second day figures with first day numbers in brackets from Gurgaon and Kanpur single screens.
-By Taran Adarsh, September 2, 2011 – 16:09 IST
BODYGUARD is faring very well internationally and is expected to be Salman Khan’s biggest solo Hit, at the rate it’s faring…
Update: ‘Bodyguard’ shatters all previous records, 39.81 cr in 2 days
-By Taran Adarsh, September 2, 2011 – 10:49 IST
Salman Khan’s BODYGUARD has smashed all previous records and has emerged the biggest opener ever in the history of Hindi cinema. The film collected Rs 21.51 cr nett on Wednesday and Rs 18.30 cr nett on Thursday, taking the 2-day total to Rs 39.81 cr nett. The business is expected to zoom upwards from Friday onwards, when the weekend begins. At the rate it is faring, the film can cross the magical figure of Rs 85 cr + in its 5-day weekend, which will be a new record.
Salman Khan’s Bodyguard 2 Days Net – Rs. 38 Crore!
September 2nd, 2011 by Komal Nahta
Salman Khan in BodyguardAfter taking an unprecedented opening across India and even abroad, the Salman Khan-starrer, Bodyguard, has made another Rs. 17.50 crore in all-India net collections on day 2 (Thursday, September 1). This takes the film’s total two-day tally to a humongous Rs. 38 crore!
Bodyguard continued to do roaring business in the Overseas circuit also. In UK, the film collected a massive 200,000 pounds on day two (Wednesday, August 31). This takes the total UK gross to a record 260,000 pounds.
It is now estimated that the film might even cross the Rs. 80-85 crore mark in its five-day weekend.
@kash ” Amitabh Bachchan is going to be working with Luhrman in The Great Gatsby with Leo Dicaprio”
This is the best piece of news in a long long time and the write up there is inspiring – ” Luhrmann described him as one of the world’s great screen legends. ”Over the years, Amitabh’s films have made a tremendous impression on my life and work,” he said. ”His film Sholay was my introduction to Indian cinema.”
I am happy Big B has maintained a low profile over this, but hope something special and substantial comes out.
On BG, would be perfect if this reaches a 100cr in week 1.
If fri/sat/sun can notch up 45 cr (very much possible) that takes the total to 83 cr. It will then need 17cr from the rest of the week to touch a 100 cr!!!
I vividly remember Satyam’s words on market capacities and how the box office numbers put by srk during his peak were barely exploiting the full potential of the market.
Movies like 3Idioits and BG show us the real box office reach/market of domestic market in bollywood.
Have posted my views on Bodyguard above.^^^^
Although i hope it does v well and breaks records, I myself found it underwhelming. This apart, I recognise that “popular tastes” can differ a lot. Going by the box office of the golmaals etc, this may also work big time!!
But am watching with curiosity, what happens AFTER the end of the long weekend once the euphoria settles down—how much will be the fall (if at all)….
Anyhow —the film I would have seen instead IF it was showing–wont get released in multiplexes here , but quite interesting specially from the stables of Anurag Kashyap….
Review: That Girl In Yellow Boots
( 4.5 stars out of 5)
The only hint of colour that there is in the life of the female protagonist is confined to her boots. It is significant that we do not see that piece of fancy leather footwear ever again after the introductory scene, which provides a worm’s eye-view of British citizen Ruth (co-screenwriter Kalki Koechlin) patiently waiting for her turn at the foreigners’ registration office in Mumbai.
The girl is here to seek an extension of her tourist visa. But she doesn’t palpably have a chance in hell in this beehive of slothful, corrupt and predatory government functionaries out to extract their pound of flesh.
Director Anurag Kashyap projects this den of exploitative red-tape as a microcosm of sorts of a pitiless city that breeds social and moral deviants who think nothing of riding roughshod over the destinies of the defenseless.
The superbly crafted, wonderfully acted and consistently evocative That Girl in Yellow Boots paints a dark, dismal and desperate portrait of life inside Mumbai’s daunting entrails where Ruth hopes to find salvation and a father who went missing from her life when she was only five.
In order to merely stay afloat in this putrid urban cesspool, the girl works in a massage parlour where she services wrinkled, lustful old men, going beyond the call of duty to make some money on the side.
Just as gloomy and grim is the dank ambience of Ruth’s little home, which seems to be under constant siege. It is invaded frequently by a coke-snorting boyfriend Prashant (Prashant Prakash), a Kannada-speaking gangster Chitiappa (Gulshan Devaiah) and sundry other strangers out to exploit her vulnerability.
That is the price that she must pay for being an illegal migrant: the search for her father brings her face to face with the dregs of society as she is dragged head first through the moral muck of a massive metropolis where Ruth is reduced to a hapless prey.
Kashyap’s film is structured like an urban thriller sans the fisticuffs and gunfights. But the sights and sounds of the city remain on the fringes of Ruth’s ill-fated quest for happiness. The focus of the drama is squarely on the protagonist’s inner traumas as she negotiates dangers and bitter truths at every step.
That Girl in Yellow Boots does not traverse familiar thriller terrain. We see stray bits of the city entirely from the perspective of Ruth’s alien eyes. She isn’t familiar with the dynamics of Mumbai; so the view is tempered with a degree of bewilderment.
We see Mumbai from a half-open window of the massage parlour or from the entrance to her home or in the form of what Ruth catches from a moving auto-rickshaw or taxi. She does not have the wherewithal to come to grips with Mumbai. It is too overpowering for her.
The Mumbai that we usually see on the big screen has as much music and magic as mayhem and madness. But in the city that this film depicts, there can be no room for a fairy tale. It gnaws into the vitals of individuals in insidious ways and leaves them gasping for a gust of the fresh air of innocence and honesty.
That Girl in Yellow Boots is obviously the story of Ruth, a girl caught in a ruthless world, and Koechlin captures the landscape of the protagonist’s bruised heart and mind to absolute perfection. But the film benefits no less from the finely etched cameos of the supporting cast.
Especially impressive are Puja Sarup as the loquacious massage parlour receptionist who is constantly on her mobile phone making small talk even as an emotional storm swirls around Ruth and Gulshan Devaiah as the fumbling gangster whose bravado borders on the comical.
If we do not see more of Sarup and Devaiah in Mumbai movies in the years to come, the loss would be entirely Hindi cinema’s.
One might quibble about the director holding his punches in portraying the ‘physical’ dimensions of the moral quagmire that Ruth is trapped in, but That Girl in Yellow Boots is a significant step forward for Kashyap.
It is well-nigh his most controlled film to date: the style, fluid and unobtrusive, complements the theme rather than overshadow it
Bodyguard is set to have another huge day on Friday but there seems to be another 20% plus drop on the cards. Last year Dabangg collected 14.45 crore on Friday which was its first day and it is possible that Bodyguard’s Friday may end up below that figure.
This will also make it tough for Saturday to show much growth though Sunday should show a jump but how much remains to be seen.
Bodyguard is a huge winner at the boxoffice but early trends suggest that the Dabangg lifetime nett total of 140 crore set last year on Eid seems safe while the jury is still out whether it can cross the lifetime 121 crore nett total of Ready which is the biggest grosser of the year so far.
these big drops don’t bode well for a massive total here.. 100 crores is not going to be a problem at all.. but it would be underwhelming if it stayed at Ready level after opening much bigger.
Why Bodyguard is a big hit already
September 02, 2011 17:40 IST
Salman Khan is emerging as the Rajnikanth [ Images ] of Bollywood, says media professional and industry observer Abhijit Mhamunkar, as the two-days collection of Salman Khan’s [ Images ] Bodyguard raked in around Rs 38.7 crore.
Despite being a flawed film, Mhamunkar says it is doing well because “Salman’s film is like Rajnikanth’s film, people go to watch Salman Khan so there are no complaints from hardcore fans. Besides, people did not hate the film nor are they saying it is a flop film.”
He explains further: “Salman Khan’s movies are critic-proof. People don’t wait for reviews and then go and watch his films, they are waiting for the release of the film. With each multiplex having around 27, 19 and 21 shows, every screen is showing Bodyguard. It is a well planned strategy; everyone who goes to the cinema is getting a ticket so they are watching it.”
The first two days of the film’s release were holidays. The first was for Eid. Since Muslims abstain from watching films during the month of Ramzan, they are eager to watch a film, not just a Salman film but any film, after that. If it is a Salman Khan film on Eid, then it’s like the cherry on the icing.
“The fall will begin today, Friday. In fact, it has already begun from today — morning to afternoon there has been about 30 to 40 per cent fall. That is not a huge fall but it is considerable compared to the last two days,” says Mhamunkar.
The estimate of Rs 100 crore in earnings in the first weekend now seems difficult, but on the other hand, the next two days being a weekend, sales could be good.
Irrespective of the financial performance of the film, its star will remain untarnished. “Even the harshest critic of Bodyguard has not pointed to a flaw in Salman Khan’s performance. You will find no review where Salman Khan is criticised. Even (movie critic) Rajeev Masand has tweeted that he is an endearing character in the film,” Mhamunkar points out.
He compares it to the Amitabh Bachchan [ Images ] phenomenon, when in his heyday the Big B [ Images ] could do no wrong.
Salman is suffering from trigeminal neuralgia and is in the US for treatment, but the sympathy wave is not the reason for the good box office takings, Mhamunkar says.
He believes people are drawn to the character Salman plays in this film. In his recent films, “Salman played the over-smart, stylish, larger than life character. Here he plays a simple, endearing, down to earth and real character.”
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Singham have been the biggest hits of the year so far, but Mhamunkar’s guess is that Bodyguard will surpass them. “Singham earned Rs 100 crore, but it was in the theatres for long, so it took a long time to earn that kind of money. But Bodyguard’s growth is rapid so therefore it will surpass Singham.”
The only other film that could compete with Bodyguard is Shah Rukh Khan’s [ Images ] Ra.One because, says Mhamunkar, SRK [ Images ] is a good strategist and will bombard cinemas with many more prints, and also because “though Salman Khan has a huge fan following in India [ Images ], it is not as huge as Shah Rukh Khan’s, who also has a fan following among NRIs. His last film My Name is Khan did not do that well in India, but was a huge hit overseas.”
The festival of Eid has once again proved to be lucky for Bollywood superstar Salman Khan whose new release Bodyguard has earned a record Rs 22 crore net as first day collections — surpassing blockbusters Dabangg and 3 Idiots.
The action-packed drama, in which Salman has teamed up with Kareena Kapoor, was released on Eid-ul-Fitr Wednesday. His Wanted and Dabangg too released on Eid in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
Bodyguard has not only surpassed first day collections of Singham (Rs 9.1 crore), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (Rs 8.15 crore), Delhi Belly (Rs 7.15 crore), Ready (Rs 13.5 crore) and Dum Maaro Dum (Rs 6.2 crore), it has also overtaken the box office earnings of Dabangg and 3 Idiots, which collected Rs 14.5 crore and Rs 13 crore, respectively, on the first day.
Film expert Komal Nahta says that the films has broken all international records also. Nahta told a daily, “In Dubai, the movie opened on Tuesday because that’s when Eid was celebrated. While Dabangg had opened with 7 lakh dirhams (`87 lakh), Bodyguard made 11 lakh dirhams (`1.36 crore). In London, the movie opened with a collection of 60,000 pounds (`44.4 lakh) on Tuesday, which too is unheard of. It has broken all previous records for any Bollywood film.”
“The response to the film has been amazing. We had estimated the collection to be Rs 20 crore on the first day and it went on to be Rs 21.5-22 crore net, which are phenomenal figures for the first day,” Priti Shahani, chief strategy and marketing officer, Reliance Entertainment, told IANS.
“Salman, no doubt, is the biggest driving factor as he has a huge fan following. A good release date is extremely crucial on the theatrical side and Salman and Eid are indeed a lethal combo,” she added.
Made at an approximate budget of Rs 60 crore, the film released in India with 2,600 prints and 325 prints overseas. Shahani said they haven’t yet got the figures for overseas collection.
A Hindi-remake of the Malayalam film of the same name, Bodyguard has been directed by Siddique and co-produced by Salman’s brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri and Reliance Entertainment.
Shahani predicts that the film will cross the Rs 100-crore mark in the very first week.
“Looking at the unprecedented response to the film, Bodyguard is likely to cross the Rs 100-crore mark in its first week,” she said.
With an extended weekend, multiplex owners are hoping to make good business.
“The opening has been nice, the occupancy has gone up to 80 per cent. People are liking the film. We are hoping for a good weekend and expect the occupancy to go up to 100 per cent,” said Munish, managing director (marketing) of Satyam Cineplex.
Yogesh Raizada, of Waves Cinemas calls the film a treat for Salman fans.
“It’s a complete Salman Khan with lots of action and some comedy. People are enjoying the film. On the first day, the occupancy was around 80 to 90 per cent in the suburbs and in the NCR region. We hope an equally good response over the weekend,” he said.
“your humble narrator is as WTF-ed up as you, folks”. this was epic.
in sallu bhai’s recent successful films, wanted and dabangg were good although i prefer dabangg. ready was crap and now looks like so is BG. will be watching it soon with very low expectations.
Surprising how the shift has started
From the talk of overtaking 3I, now it imay not cross Dabangg and at worst even Ready!
What irks me is the inability to understand the market dynamics and how unbelievable 3I performance was. There is such loose talk amongst fans and even amongst trade sites like BOI claiming any well liked film can overtake 3I. It is stupidity or dishonesty of the highest order. People get giddy like school girls over a days or a weekend performance and start dreaming 3I.
Even the talk of a 100 crore week was so unrealistic.
BG has opened fab but as I said in day one, decay will be fast
3 Idiots has done extremely well in places like Taiwan and Korea. And mainland China may not have released the film theatrically (to my knowledge), but the film has plenty of fans there.
Can masala pap like Bodyguard capture the imagination of Asian students? I am happy for Salman, that he has three hits in a row; now let him show some responsibility and act in good cinema that is not masala /formula/ whatever.
It will be tough for him to follow and live up to the expectations of the trade and his fans, given that every big star has had his 3 idiots moment recently:
now, i can only see big slide for srk, he has passed his best days behind, explain to you i can say peeche nahi dekhne ka, peeche dekhne se purana jamana laut kar ane vala hai, nahi ayega. ra one and don 2 will also pull srk down.
SRK had his supreme for long time. I don’t think ra1 will bring back his glory,but Don-2 should do well.
There were times(2000-20090 people even not turn up SK’s movies. Whree was he in the last decade? It never happens for SRK.
Execpt for HR, who had the variety movies like Guru, Delhi-6 and Raavan in their career? They sre still my top choices in the last five years. I’ve never expected Abhishek as mass star, but he will bounce back to his 2005 days. As a fan, I am happy with that.
To put it another way if you did want him to become a mass star you’d lose the actor you love in those films. And this is something many fans often forget. Even someone as titanically gifted as bachchan could fundamentally no longer find the scripts he was associated with in the 70s (from Salim-Javed to Hrishikesh Mukherjee) in his 80s period. Now we love many of the films in the latter, without doubt Bachchan elevates many of these into very enjoyable experiences, but these are in many cases very pedestrian films. This is where the logic of mega-stardom leads. Because the biggest stars get people in even for mediocre films and/or satisfy people with barely enough in many of the same films. And this is the reason why I would never trade Bachchan’s 70s with any other stage of his career even if there are important truths illustrated about him as ‘the’ supreme star in the 80s. Far moreso than even in the 70s. Anyway the point is that if Bachchan himself wasn’t immune to the logic of stardom the others are just lesser mortals. And here as I said recently one should as a fan of Guru, D6, raavan be concerned about Italian Job and Bol Bachchan and so on. He needs the box office at this point so I certainly don’t question these decisions but if these become big grossers the market pressure is then intense to repeat yourself in the same subjects. And the media celebrates hits irrespective of what they’re worth while on the other handing raking the same actor over coals for something like Raavan. A star then cannot be blame for choosing safer choices and certainly after such experiences. But as a fan of some of the films you’ve mentioned some of this stuff makes one wary. Which is another reason why I have been more interested in the Ghanchakkar project coming about. Having said that Abhishek is still less likely to be completely swayed by box office success. He’s already once walked away from the low-hanging spoils after 2005. But nonetheless 100 crore grossers create some very unique issues.
Abhishek is an actor of JayaBahduri’s mould, not his father. Unless he reinvents something (like SK did in the last few films), it is very hard to become mass star at this stage. He says that he likes action, but I’ve observed he was very uncomfortable doing those scenes or ads. (Mani’s movies are an exception).
Imagine if Abhishek acted in Singam ,wanted , body gurad etc defientely he would have been in top position at boxoffice .All these reamkes any top actor can able to do it easily.
Its not difficult to give big hit for Abhishek at boxoffice,but he need to act fast and try to remake telugu or tamil masala/action hit films.Better he should stop acting in karan johar,yash chopra and faran akthar banners.They will never give good films for abhishek.Karan johar never make films with abhishek except dostana kind of films and yash raj also never make films with him except dhoom series and look at faran akthar he choose abhi for game and they not even gave publicity for that film .So abhi better stop trusting these guys.Insted he produce films in his banner with good directos like rohi setty,prabhu deva etc
Its really frustating to see movies like game,khelenge hum jee jaan seand dum maro dum failed at boxoffice . He is also so lethargic and failed to understand what fans are expecting from him.Now ball is in abhi’s court many telugu/tamil super hits are available for remakes and only thing he need to do choose a right film and complete it three months and so he should act atleast 4 films per year, two remakes and two staright films.
it’s not about remaking south films, but he should do more youth oriented movies, that will bring big initials, he is very good actor, needs to establish good boxoffice record once again, it is not that he has not given any superhits, but after raavan he badly needs super hit movie, dum maro dum is not biggest grosser but it has done decent business at bo and he is appauled for his performance, for me dmd is success for him at this stage after the debacle of khjjs and game, and he has the talent so, no point that he will not able to give superhits, but as his fan i would like to see him in films like guru, delhi 6, sarkar, dmd, sarkarraj, yuva etc. i am very excited about ghanchakkar rumour to be directed by rajkumar gupta.
To be fair to SRK here, he has attempted something novel and daring with Ra.One and that thing needs to be applauded at a time when crap seems to be gaining recognition. Reminds me of the times of the 80s when Hindi cinema with its B-grade stuff hit an all-time low.
Agree with the notion of watching masala cinema once in a while, which brings back some good old memories but a dozen films lately have been exploiting this thing to the hilt. It started with Wanted, was all right till Dabangg (that was well-made masala) but Ready, Singham and Bodyguard (if its as disappointing as it seems) have taken the viewers for granted..
If such films can become blockbusters, I wont mind Ra.One or Don 2 being big hits.
Bodyguard had a good third day at the box office but there was a noticeable drop on an all India level. The film collected around 13.25 crore nett on its third day taking its total to 52 crore nett in three days. The third day territorial breakdown is as follows
Bodyguard had a very good fourth day at the box office as it jumped 10% from the previous day. The film collected around 14.75 crore nett on its fourth day taking its total to nearly 67 crore nett in four days. The fourth day territorial breakdown is as follows
Bodyguard went back on track on Saturday after a noticeable drop on Friday. The film collected 15 crore nett approx on Saturday as per early estimates as the bigger circuits dominated by multiplexes showed healthy jumps while single screens areas were similar to Friday.
The film has now collected 67 crore nett approx in five days and the weekend is looking at a humungous 85 crore nett.
Bodyguard showed good jumps in the North on Saturday and this was the area which was lower comparatively on Thursday and Friday. This is a good sign for the long term business of the film.
Continuing with my earlier comment, I believe Salman has become increasingly repetitive with his choice of films and will shade out soon.. similar to what happened with Akki.
and thats where I believe Aamir and SRK to be the true blue superstars of today, with their constant experimentation and investing heart and soul in every movie of theirs..
So you have a Ghajini which is as different from TZP and 3I as chalk n cheese and an SRK who has gambled a lot with roles as diverse as Rizwan Khan/Kabir Khan/Surinder Sahni with success in each one of them.
i do agree with that….as much as sallu bhai has had success…we cannot forget veer, london dreams and mr and mrs khanna to name a few debacles in the last couple years where he tried to do different roles.
but the thing with him is he always comes back no matter what. you can never count him out. he has sustained this stardom for 20 plus years along with the other two khans whereas akki i think has started his around 2005-06 after garam masala, he took off into another level of success. i think satyam has said this over and over…akki missed the boat on this ‘masala’ wave in hindi cinema right now.
in my mind…the three khans have swapted ‘rankings’ ever since 1988. its been them and every one else. govinda, anil kapoor, sanjay dutt, ajay devgn, akshay kumar and sunny doel have challenged them but they havenet sustained the level of success that the khans have had. ive maintained for the longest time, after amitabh, its been ‘the three khans’ that have took over the crown and carried it for 20 plus years. i think ranbir and hrithik are the future.
Not from 1988 but from 1994 khans domination started. 88 to 93 Bigb ,anil,sanjay and govina were top stars at boxoffice and khans started their carrer at that time. Hrithik ruled 2000,2003 &2006 and in 2001 sunny deol ruled at boxoffice .Khans collectively ruled boxooffice from 94 onwards but invidually they failed to rule not even 5 years continuously at boxoffice.Now salman has chance to become no.1 at boxoffice next 5 yeras if he choose right films
In fact this was first time that BBC in its prime time news gave coverage of Khuda Gawah opening .. it was such a historic .. though not sustained.
And HUM was humongous for 3 consecutive weeks … so much so that Stardust even declared it blockbuster and also had last minute update of HUM special coverage in same month issue .. and later on this was objected by some readers in later issues.
Khans became big after HAHK, DDLJ and RH… and gave random success and failure through out .. alternatively dominate on each other at some or other point of time ..
I have some doubts on boxofficeindia.com figures. In one post they are stating bodyguard has grossed 84.65 and on the other post its 85.5.
In their earlier post they were pointing to the negative none of which became true.
Yet according to Taran and others such as reliance themselves its more in the range of 89.
I wonder boxofficeindia.com has any credibility apart from its name.
Bodyguard had a super strong fifth day as it collected 18.75 crore nett approx. The film collected 85.50 crore nett approx over its extended five day weekend. The fifth day territorial breakdown is as follows
Bodyguard has simply torn up the record books and smashed practically every opening record at every cinema it was released in. The holiday period and humungous releases has meant that it has smashed the first week record of Dabangg (81 cr nett) in just five days. Bodyguard managed to hit around 2800 screens on nearly 2000 theatres over the weekend when its release was the widest.
The film has collected another 17.5-18 crore nett on Sunday which has taken the five day extended weekend to somewhere between the 84-85 crore nett range as per early estimates.
The film help up supremely well at places over the five days while other were up and down depending on which day was a holiday. Overall the film is almost certain to emerge the biggest hit of 2011 beating the other Salman Khan release this year Ready.
Bodyguard grossed 84.75 crore nett approx over its extended five day weekend. All territories were simply phenomenal. The weekend territorial breakdown is as follows
Salman Khan’s Bodyguard Nets Rs. 86 Cr Over Weekend
September 5th, 2011 by Komal Nahta
Update: In light of additional collections received from our representatives from all over India, the total net collections of Bodyguard are revised to Rs. 86.10 crore. These collections are historic and the Salman Khan starrer has beaten all opening week records in just 5 days! The revised day-wise collections are as follows: Wednesday – Rs. 21 crore; Thursday – Rs. 17.50 crore; Friday – Rs. 13.25 crore; Saturday – Rs. 14.85 crore and Sunday – Rs. 19.50 crore. Total – Rs. 86.10 crore.
Salman Khan’s Bodyguard has broken all records for the opening weekend, making a total of Rs. 83.50 crore (all-Indian net collections) over its first weekend at the box-office. The film, which opened to record-breaking houses on Wednesday (August 31), saw festive crowds and fans pouring into theatres in large numbers in spite of the mixed reports it got. By any standards, the opening weekend’s collections are superb. In fact, Bodyguard will go down in history as the fastest grosser till now.
After the opening day’s collection of Rs. 20.50 crore (all-India net), the Salman Khan starrer went ahead and scored at the box-office by adding Rs. 17.50 crore on Thursday, Rs. 12 crore (Friday), Rs. 13.50 crore (Saturday) and Rs. 20 crore (Sunday) to its kitty. Point to note is that Bodyguard has surpassed the entire first week’s (7 days) collections of Dabangg (Rs. 81 crore) in its first weekend (5 days)!
right now salman khan is the king of boxoffice and collections of his films phenomenal, just out of imagination, that is true star power, i really salute to him and his star power, despite releasing his two films in three months, it dosenot affect the business, instead bodyguard has better initials than ready, right now, we can say he is the ultimate & biggest superstar of bollywood of 2010 & 2011, right now, only aamir’s film can compete his initials, if not surpass it. srk has given so many hits but every time he needs big director, excellent music to get his big hits, but salman today is just like rajni or great bachchan of 70 & 80′s, their name is enough to bring people to theatres.
Bodyguard Juggernaut: Bol, Aarakshan, Singham Make Way
September 5th, 2011 by Koimoi.com Team
Bol, also released on Eid, was crushed under the weight of Bodyguard.
Films like Mummy Punjabi and Bas Ek Tamanna, also released on Wednesday to take advantage of the Eid holiday, actually had to bear the brunt of the opposition of Bodyguard. Both the non-star cast films went largely unnoticed.
Shabri failed to make any mark at the box-office. Its limited release (in Bombay and C.P. Berar only) last week will now ensure that the film will not see the light of day in most other circuits because of zero appreciation. Stand By did not even stand by as an extra. Its collections in the first week were dismal. Chitkabrey, too, bombed in its first week itself. Recorded extremely low collections.
The audience stayed away from Yeh Dooriyan which is why it was able to gross poorly in its first week. Conan The Barbarian (dubbed) and the original English version (of the same title) from which it has been dubbed, did average business in the first week. Chatur Singh Two Star is in its last lap – that is, where it is not out of the cinemas after a disastrous run of two weeks. Not A Love Story crashed further, in its second week. It is also breathing its last where it has not already been discontinued from the cinemas.
Aarakshan had to make way for Bodyguard from 31st August at several places. While it managed to record fair collections in its third week at some centres, it went out of steam at others. Singham managed to yield shares in its sixth week too. It seems to have exhausted its meritorious run, now that Bodyguard has caught the fancy of the audience. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is another winner that fetched shares in its seventh week too.
Happy to see it reach 85 cr until Sunday. Needs another 15 cr to set another benchmark for 100cr first week, fastest 50 / 100 etc etc..
Watched the movie with a packed crowd which was ready to lap the movie with both hands. Unfortunately except for few chartbuster songs and couple of fist fights there wasn’t much to cheer about. A disappointment in terms of – what could have been…
but it’s true and it’s a point I’ve made for years.. the SRK films were just feeding off the multiplexes and doing very little or nothing from the rest. Not surprisingly you’re getting these 100 crore grossers with regularity only when the smaller centers (basically all kinds of audiences) are involved. Singham is in some ways an even better test case because it didn’t open like these Salman films but it was liked more by some of its base audience and still got to 100. This was true even in early years by the way where even then the films that were doing well in small centers were outgrossing SRK’s films. Which is why whenever Hrithik had a filmkraft film (which always did well in small centers) he usually did better than the big SRK film. And which is why OSO (because of the masala admixture) also did way better than most other SRK films in that period (including Don.. which despite the same storyline had the masala ‘refined’ out of it). More recently we saw ZNMD do about 90 crores and this was very successful in the multiplexes. On the other hand Singham wasn’t a small center supergrosser and it wasn’t huge in the multiplexes. But it had enough of a coalition to get ahead of ZNMD. These Salman films are opening hugely but not sustaining the way they should. Otherwise 150 crores would minimally be on the cards for some of these if these just trended like Ghajini. The thing with Ra 1 or Don 2 is that you still have formats that rely on multiplexes (unless Ra 1 has been really Indianized a la Rakesh Roshan.. I doubt Anubhav Sinha is capable of pulling it off this way) and hence even given a huge initial you’re probably not going to exceed 100 crores by much. This is a long way off from even Salman’s films these days let alone something like 3I (and I’m not even getting into factors like inflation and so on here).
RNBDJ did well but was way behind Ghajini, nonetheless because it had that small town feel to it it did alright. I’ve already talked about OSO in the comment.
By your logic, even Singham did alright as it was much behind Ready .. Still you’ve got only positive things to say about Singham and compare it to the likes of ZNMD to show how it has outgrossed the multiplex film.. Why not, instead of comparing RNBDJ and Ghajini, go for a RNBDJ v/s Love Aaj kal, for instance?
Singham had a first week much lower than Ready but trended way better than it. There is a difference! And the ZNMD comparison is apt because the latter did very well in multiplexes. It’s hard to imagine a ‘multiplex only’ film doing much better than this (leaving aside much bigger scale subjects like Dhoom or whatever). But Singham is hardly the best possible performance for a masala subject. As for RNBDJ v LAK this actually proves my point. RNBDJ had some non-multiplex appeal because of its ambience and so on. It of course also compromised a bit of its multiplex audience for the same reason. LAK was multiplex-only and it didn’t do as well. Of course LAK unlike ZNMD wasn’t the best possible multiplex performance either!
agreed and Bodyguard could have done even more than this over this extended weekend period.. because it had some drops over the weekend leading upto Sun.. 100 crores for a 4-5 day period combined with the weekend is clearly on the cards for a film that is liked enough.. don’t think we’re even that far off from the right kind of film doing 100 crores over a regular 3 day weekend.
There’s Something About RA.One by Box Office India (September 4, 2011)
To start with, we, at Box Office India, had the privilege to watch a sizeable portion and songs of Shah Rukh Khan’s ambitious venture RA.One. We were, and still are, speechless. It’s simply MINDBLOWING, and needless to say, every single scene is a treat for cinema lovers. After the film releases on October 26, we’ll have to coin a better word to describe the film than GRANDEUR.
It’s hard to pick a highlight of the film because every scene is awesome, and the SFX is definitely at par with Hollywood standards. King Khan says his proudest moment will be when someone asks if this film was actually made in Bollywood, and he replies, “Yes, RA.One was made in a studio in Andheri, Mumbai.” And mark our words, it will be a proud moment for not just SRK but for the film fraternity as well as cine lovers.
We were also privy to the RA.One merchandise, which SRK and his team have worked so hard on. Again, the merchandise is of international standards. In short, this film is expected to not only create
aadmi,
you sound like a desperate for srk salvation,
Boi said mind blowing,they even said swadesh will be a film of the decade,could not even be a film of the month,if i were you i would ignore what BOI has to say…they are always wrong in their calculation.They have got it wrong of Raa One,creating havoc on this film,cheap stunt publicity..
It is a good thing that the above text posted by Aadmi is not from BOI.com but from boi.co.in. Tho, they are so similar in content I have my doubts if they are really distinct entities. If it was really from BOI what ever vestige of credibility thwy have left ,would have vanished. The article quoted above looks like the creation of an unabashed fan boi.
gud 2 take a break from work——All those of us pretending to work (like me) while surfing bollywood etc–beware!!! lol
When one is slogging and having to compete with a Mila-Kunis lookalike —how ruthless can one get!!!
And what if this Mila Kunis lookalike happens to be an SRK fan—– courtesy dubbed cds!!!!!
btw –just read the above post by aadmi ^^^^^about some1 having inside info and having seen bits of ra.one—lol—dont know if this can be believed …
However dont rule out srk coming out with something good after spending ages and fortune on it……
Anyhow was just casually hypothesising about SRKs inexplicable “pull” with certain sections.
And out of all quarters, got a probable intelligent answer from the mila kunis lookalike (who was expected to be naive about this).
her hypothesis—SRKs modus operandi is to act as if he is catering to kids and he has to capture/maintain their attention—this way he gets a certain quaint rapport/grip irrespective of theme/his own lack of technique/skill.
whether i found that hypothesis plausible or not, sometimes one has to be polite n agree…lol
110cr net expected 1st week according to BOI. Really huge. Salman is really setting new standards when it comes to opening movies. That’s sheer stardom. In terms of fans following, I don’t think anyone beats him right now. He is by far the No.1 in that respect.
Bodyguard has done extremely well on Monday and collected around 8.50-8.75 crore nett as per early estimates.
The film should hit the 100 crore nett today (Tuesday) as its business so far for six days is 93 crore nett approx. The week is probably heading for 111-112 crore.
The North has held up very steady with Delhi/UP recording very good collections. The central belt of CP Berar, Rajasthan and CI is also very strong. The biggest drops have come in Mumbai city and the South.
I guess my prediction that it will break Dabaang’s Record will be true…
ETT is one film where Salman has a very good chance to break 3I total collection…Yash Raj+Kabir Khan+Salman+Katrina…It will be a monster for sure…
Salman’s agenda for 2012
By Taran Adarsh, September 6, 2011 – 07:42 IST
Salman Khan Salman Khan is the flavor of the season and rightly so. With BODYGUARD emerging a major money-spinner at the ticket window, the media is focusing on Salman and only Salman since the past few days. Be it the mind-boggling start undertaken by his new film BODYGUARD at the box-office or his surgery in the U.S., not a day passes when you don’t read or watch a news bulletin about the developments in the actor’s personal and professional life.
Now here’s something about the actor not many know. Salman, who underwent surgery last week in the U.S., has started promoting BODYGUARD while recuperating in the U.S. [he has been advised a week's rest by the doctors]. Fully aware that he’s required to reach out to his fans when his movie releases, the actor has started connecting with Indian moviegoers via television, radio and print interviews.
Meanwhile, the actor will commence filming EK THA TIGER at a foreign destination. And like this year, which witnessed two releases [READY and BODYGUARD], Salman will have two releases next year as well — Yash Raj’s EK THA TIGER [which will release soon after the IPL cricket matches] and Sohail Khan’s SHER KHAN [Eid release].
Let me give it to you in writing -ETT will NOT get even close to 3I. It would take a different kind of film to do it. ETT may do extremely well but not will not cross 3I.
I think it is very likely BG will cross Dabangg. Well done.
It would seem with the expanding BO potential domestically, 150 is the new 100 ( crores). Even Devgan has one.Both Salman and Aamir have more than one in their kitty i.e 100 plus crore grossers. SRK and Hrithik need to get one promptly if they want to stay in the top rung. SRK hasnt had a movie in a while except MNIK which his fans will contend eas ‘different’ and hence not subject to the usual BO criteria.
BG has raised the bar even higher BO wise. Atleast one of Don2 and Ra.One has to surpass 150 crores for SRK to remain in the discussion for the top. It is a different story that all these huge grossers have a very short half life and are eminently forgettable toher than their BO fireworks.
but my point here is why’s your judgement on a film’s and a star’s standing not consistent.. Not today but several times I have noticed you belitting SRK’s achievement with RNBDJ and always bring Ghajini in, showing the latter’s higher gross.. If I remember clearly, you believed Aamir was a bigger star than Hritik in 2006 despite the younger star outgrossing both Aamir’s films with Dhoom 2 and Krrish. for you, a Fanaa for Aamir was a bigger achievement than SRK’s RNBDJ, though when taken into consideration, Krrish, LRM, and Dhoom 2- all of them outgrossed the Aamir starrer.
At the time, you brought all talks of consistency in terms of box-office delivery; yet when it comes to SRK, that term is totally ignored. It’s about delivering the highest grosser..! Arent you manipulating things according to your convenience and suitability?
I have actually said the very same things at every point. It’s also about contexts. You cannot look at anything in isolation. On Fanaa my point was that it would have made significantly more with Gujarat part of the mix. Just Ahmedabad is one of the top 3-4 grossing cities in the country for Hindi films. My sense was that Fanaa would have been minimally a 62 crore grosser or something without this loss. Given that the film did very well everywhere else doing well in Gujarat was a guaranteed result. This wasn’t a film that did well in pockets although it was super in the North. but also earlier this earlier Aamir had RDB which was the biggest possible success at the time for a ‘different’ film and especially one where the bulk of the business came from metros around India. Even today accounting for everything there is no film in that category that’s done better than it. No ‘multiplex only’ film, no ‘different’ film and so on. The film did 50 crores or more at the time. This to my mind made Aamir’s year better than Hrithik’s. Of course the latter had a super year but he was playing to his strengths and one of the films was a multistar sequel, the other was a sequel too. These things matter. But the contexts (won’t repeat everything I’ve said about all of this) made Aamir’s achievement more valuable and at the risk of sounding smug I think Aamir has proven my claim! Unlike others I don’t believe Aamir became big just with Ghajini!
On SRK I don’t believe he’s been an Aamir in consistency. KANK collapsed after a big initial (before this he had Paheli), Don was decent but nothing special given the budget and so on (nonetheless did fairly in terms of audience reception), he had a great 2007 with CDI/OSO (can’t take away anything here) and then he had RNBDJ at the end of 2008. So he was consistent for a few films in that relatively brief period (with Aamir we’re talking a decade and the biggest possible successes relative to genre) but then again he had a rather poorly performing MNIK in India and he hasn’t had anything since. We still await the results of Ra 1 and Don 2. But going back to RNBDJ if you’re SRK and you return with a Yashraj love story and the film opens well enough but not hugely and then picks up over the weekend and week and does rather well (big enough total and good trending) this would normally be fine except that there was Ghajini round the corner. No one had expected the sorts of numbers that film threw up and it completely drowned RNBDJ. The latter still did well but Ghajni commanded all the attention and rightly so. But even on its own terms RNBDJ wasn’t really an OSO moment for SRK. Not all hits are equal. It’s always about what the hits (or flops) mean.
And the reason I have ‘historically’ argued against SRK is not because I am somehow blind to his brand or what have you. But because the claims made about him are often outlandish both online and in the media. The standards are always changed for him. Again won’t repeat everything I’ve said for years here. By the way even with Salman I’ve said ‘controversial’ stuff. He is clearly the man of the moment with a hatrick of 100 crore grossers. But I would still put Aamir over him. At some point the pure numbers become overwhelming. Maybe if Salman has 5 of these I’d reconsider my decision but I haven’t so far. Then again Aamir could have a 100 crore grosser in a less than ‘mass-oriented’ film. Salman is currently second to none as a box office opener. No doubts about this. But that isn’t the whole story. Certainly not when G3 gets close to a 100 and SIngham does a 100!
SRK was popular in metros and overseas only and his populartiy is big hype created by media.In reality all his big budget films like Devdas,don,KANk and MNIK did average business at indian boxoffice ,Luckily overseas collections saved those films. Also his TV shows like KBC,Kya paanchavi ka pass etc failed misreably thats shows his real popularity in all over india.Also he was not popular in masses and his films are successful beacuse yashraj/karan joahr banners.Only OSO was big hit outside these banners and beacuse of special appreances helped to get big initial for this film.
“SRK was popular in metros and overseas only and his populartiy is big hype created by media.”
Yes and in metros and overseas no one watches Panchavi pass that is why it failed…and since Bachhan’s KBC is such a huge hit it confirms his popularity and see his films are also highest grossers at the BO now a days…TV serials of other stars like Rani mukherjee are also bigger hit than Panchavi pass..
Yes TV reaches wider audience compared to movies .Family audience not interested to watch movies unelss movie’s WOM is good like l Hum aapke hai kaun or 3 idiots.Thats why top heroes also interested do TV shows. SRK is not popular in small towns and villages or you can call single screen audience and that is the reason his TV shows received poor ratings comapred ro salman’s TV show.Regrding movies now only youth/youger audience patronizing and that is the reason Bigb movies are not doing well even though he is most popular actor in all over india.
So a popular TV actress is more popular than Katrina Kaif..That’s what you want to say…
Do u know how is TRP calculated?? Do small towns or villages add anything to TRP calcualtion??
Do you know a lot of small towns/villages in india don’t have cinema halls near them but do have cable TV. The public there are quite aware of Film stars. If you have any doubt go to those villages and ask them before declaring anything.
“The public there are quite aware of Film stars. If you have any doubt go to those villages and ask them before declaring anything.”
You should know diffrence between awareness an popularity
Why Bigb ‘s KBC so popular and Srk’s KBC3 failed ?
SRK is not popular in massses like Bigb , salman and sunny deol.Problem with SRK fans ,they believe that he is most popular person in the world and they dont accept reality
either you havent got my point or you dont want to repeat yourself which is fine.. I never asked for Fanaa’s would-have-been- business in Gujarat nor did I ask why RNBDJ didnt gross as much as Gajini or more..
spot on Satyam very fair views and valid points, i too like you don’t believe that Aamir has become a supertsar just from Ghajini it’s from Lagaan/DCH.
also, i saw the malayalam version of bodyguard last week..slept through most of the movie..if this kind of a script is breaking BO records, there’s a lot to be said about salman’s star power!!
I had reserved my judgement after seeing an underwhelming “Bodyguard”.
Was curious to see what will happen after the long festive opening weekend once the euphoria will settle.
With any lesser star (even at salmans current form) with this film, I expected a significant drop.
But seems there hasnt.
no ifs no buts—-Time to applaud Salman Khans (now undisputed) box office pull….
Orgasmic fest for the likes of Naveed and sm…
btw dont think EHT will trump 3I—though it may be the best quality Salman product in a long while —-perhaps his alltime best quality product —–(after Dabang…)
IMO Salman has already given his lifetime best film/performance—dabang &will be surprised if anything beats that
no ifs no nu
Its actually not that easy —even with the “market expansion” wherein every singham etc is notching 100 crores.
Its takes a peculiar appeal — multiplex, single screen , overseas, india, repeat audience, someone with aamir and hirani credentials to go into the mix to get that
Well—-although Im far from his fan—–but feel that in the next year or so, the only film that has a potential do that is the upcoming double-whammy from —yes—–the “self proclaimed king”.
Im not able to find a example in bollywood where the fate of two films have been so crucial not only for the “king” but the entire discourse.
SRK has done well to keep people waiting & in doubt—but the time has now come to put the doubts to rest…..
And dont think success of one of them will suffice.
Think srk has to hit BOTH the balls out of the park to establish his now disputed status…..
Soon either he shall be uncrowned officially or will reinforce it (albeit with certain clauses)
don’t think there will be any extraordinary new benchmarks set before D3. Even here the film will have to be way better than D2, otherwise we’ll see a 150-175 crore grosser in the best case scenario but not more than this. The thing in commercial cinema is that it is always hard to do a film that has both substance and enough eye candy/songs or what have you to get the repeat audience in. If it’s only the latter you get the current Salman Khan trajectory. The right star, the right combo is big but makes a disproportionate share of the eventual gross in the first 5-7 days. If it’s more of the former the film gets the right critical attention, works very well but cannot quite get people to go in again and again. Hirani is the rare guy to be able to do both but he makes comedies. It’s much harder to do it with drama. You’re then looking at a subject where the performances and/or lines and/or plot elements hit the audience at a gut level or move them to such a degree that many in fact do want to come back for one or all of these. But that’s then the sort of authentic film that Bollywood has rarely made since the early 80s.
when in doubt it’s obviously smarter to do more on the eye candy side of the equation than the opposite. There’s a bigger safety net this way. D3 has the elements in place but it needs to be better than D2 (an easier job) but also better than the first one (somewhat more difficult) and then a whole lot more (!) to get a film that doesn’t just open in the biggest way imaginable (this is more or less a given) but also gives you that 3I sort of trending. Now of course the franchise has never tried to do anything half-serious before this! What they’d need here is a ‘serious’ soundtrack (not just the usual Preetam stuff) and most importantly a serious script with strong dramatic potential. If they make this film into a serious Aamir-Abhishek contest the rest will take care of itself. And when I say this I don’t just mean footage but a script that develops serious face-off possibilities. The actress again is crucial here (established or new). But the face-off will really be the crux.
Dhoom 3 will be HUGE that’s all I can say, if the crap Dhoom 2 could make 85cr+ in 2006 with that patethic script then the Dhoom 3 with Aamir+good script should break all opening records and if decent should match or get close to 3 idiots! if good then 3 idiots record will be like cake.
@Satyam: your predictions for D3…?
yes—-it is actually v difficult to beat 3i in an year or so —i mentioned above—”even with the “market expansion” wherein every singham etc is notching 100 crores. Its takes a peculiar appeal and magic potion— multiplex, single screen , overseas, india, repeat audience, someone with aamir and hirani credentials to go into the mix to get that”
Having said that—–IMO i will go on record to say that even if it is atleast a D2 level film——
D3 will break 3I record !!!!
reasons—there is a gap of atleast 1-2 years-fast market expansion
also Aamirs massy film after a long gap after ghajini
Dhoom frachise
the usual yashraj machinations…..
The REAL question is—–will Ra.one beat 3I—even if it is as good a film as being touted as and even if it is liked…
thats an intriguing question.
But the “finish line” unfortuntely has been further pushed for SRK—due to the budget, genre and a long awaited srk release.
Anything below 125-150 crores will be subpar for srk here—-strange to say and appears biased—but true
SRK takes Ra.one to Prague….
He seems to be leaving no stone unturned……Like the spirit and the intensity —THIS is something i like about srk
Even at this stage/age, the burning desire to come out tops!!
Obviously my impression here is not only based on this dubious news report!! http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2011/09/06/16273/index.html
^^^^the royal “buildup” has started
Having said that—–just watched the “chammak challo” akon song.
Song is not bad but again spoilt by kareena
btw prediction question—
what will be the opening weekend and lifetime gross of Ra.one
Will it beat Dabang/ 3I
I’d be stunned if it got anywhere close to 3I. And SRK should be happy if it does 100 crores and regard the rest as bonus. That’s from the audience point of view. To be properly profitable this film needs to gross an astronomical amount though I am led to believe that factoring in satellite and audio rights as well as the possibility of a silver jubilee run in Phuket and finally the all the free hamburgers provided to the unit for lunch on many occasions the cost is not 135-150 crores but 120 crores and actually the film just needs to gross 45 crores to be a superhit. Because Paa and Bbuddah never got the same deal from McDonald’s. Those films actually had to gross 45 crores off a 10-12 crore cost in each case. Not to mention the obvious fact that prints and publicity for both those films cost much more than for Ra 1 and Don 2 put together. The same goes for Aamir who too spent a Paa-like amount on TZP but really needed to get 50 crores or so for his astronomical costs elsewhere. Not to mention something like RDB which at 45 crores (Nahata’s number) in 2006 scraped to a semi-hit (Nahata’s verdict) status.
Ultimately these are the facts — Ra 1 and Don 2 combined need to gross 100-120 crores. Their combined satellite rights and so on have already had offers of 300 crores. Word is that SRK and the production teams want a 450 crore deal for both. The reason being that if they can get the latter the films will be superhits even if no one watches them. Not a single one. This is the new business model. Fools like Aamir try to pull in the audience for 200 crores. And Aamir is great at these scams. He cons the audience into showing by making good films. Enough! Someone has to put an end to these unfair tactics. Not just this. he also releases his films on sunny days so that weather doesn’t prevent another from showing. After these sorts of frauds 200 crores is not a big deal. Of course nothing can compare with the Lagaan scam where he convinced the world he had made a good film.
“…as well as the possibility of a silver jubilee run in Phuket and finally the all the free hamburgers provided to the unit for lunch on many occasions the cost is not 135-150 crores but 120 crores”
LOL! Let’s not forget the pro-bono work they got out of Akon since he and SRK are old school-chums.
^^lol @hamburger deals with McDonald and releasing in sunny days.. Lol
Btw saw chamak challo–&srks waist looks delectably tender , he looks quaint and reptilian and puff faced horse kareena spoils the show — akon saves the song somewhat by his vocals
Chennai Box-Office – Special Festival weekend (August 31 to September 4, 2011)
Tuesday, 06 September , 2011, 12:15
It’s Mankatha, Mankatha, Mankatha all the way…The festival season of Ramzan and Vinayaga Chathurthi became an event at the CBO with the release of Thala Ajith’s Mankatha on August 31. The Ajith film went on to take an earth shattering opening and is the clear number one by a mile!
Mankatha has netted an unbelievable whopping Rs 2.72 crore in the five-day festival weekend from 19 screens in Chennai city. The multiplexes gave it the maximum number of shows including morning shows in all screens. Sathyam Cinemas reported a net of Rs 33, 72, 000 from two screens for the five-day weekend.
Down down below in the number four is Salman Khan’s Bodyguard, which opened in nine screens. In the fifth place is Kanchana
Bodyguard grossed 6.50 crore nett approx on Tuesday which is 25% drop from Monday. The six day business is 99.50 crore nett approx. The Tuesday territorial breakdown is as follows
Business Talk With Taran Adarsh
Tornado called ‘Bodyguard’
September 7, 2011 – 08:29 IST
It’s a Tornado. And it’s called BODYGUARD. The film has emerged the biggest opener ever in the history of Hindi cinema — a fact, I am sure, you are well aware of by now. So let’s not repeat something that’s already public. Instead, let’s talk of something else…
The one question everyone’s asking is, will BODYGUARD outdo READY [Rs 120 cr nett] and DABANGG [Rs 145 cr nett]? Well, at the rate BODYGUARD is faring, surpassing READY seems like a cakewalk. In fact, it might touch that figure [Rs 120 cr] in the next few days itself.
As for overtaking DABANGG, well, it all depends on how the film opens in its second weekend. There’s a major release this Friday [MERE BROTHER KI DULHAN] and the screen count of BODYGUARD, at plexes mainly, will be reduced to accommodate the new release. Which means that the revenue is expected to decrease in Week 2. Also, it also depends on how strong the opponent is, so the second weekend will be the deciding factor and whether it reaches the DABANGG mark or overtakes it will only be known then.
Now let’s have a look at the economics of BODYGUARD. Will simplify it for you to comprehend where the film stands vis-à-vis its costing…
Cost + P & A expenses – Rs 77 cr
Money recovered from Satellite Rights – Rs 27 cr
Sale of Music Rights – Rs 4.5 cr
Amount to be recovered from India and Overseas theatrical and Home Video – Rs 45.5 cr
The amount that was to be recovered [Rs 45.5 cr] has already been recovered from the *weekend business* of BODYGUARD. Yes, you read it right. The distributors’ share from 5-day weekend alone [from India] should be in the range of Rs 50 cr +, which makes BODYGUARD in commission already. And if one adds the Overseas revenue [US$ 5.3 million in its 5-day weekend], the makers are already laughing all the way to the bank.
The one to benefit the maximum is Salman Khan. He seems to be raising the bar with every film. This is his third film in a row to touch the Rs 100 cr mark in India, which only cements his status as the most bankable star, besides Aamir Khan. The expectations from EK THA TIGER, his next release, have only grown multi-fold.
BODYGUARD has fetched an electrifying start in the international markets as well. In fact, the film has already overtaken DABANGG’s international gross of US$ 5 million to become Salman’s biggest grossing film ever in Overseas. BODYGUARD stood at US$ 5.3 million in the international markets, till Sunday … BOL got affected due to the BODYGUARD wave internationally, but despite the absence of big names, the film has recorded better collections than several biggies released earlier this year … Tamil film MANKATHA has fared exceptionally well … 3 IDIOTS is superb in South Korea.
Weekend: September 2 – 4, 2011.
U.K. BOX-OFFICE
BODYGUARD: In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 8,39,833 [approx. Rs. 6.21 crores] on 51 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 16,467. Note:- 6-day weekend. Addendum:- BODYGUARD is nearing Salman’s biggest hit in U.K. – HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN [UK Pounds 1.05 million] set in 1994. HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN was one of the first Hindi films to hit the 1 million Pound mark in U.K. Salman will break his own record after 17 years in U.K.
MANKATHA [Tamil]: In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 1,10,383 [approx. Rs. 81.72 lacs] on 16 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 6,899.
BOL: In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 93,290 [approx. Rs. 69.07 lacs] on 22 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 4,240. Note:- 6-day weekend.
ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA: In its eighth weekend, the film has collected £ 2,356 on 2 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 1,178. Total: £ 8,95,069 [approx. Rs. 6.63 crores].
AARAKSHAN: In its fourth weekend, the film has collected £ 966 on 1 screen. Total: £ 1,72,420 [approx. Rs. 1.28 crores].
JIHNE MERA DIL LUTEYA [Punjabi]: In its sixth weekend, the film has collected £ 318 on 1 screen. Total: £ 79,540 [approx. Rs. 58.90 lacs].
U.S.A. BOX-OFFICE
BODYGUARD: In its opening weekend, the film has collected $ 13,61,790 [approx. Rs. 6.27 crores] on 88 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 15,475. Monday collections included.
BOL: In its opening weekend, the film has collected $ 1,05,354 [approx. Rs. 48.45 lacs] on 38 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 2,772. Monday collections included.
U.A.E. BOX-OFFICE
BODYGUARD: Has collected US$ 1.96 million [approx Rs. 9.04 crores] till Sunday. Is set to become the 4th highest in history by overhauling GHAJINI’s total of US$ 2.16 million. BODYGUARD broke DABANGG’s mark of US$ 1.7 million [lifetime] in 5 days flat, by Saturday, 3 September.
AUSTRALIA BOX-OFFICE
BODYGUARD: In its opening weekend, the film has collected Aus. $ 2,47,524 [approx. Rs. 1.20 crores] on 16 screens, with the per screen average working out to Aus. $ 15,470. Note:- 5-day weekend.
NEW ZEALAND BOX-OFFICE
BODYGUARD: In its opening weekend, the film has collected NZ$ 86,344 on 5 screens [approx. Rs. 33.45 lacs], with the per screen average working out to NZ$ 17,269. Note:- 5-day weekend.
FIJI BOX-OFFICE
BODYGUARD: In its opening weekend, the film has collected FJ$ 74,192 on 2 screens [approx. Rs. 19.34 lacs], with the per screen average working out to FJ$ 37,096. Note:- Thursday to Monday figures.
REST OF THE WORLD
BODYGUARD: Has grossed US$ 570,000 [approx. Rs. 2.63 crores] in rest of the world markets, with Pakistan leading the way with US$ 300,000 [approx. Rs. 1.38 crores] till Sunday.
SOUTH KOREA BOX-OFFICE
3 IDIOTS: In its third weekend, the film has collected Won 214,348,500 on 133 screens. Total: Won 2,022,554,500 [approx. Rs. 8.68 crores].
MNIK seems to have set a trend for bollywood films there in S Korea (and elsewhere).
I’m not surprised. With all their arty tarty films these must offer a pleasant diversion. Same as here in Europe where fans of bollywood films are ever on the increase…because of the difference, and of course SRK remains the ‘star’ they know most.
Btw Dates have been marked(without my knowldge) &have already been “prebooked” by some crazy nubile fans of the “only khan that matters” imp release to “grace ” the occasion by my company—lol haha
The film in question is ra1—of all the films.
I better start pretending to be an SRK fan (briefly)….
Talking of 3I totals, domestically tow films I think have POTENTIAL of coming close are D3 and Ra.One. Nothing I have seen of Ra.One actually convinces me that it will but a lavishly mounted Sci-Fi film that can appeal to an entire family and starring an erstwhile superstar is one way to go about beating 3I. And, another way is a very popular franchise from the biggest production house with the reigning superstar in an unlikely role. The others can be huge grossers but cannot match 3I.
My take — maybe wrong but can be revisited later to double check.
Have seen certain orgasmic frenzy first hand and not from expected quarters.
I go on record—
D3 will break 3I
Ra1 has to be liked to avoid a kites like fate first.
But there won’t be a “middle ground” on ra1.
But if it is Even reasonably liked, ra1 will not stop at
Ready, bodyguard, dabang will be taken in it’s wake to fall Just short of 3I !!!
Somehow don’t want Srk to get destroyed– that’s what will happen if ra1/don2 tank.
He doesn’t deserve that fate(yet).
Feel Srk needs to stay relevant for bollywood as of now(inspite of my own subpar opinion of his acting n certain aspects of personality)
When singhams and golmaals are creaming 100 crores–c’mon let’s give Srk some respect….
Afterall he is/was the “king” (with no clothes ) lol
Dont worry. Don2 is certainly not going to tank.May not break records but is a very safe bet. I do hope for a graceful exit for every one.Sooner or later the sun is going to set on his career as it is going to happen with all Khans and all actors. One just hope that it is dignified and graceful and relatively painless.
It is a rare bird and a rare talent like AB that has such longevity and maintains relevance so late into their life.
For those who watch KBC, hearing him recite lines from Kabhi Kabhie on yesterday’s episode was still magic.
“Same as here in Europe where fans of bollywood films are ever on the increase”—agree there. Have seen it first hand although molnowhere on the scale that kjo/Srk would want us to believe…..
Btw which country in europe is oldgold ( of “jude” fame– If I’m not mistaken ) from ….?? Lol
Definitely D3 will go close or past 3 Idiots. The market is so big now. Bodyguard is making 100 crore in like 6-7 days. Come next year, D3 will make that in 5 days. The rest will be quick too. Bodyguard looks like it will get close to Dabangg without really creating the euphoria that that film created.
The benchmarks will be established once an SRK or Aamir film releases. But Salman has really made the small centres his own and to cover that shortfall you really need a montrous performance in multiplexes. Can’t see any film this year doing it. Betting on D3 all the way!
It’s true that Dabanng has easily been one of the most iconic films in the last half-decade or more. It’s become a part of the culture and lingo in very many ways. What’s surprising though is that given all this the film couldn’t really trend like Ghajini when the latter can hardly match it on this scale of ‘popular currency’.
In terms of D3 you’re right but I’m also looking for a film that does the Ghajini sort of trending at the very least if not 3I. It’s possible, the films aren’t doing it because they’re mostly disposable cinema riding on Salman’s stardom. But Singham trended very well. Presumably with Salman this film could have opened bigger and trended the same. But we saw Rajneeti get to 90 crores or more by trending quite well. So in a film with enough substance this is possible. On D3 I don’t think Aamir would appear in a D2 like film. I expect a better script here.
The film I’m most looking forward to at this point though is this next Aamir film. Abhishek has very commercial stuff coming up, I’ll show up but it’s nothing to be excited about (though I’d be excited if he did the right kind of masala film). There are some other films that interest me (Agent Vinod for example) but can’t say I’m really excited about anything with the major stars in it. And again the Aamir film because it seems to be a narrative-driven subject.
Bodyguard collected around 5.50 crore nett as per early estimates on Wednesday. The fall from Tuesday to Wednesday was a normal weekday fall. The collections for the first eight days are around 105.50 crore nett.
The film will cross the distributor share of Dabangg to become the second highest revenue earner in the domestic market after Three Idiots, The nett business of Dabangg at 140 crore nett should also be crossed but it depends on the second weekend.
A 150 crore nett total may also be possible but that is looking towards the top of the range going by present trending. In Rajasthan and Bihar it is likely to have the highest distributor share ever.
Karan Johar last worked with Salman Khan in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. And after more than a decade, the two were teaming up together in a film directed by Rensil D’Silva.
But it looks like, SRK might step into Sallu’s shoes, all because of the actor’s nerve ailment and a choc-a-bloc date diary. Salman Khan has apparently got a week’s ultimatum from Dharma Productions to work on his dates or else his arch-rival Shah Rukh Khan would replace him.
Post his surgery Salman Khan will get busy with EK Tha Tiger and Sher Khan. He also has a second surgery scheduled in US. In such circumstances, it’s unlikely that Sallu would be able to give dates to KJo.
Katrina Kaif, who’s already doing a YRF film with SRK, would then star opposite him again in the movie. Wonder if she would be happy or sad with the development.
Filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s action-packed Singham, starring Ajay Devgn as an honest cop fighting to clean the system, has earned Rs.100 crore net in India in its sixth week.
It is said to be the seventh film all time to have crossed the mark of Rs 100 crore net in collections. Produced by Reliance Entertainment, the film is still going strong in the theatres. It will complete 50 days on September 10.
“A hard-hitting story, the wonderful combination of director Rohit Shetty and star Ajay Devgn and some amazing action sequences have resulted in an extremely successful run for the film,” Sanjeev Lamba, CEO, Reliance Entertainment said in a statement.
“Singham is the first mainstream film produced by Reliance Entertainment and we are very pleased with the results,” he added.
The cast of the film also includes Kajal Aggarwal and Prakash Raj.
August 31, 2011 at 9:46 AM
August 31, 2011 at 9:47 AM
Bodyguard Challenging For Biggest Day In History
Wednesday 31st August 2011 17.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard was always expected the challenge the opening day figures of Dabangg of around 14.50 crore nett but with the mind boggling opening and the holiday factor it is challenging the highest day ever.
Dabangg collected 18 crore nett on its first Sunday and with half the day gone that figure is under threat for the first day of Bodyguard.
It is difficult to put an exact number to the first day this early but its likely to be biggest day ever and even 20 crore nett cannot be ruled out. It will definitely emerge the biggest opening day by a long distance.
August 31, 2011 at 9:47 AM
Bodyguard Opening Delhi City: Earth Shattering
Wednesday 31st August 2011 15.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard took an earth shattering opening in Delhi city like the rest of the country. Multiplexes and single screens were 100% in the capital. Delite, Liberty, Sheila, Regal, Samrat, Vishal, etc all were 100% for the first show. Below is how the opening shows went in the PVR theatres in the city and is looking like a housefull day at the PVR screens in the city on over 100 shows which would be a first,
PVR Vikaspuri
11.55 – 100%
12.50 – 100%
13.45 – 100%
14.40 – 100%
15.35 – (Full in advance)
16.30 – (Full in advance)
17.25 – (Full in advance)
18.20 – (Full in advance)
19.15 – (Full in advance)
20.10 – (Full in advance)
21.05 – (Full in advance)
PVR Prashant Vihar
11.00 – 100%
11.55 – 100%
12.50 – 100%
13.45 – 100%
14.40 – 100%
15.35 – (Full in advance)
16.30 – (Full in advance)
17.25 – (Full in advance)
18.20 – (Full in advance)
19.15 – (Full in advance)
20.10 – (Full in advance)
PVR Priya (single screen)
12.15 – 100%
15.00 – (Full in advance)
17.45 – (Full in advance)
PVR Saket
11.00 – 100%
11.50 – 100%
12.45 – 100%
13.40 – 100%
14.35 – 100%
15.30 – (Full in advance)
16.25 – (Full in advance)
17.20 – (Full in advance)
18.15 – (Full in advance)
19.10 – (Full in advance)
20.05 – (Full in advance)
21.00 – (Full in advance)
PVR Plaza (single screen)
12.15 – 100%
15.00 – (Full in advance)
17.45 – (Full in advance)
20.30 – (Full in advance)
PVR Naraina
10.55 – 100%
11.50 – 100%
12.45 – 100%
13.40 – 100%
14.35 – 100%
Noida: Bodyguard Takes Monstrous Opening
Wednesday 31st August 2011 11.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard has opened to 100% collections in Noida. The film has seen full houses in the early shows at all the cinemas in the city and the next few shows are full in advance. It is the first time Noida has seen such a big opening on such heavy volume. The opening in the city was better than Dabangg and Ready and is likely to smash all first day records in this multiplex dominated city of UP.
Spice Noida
10.00 – 100%
10.40 – 100%
11.20 – (Full In Advance)
12.00 – (Full In Advance)
Big TGIP
09.30 – 100%
10.00 – 100%
10.45 – 100%
11.15 – (Full In Advance)
12.00 – (Full In Advance)
12.45 – (Full In Advance)
13.30 – (Full In Advance)
Big Ansal
10.00 – 100%
10.40 – 100%
11.20 – (Full In Advance)
12.45 – (Full In Advance)
13.30 – (Full In Advance)
14.15 – (Full In Advance)
15.30 – (Full In Advance)
Wave Noida
10.05 – 100%
12.05 – (Full In Advance)
August 31, 2011 at 9:48 AM
Bodyguard Has Historic Opening: Biggest Ever At Multiplexes
Wednesday 31st August 2011 12.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard has opened to a historic response at multiplexes all over the country. From North to West to East to South the response is the same all over. With multiplexes smashing all opening records it is a certainty that single screens will follow when they get going from noon onwards smashing all records in terms of collections.
The opening of Bodyguard is the biggest ever in the multiplex era beating likes of Dhoom 2, Ghajini, Three Idiots and Dabangg.
A city like Mumbai which is over saturated with multiplexes saw full houses in the morning and this is a rarity especially as releases keep getting bigger and bigger.
The first day is heading towards being the biggest ever although there is a major cricket match featuring India tonight so collections of the last few shows may be affected a little bit but even here looking at the momentum the film has at the box office, the affect may be minimal.
August 31, 2011 at 9:49 AM
B.O. update: ‘Bodyguard’ has monstrous, earth-shattering, mind-boggling opening
- By Taran Adarsh, August 31, 2011 – 18:22 IST
BODYGUARD is all set to create history and emerge the biggest opener ever in the history of Hindi cinema. The film embarked on a 95% to 100% start everywhere in India and has been maintaining the momentum since the morning shows on Wednesday. Initially, everyone thought that the film would touch Rs 15 cr nett on its opening day, but at the rate it is faring, the film should cross the unimaginable and unbelievable Rs 20 cr mark on Wednesday itself, making it the biggest opener ever.
As per early tracking, the Wednesday figures should be in this range:-
Mumbai – 7.5 cr
Delhi, U.P. – 4.25 cr
Punjab – 1.6 cr
Bengal – 1.25 cr
Bihar – 65 lacs
C.P. – 1 cr
C.I. – 70 lacs
Rajasthan – 1 cr
Mysore – 75 lacs
Nizam – 1 cr
Tamil Nadu, Kerala – 30 lacs
Assam – 13 lacs
Orissa – 12 lacs
Total – Rs 20.25 cr nett
August 31, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Can anybody in Bollywood open a film better than Salman today? With other Khans/ Roshan its the package which opens (stars+ heroine, director, music etc). With Salman – he himself is the package, rest are kind of irrelevant….this is an amazing phase for him and l think no star in Bollywood has enjoyed this kind of ‘mass’ adulation post the AB era.
August 31, 2011 at 9:54 AM
Salman Khan’s Bodyguard Breaks Opening Day Records At Box-Office
August 31st, 2011 by Komal Nahta
The Salman Khan and Eid combination has worked yet again, and how! Bodyguard has taken an extraordinary opening today (August 31). The Salman Khan starrer has broken all records for the opening day at various cinemas and centers all across India.
Since not many big-ticket films released during the month of Ramzan (except Aarakshan), the audiences were hungry for a star-studded film. Besides, Bodyguard opened at an unprecedented number of screens (more than 2,300 screens in India), much more than any other Bollywood film so far.
The first day’s collections of Bodyguard might be in the range of Rs. 16-18 crore (Rs. 160-180 million). This is good news for the film industry, which was going through a rather lean phase for the last few weeks.
August 31, 2011 at 9:57 AM
Should do more than Dabanng even if it’s half-liked!
August 31, 2011 at 9:57 AM
So the 3 biggest hits this year (so far) are:
1.BodyGuard (Malyalam/ Tamil remake)
2. Ready (Telugu Remake)
3. Singham (Tamil remake)
The next time some psuedo-intellectual idiot starts an article about how Bollywood has entered a new era and how its producing a diverse variety of films of a global standard, lets just shoot him.
I’ve read so much about how Bollywood is going to take over the film festival circuit, how Hollywood is feeling threatened, how Bollywood has suddenly become a fertile ground for the Goddards and Fellinis of tommorrow, how Penolope Cruzand Natalaie Portman are ‘fighting’ to act with Aamir Khan in Dhoom 3, blah blah blah.
I cannot believe how pompous and deluded some of these stars and critics are. And then there are ‘serious’, ‘literary’ authors like Manu Joseph who seem to think that ZNMD was making a profound socioeconomic statement!
August 31, 2011 at 10:00 AM
LOL, great point! What a worthy revenge dished out by masala on Bollywood. Johar is now praying that his Agneepath can partake of these spoils! How the tide has turned! Salman’s current box office run though is simply stunning.
August 31, 2011 at 9:58 AM
Amazing run for Salman. He is ahead from the rest by a huge margin.
Honesty and dignity always pays off. One cannot have such bombastic numbers at the box office if one is not loved and worshipped. At last a true blue superstar after Bachchan though more in Rajesh Khanna mould.
August 31, 2011 at 10:04 AM
Lol @annoyed.
U now deserve a hug for making me smile…—–
“Bollywood has suddenly become a fertile ground for the Goddards and Fellinis of tommorrow, how Penolope Cruzand Natalaie Portman are ‘fighting’ to act with Aamir Khan in Dhoom 3, blah blah blah.”
Anyhow reposting the Eid greetings—
Is Eid today/ tomorrow/ was yesterday?
Anyhow wishing Naveed, oldgold/salimjakhra & all others a happy Eid!!!
If time permits– may catch bodyguard today/tomorrow.
Bolly films get taken off from plexus b4 u know..
May have to go with a kareena specific scotoma…!!!
Btw that’s how times change—–
Contemplating seeing a salman starter in first week — omg!!
August 31, 2011 at 10:08 AM
Amazing!!
Very happy for Salman. I’m hoping for this to break the final 3i record (since the others were already broken by his films).
August 31, 2011 at 11:03 AM
3I is still very unlikely given the trending patterns of most big films and certainly 100 crore hits. Of course a film might eventually open to 120 crores and cross 3I but that’s not that same thing. And here Aamir still has the trending records. 3I doubled it’s initial week. Neither Dabanng nor Ready did this. And 3I a lot more than this. This film went from 80 crores to a little over 200, Dabanng went from 80 to 140 plus. So even as Salman is doing phenomenally well let’s not undermine these very important differences. also remember that when Devgan gets 100 crores from a far more ‘serious’ (which is to say far less comedy here) Singham the right kind of mass star in the right kind of setup and with some wind behind his back can really profit from this structure. But Aamir was there first with Ghajini which is to say those numbers seemed shocking at the time. Today one expects it with the right film and star combo. 100 is really the new 75 at this point, an increasing number of films will do it. And of course the genre of the day is now masala which means that there is a wider audience base. Even 150 crores will be pretty reachable for an increasing number of films. Beyond this it will be still hard for the forseeable future. Again Salman’s resurgence after being in the doldrums for most of the past decade is nothing less than stunning. He’s right at the top now other than Aamir (and I’d still place the latter over him quite easily for reasons I have discussed before) but given three 100 crore grossers in a row I wouldn’t argue too much with anyone who wanted to place him even with Aamir as a pure box office draw, at least as long as the streak lasts. He’s certainly dominating the whole debate at the moment. And here at the risk of repeating himself the big loser is really SRK.
August 31, 2011 at 4:04 PM
I don’t see anything remarkable in going from 80 to 200 as opposed to going from 120 to 200+.
It just means a higher percentage of people went to watch at the beginning (which is also commendable) leaving a lower number to follow in the coming weeks.
If the number of people is 200. Then 80 went at the beginning followed by the remaining 120.
In Bg’s case 120 went in the beginning followed by the remaining 80.
Also, I believe the prices for tickets aren’t as high as they were for 3i, in some cinemas the rates haven’t gone up at all.
So *more* people will end up watching BG. To me that’s success.
August 31, 2011 at 5:10 PM
that’s not really the case though because it’s also about repeat audience.. people saw 3I multiple times.. that’s how historic grossers are made. This is why Dark Knight got the a historic initial but also trending far beyond any grosser. And Avatar obviously did way better in this sense. The theory you’re presenting holds only for films that start slow and have moderate initials. Presumably people didn’t suddenly become interested in Ghajini or 3I a week after release given the historical initial of each film!
Here’s the deal really (and some of us have been talking about for years) — Bollywood at the peak of SRK’s cinema really shrunk the pie and focused on the multiplexes. With the resurgence of masala a greater share of the audience has once more been activated. And so not surprisingly we suddenly have these 100 crore or more grossers, all within these genres. On the other hand ZNMD did exceptionally well in multiplexes but couldn’t do more than 90 or so. Meanwhile Singham, hardly comparable to those Aamir/Salman films nonetheless touched 100. This is then the perfect lab case! The pure multiplex hit will never beat the multiplex plus single screen hit (which is to say a decent performance at least one end of this equation) pound for pound. Suddenly the 100 crore barrier is being breached with fair regularity. I would actually argue that the Ready kind of grosser is actually an under-performer in terms of pure market potential. In other words Ghajini (the more workable model here as opposed to 3I) shows that you can certain double your initial with fair or better trending. Dabanng didn’t do this, ready did less than this. On the other hand Singham again was closer to the Ghajini model. Now I would argue that both these films have a stronger emotional under-current compared to Ready or even Dabanng. Haven’t seen Bodyguard so can’t judge this one. But without this factor you get big initials and ok trending and you offer a ‘timepass’ experience to most of the audience. But that’s not enough to double the initial. The film must speak strongly to some core audience. When D2 released my theory was that it could have done 100 crores then had it been a better film. Similarly these Salman grossers would actually do a lot more if these were better works. And that’s the key with Aamir. His films strike a chord with the audience more often than not.
Salman is doing massively well but he’s also exploiting a market potential that was already there but wasn’t being utilized by other stars one way or the other. Rajneeti and G3 did more than 90 crores each. The market is there. 100 crores is a very achievable target. to get to 150 crores off an 80 crore initial is still hard. off a 100 crore initial 200 crores is still going be very hard for most films.
The problem is that a sort of scam is being performed once again by the trade. However a film opens the trending ‘laws’ are still the same. In Hollywood they use the very same models whether the film opens at 80m or 200m. They don’t say it’s ok to open at 100m and then do 150! The big film attracts a much greater share of the potential audience. That’s how it gets those big numbers. But then it also has to retain a greater share in terms of WOM. Aamir did it on his big films. Salman hasn’t in the same way. The films are still big but so far he’s pulling the LAK/APKGK deal on a bigger scale as opposed to the D2/OSO deal. There’s a difference. All of this takes away nothing from his accomplishment but I have never been one to simply get caught up in the trade-generated hysteria and forget all ‘detail’. Once upon a time the trade was doing the very same with 60-70 crore grossers. How one gets there matters because the whole pricing structure of the industry is reflected in those numbers. This is why Hollywood looks at trending at every point. In Bombay we just have a trade-media structure that sells a narrative. Now it is fair to say that Salman’s films are generally not the most expensive productions and if they’re not going crazy at the distribution end even ok trending is probably good enough (again assuming that’s true). Or it might be true for a Singham (again assuming distribution costs are kept in check and crazy amounts are not offered and accepted for these films). If high prices are negotiated and/or if super-productions are launched like Ra 1 or Don 2 that necessitate those numbers then trending becomes far more important. In other words if Ra 1 or Don 2 did Ready like numbers these wouldn’t be solid hits for any distributor. Some would make money, some would just break even and some would actually lose. But if one just obsesses with 100 crores irrespective of contexts a different picture emerges. Contexts always matter. And the trade looks at all kinds of budgets for every small film and what not but when the numbers are huge for a film suddenly everything goes out the window! A big film is also sold at very high prices! You don’t get to 100 crores for the price of a 20 crore film! That happens very rarely when it’s something like HAHK. A historic grosser that was made at a low budget. In much the same way a 10 crore film doing 30 or 40 crores is pretty huge as a matter of pure profit but the trade never admits this]
August 31, 2011 at 5:38 PM
again all of this takes nothing away from the stupendous numbers Salman’s throwing up.. but it’s like this — Pirates (any installment) even when disappointing throws up great numbers and fair trending, the Dark Knight is another ballgame, Avatar is yet another. Aamir usually falls somewhere on the Dark Knight-Avatar spectrum (of course even 3I isn’t Avatar).
Agneepath might just split the difference between two kinds of audience (multiplex-single screen). 100 crores is a possibility here, perhaps even more. Because here Dutt and the remake factor will go a long way in terms of convincing mass audiences. The Agneepath prestige will get young males fully on board in the multiplexes (even if the Bachchan comparison will disappoint many of them eventually) and even younger women who are otherwise not big on the original film might be drawn in by Hrithik. So I think there’s a good coalition here to get to 100 crores or to even exceed this by a margin given the right initial. Again a film with fair WOM could do it with the right coalition. That’s all it takes these days. But to get beyond this you have to make more authentic films for the genre which is what Aamir has been doing for so long.
September 1, 2011 at 7:34 AM
LOL saytyam.
I really don’t know what you’re getting at.
All I said was lets hope the 3i total is surpassed, and you jump to give some sort of a ‘haloed’ brightness to this total achieved by 3i. Some sort of a pre-emptive strategy to belittle the achievement of any other film that might achieve it (if BG doesn’t).
If it was repeat audience that brought this total, then what I’m saying is further proved ….that the crazy Amir fans went and saw the film several times, thus reducing the number of people who actually saw the film. LOL!
But…….. never mind.
September 1, 2011 at 8:43 AM
Oldgold, I realize you want every Aamir benchmark to be crossed but facts are frustrating things! I do not have any issue at all if for example Bodyguard crossed 3I. More power to Salman! But how it’s done matters. If it gets to 200 crores off a 100 crore initial that’s fine because 3I today would probably open to 100 crores. However if it opens at 120 (just a hypothetical) and gets to 200 that’s a lesser achievement. But even going from 100 to 200 is less than what 3I did because the latter’s final gross was more or less 2.5 times its initial. So if Bodyguard opens at 100 crores it really needs to do 250 crores to keep pace with 3I. Much as Dabanng needed to do 160 to keep pace with Ghajini. It actually did 140-145 crores. If one doesn’t account for these things then eventually there could be a film opening at 150 and doing 200. Quite absurd don’t you think?! How you get there matters and this is the way it’s done in every sane industry on the planet. Salman is getting a massive success either which way but I can’t ‘elide’ some of the facts just to incorporate it into a narrative. 200 crores seems like an impossible number assuming films don’t open much higher than 80 crores. When the latter number increases dramatically the impossible total suddenly becomes more possible,
September 2, 2011 at 8:09 AM
I thought this tweet might shed light on the “repeat viewing” discussion between Oldgold and Satyam:
bhavin_007 PATEL BHAVIN
by SalmanKhan_bot
Watched “BODYGUARD” 7 Times Already And Will Go For More . . . . .
(posted at ~ 8 am EDT on 9/2/11 — i.e., on the third day of release of Bodyguard)
September 2, 2011 at 9:11 AM
Ha! quite remarkable!
August 31, 2011 at 10:14 AM
My comment on the earlier BO thread:
it is off to a phenomenal start and definitely will shatter first weekend records. It is a testimony to Salman’s undoubted BO prowess. Given the expected start, it will most likely overtake Dabangg but falls are going to be steep in percentages from Week one to two but given very high initial numbers, absolute numbers still will not be shabby. 3I is a pipe dream and it will be a looooong while before any film gets there.
Regardless, this is an evidence if any was needed of Salman’s clout. Hats off to Salman. May it long continue. At this point, in BO prowess, he is the unchallenged numero uno
August 31, 2011 at 11:00 AM
agreed on all counts.. and he will be the first star to get two 100 crore grossers in a caldendar year.
August 31, 2011 at 10:15 AM
After the tepid response to Chamak Challo due to poor
choreography and video, it would be interesting to see box office response of srk and ra1, even though it comes as a sole release of Diwali.
Since Tron, a movie on similar lines on bringing video games and computer visuals to the screen wasn’t too successful and with Anubhav Sinha at the helm I doubt this movie is going anywhere.
Worst will be srk and his dumbed down scripting interference and the chammak challo video amply displays that.
The field is clear for Diwali release and I hope audience is given a choice with more releases.
August 31, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Great comment annoyed
@ Alex Adams – Eid was today and yesterday and some will celebrate tomorrow aswell (if you know what I mean lol)
Dabangg came on 10th sep and this would be his 3rd film under 12 months to have hit BIG numbers. I expect 180 and don’t rule out the possibility of 200. Salman and Eid has OFFICIALLY become an event and I’m hoping they release ETT on Eid next year. They would be foolish not to
I would have watched it on Tues but am not at home so Next Thursday is when I’ll go watch it
September 1, 2011 at 2:39 AM
Re: “Salman and Eid has OFFICIALLY become an event and I’m hoping they release ETT on Eid next year.”
Now SRK fans will complain that it’s not fair that Sallu films get two Eids a year, whereas SRK’s trademark Diwali release only happens once a year.
ha ha ha, that was irresistible (but not like I tried very hard).
August 31, 2011 at 12:29 PM
I wish I could be enthusiastic about Salman’s track record, certainly don’t want to take anything away from what Satyam rightly calls a stunning resurgence, but wake me up when he starts making good movies.
August 31, 2011 at 1:01 PM
agreed completely.. and just in case Salman fans think this is unfair as a Bachchan fan I’d add that I have never celebrated most of his 80s work (though he makes a lot of it enjoyable). I don’t have a problem with anyone finding Ready or Bodyguard or whatever enjoyable, just that the fans are simply happy with his box office track record and see no need for further discussion. Now of course Salman’s given them a lot to be happy about in recent times (!), any fan of any star would be happy with this sort of success but the point is that the discussion never gets expanded beyond this. If you’re a fan of Salman Khan perhaps the possibility of interesting cinema is foreclosed (!) but to only obsess with the numbers is to also fall in the SRK/Johar trap (and in which they are themselves currently ‘entrapped’!) where nothing matters but this. Much as I celebrate the resurgence of masala (even if this is an extremely dumbed-down variety by any standard), much as I am invested in the Akshay Kumar or Salman or Devgan kind of mass star being an important part of the mix, much as I am also enough of a box office aficionado (contradiction in terms!) to be always interested in pure numbers, the fact remains that the entire conversation about Hindi cinema has increasingly become about how many films make 100 crores in a given year or whatever.
With some of the other stars who also turn to prestige cinema from time to time the fans oscillate. So for the fans of Hrithik Krrish and JA and ZNMD are all equally acceptable. They’re fans of blockbusters when he does them, fans of different cinema when he indulges in this! The fans of SRK are fans of sunshine only when it shines on SRK and fans of hurricanes when he’s caught up in one.
The point I’m trying to make is that all of this makes for a rather debased set of standards for any cinematic discussion. And again I want Salman to prosper hugely much as I wanted Akshay to do the same even though I am not a fan of their films. Nor do I resent anyone’s excitement about the box office when their favorite star in onto his third straight 100 crore hit. All of this is fine. But it seems to me that there are certain implications here for the overall discussion as well as for an even more important question of ‘memory’. Suddenly the fact that Salman spent so long in the doldrums for most of the past decade when he didn’t seem very relevant to any important box office debate is completely forgotten. The naysayers are silenced. The fans are convinced the present represents the truth of Salman more than the past. And so on.
As an Abhishek fan I wouldn’t be engaged in massive celebrations if films like Bol Bachchan and Italian Job were huge grossers. He needs the box office at this point and so I’d certainly cheer those hits. But I’d want that potential success to open up pathways to Raavan and D6 for him once more! Perhaps better compromises with the box office but nonetheless that general direction. I’d always want these very commercial films to be fillers or a safety net for the other stuff. Which is why the UTV Rajkumar Gupta project (ghanchakkar) rumor has interested me most in recent times and which is also why I have always been a bit nervous about this very commercial lineup he has (I am actually afraid of too much commercial success by way of these films!). I’m not saying everyone needs to have the same priorities. Clearly different stars have different calling cards. But I fear that the fans of other stars too have fallen very deeply into the whole trap of believing it’s only about hard numbers and nothing else matters.
But to reiterate something I keep saying I am certainly rooting for Bodgyguard at the box office though much like Ready I am unlike to check it out even on DVD.
August 31, 2011 at 1:19 PM
Re: but wake me up when he starts making good movies.
I hope you enjoy sleeping.Becasue you might be sleeping for the next twenty years or so.
August 31, 2011 at 2:51 PM
I trhink we forget that there ARE some who think that Veer was only a couple of songs short of edging out Pyaasa in terms of quality!
August 31, 2011 at 1:16 PM
Great, so the Salman mania continues!!!
August 31, 2011 at 1:28 PM
I think Salman is going to enjoy a good phase for next few years.
The two main reasons being :
a.He has learned his lesson
b. Todays audience is very predictable.
There is a certain formula for each star and a certain generic frmaework which some makers and stars seem to have figured out. And as long as they continue to work within that framework, feed the star’s aura and public’s expectation from that star and DO NOT ventrue out even a bit, these kind of monstrous hits will keep rolling. Don 2 is another example which is GURANTEED success. May be not as big as BG, since it is more metrocentric theme and SRK is not as big in single screens.
The product has to be only mildly entertaining and satisfy certain perceptions of quality. If it is SRK he has to look dapper, flash his smile, ham a bit, may be even look and act a evil. If it iis Salma, he has to do a little comedy, a little romance, show a heart of gold etc. If it is Rohit Shetty, it is just slap stick comedy within a franchise. It takes a little while for a sense of ennui to set in as it has with Akshay,
August 31, 2011 at 1:38 PM
Well for all these guys (Aamir, SRK, Salman, Akshay) a few years is probably all that’s left in terms of staying relevant. They’re pushing 50 (and all of them look every inch of it) and they’re not exactly Bachchan to truly (TRULY) linger among the preeminent players of their industry. Aamir probably has the best chance as far as longevity goes becaue he’s the only one of these guys making movies that don’t have a two-week shelf life in terms of how memorable they are, how persistent they remain in the discussions surrounding this cinema.
August 31, 2011 at 2:18 PM
yes Aamir continues to have the long run picture working for him.. Salman won’t be doing Ready at 50! Nor will SRK be doing Don at the same age. Having said that SRK could have chosen a better path of reinvention. with Salman at least one knows that this sort of deal has always been his ‘essence’.
August 31, 2011 at 2:16 PM
agreed on most counts.. Salman’s certainly good for a couple of years in this phase.. more than this we’ll have to wait and watch..
August 31, 2011 at 2:12 PM
I disagree here.
None of them are going anywhere and will stay in limelight for a good period of time and the latest technologies and innovations in filming a movie will assist them to a much longer innings.
Another thing is these are all very savvy people and have kept reinventing themselves and keeping up with the times. None of the khans in 90s looked to be convincing anything “action” and it was suggested once the romance fad goes way and these stars will touch 40 they will be on their way out. Today out of all these people, aamir the quintessential chocolate boy had one of the biggest actioner of our times enabled by a fast moving plot.
To be frank these people have not even entered the Vinod Khanna / Jeetendra / Dharmendra stage of 80s cinema. IMO they are going to have a much longer stay.
August 31, 2011 at 2:14 PM
On Salman , I think Ek Tha Tiger will change a lot of perception and may be his biggest movie ever in terms of content and box office reach.
He is lucky to have bagged this movie at the appropriate time to have it as his next release.
August 31, 2011 at 2:24 PM
Actually I think it’s the producer’s and director that have been lucky to have Salman in this film, anything he touches right now turns to platinum!
August 31, 2011 at 2:24 PM
Not completely persuaded by this.. because ‘refining’ Salman carries its risks.. his biggest audience is precisely in it for relatively over the top masala/comedy. A refined, spy thriller without the usual Salman ‘mass’ elements might be tricky. Still in this current phase anything will get a big initial with him.
August 31, 2011 at 2:19 PM
Only relatively free day was 2day/2moro
Live update—tried bodyguard today.
Absolutely full including premier !!!!
First three shows jam-packed …
The manager confirmed that this was the biggest rush/ start she had seen for a Bollywood film EVER!!!! She’s given special ones for 2moro..
Anyhow— Back to some bowling n Italian !!!
Ps– an unrelated observation– some Pakistani girls can be really good looking !!!
August 31, 2011 at 2:25 PM
Wow!!!So the Salman hysteria is worldwide!
August 31, 2011 at 2:45 PM
Re: India’s middle classes who suddenly think a new country awaits them.
I hope it was tongue in cheek. Becuase it certainly is not the case.
UK audiences for Bolly films are a little bit like those who frequent single screens in Jhumri Talaiya. And, Salman has alwyas been kind of big in UK. I do think tho that BG is going to put up great numbers overseas as well. Slaman is a rage these days and it is particularly significant as he has kind of reemerged after a period f several years when he was marginalised. I dont think any Bollywood satr has ever been thru such an extended lull and then emerged with a hat-trick of consecutive blockbusters. For that,Sallu bhai deserves kudos.
August 31, 2011 at 2:46 PM
Ignore the first sentence ,please!
August 31, 2011 at 2:37 PM
I guess Indian Film Industry is raining Hits, When I left about a month ago, It was singham and come back to this. BTW how are the releases in between. And above all How was Aarakshan, I didnt see Satyam’s take on it. Did you write it up yet?
August 31, 2011 at 5:06 PM
haven’t had a chance to see it yet for all sorts of reasons.. will very soon.. hope your wedding went well..
August 31, 2011 at 5:10 PM
Argh..You missing a Bachchan movie?I know you wouldn’t miss it for the world. Really hope all is well with you and the family. Yeah, it went great, Had a blast man.
August 31, 2011 at 5:32 PM
Had to be out of town a few times and then my health didn’t cooperate! Nonetheless will catch it in the theater.
August 31, 2011 at 5:39 PM
Oh okay, Hope you feeling better now brother. Take care of yourself. Yeah I will try and catch it soon myself.
August 31, 2011 at 6:17 PM
I’m ok Kash.. thanks.
August 31, 2011 at 3:30 PM
ETT will be ‘big’ that’s all that needs to be said as of now. Plus with Kabir Khan at the helm of affairs it will (hopefully) be a damn good product.
Salman will no longer experiment. He says this in every other interview. All his upcoming films are commercial entertainers with ETT being the daddy of them all.
I do hope this film challenges 3I otherwise I would be slightly disappointed.
August 31, 2011 at 3:52 PM
Stunning! For a while I thought this might not cross Ready given its average music..
Salman is on a roll.. the biggest star of Bollywood for sure..
August 31, 2011 at 4:24 PM
By the way the film has smashed records in UAE (see Komal Nahta) plus it had a very good Tues in Eng (preview show). Should be bigger than Dabangg overseas hopefully.
August 31, 2011 at 4:26 PM
Congrats to Salman. This is amazing,he is the Rajni of Bollywood. I think his resurgance started with Dus ka Dum. He really comes across as a geniune guy that any Indian can be friends with. He comes across as very approachable, i guess thats why he is Salman “Bhai” to his fans. SRK cant be very happy about Salman just killing it at the boxoffice with four straight BB films and more to come.
August 31, 2011 at 5:18 PM
Some opening…20 crore on a wednesday
August 31, 2011 at 5:32 PM
your 100 crore prediction for the initial seems increasingly safe!
August 31, 2011 at 5:52 PM
this is just insane. Sallu bhai is clearly on his own planet right now. this is called star power. he has left every body else behind. in my mind he is back on top. the bar keeps getting higher for SRK. lol.
top 4
1. Salman
2. Aamir
3. SRK
4. Hrithik
akki and ajay are a tier below. just my opinion.
September 1, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Let the bar be raised..The game is not played without the bets being high…i think not!!
September 3, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Not anymore. Seems like the film is not upto the mark. Who knows the weekend might be big still. Its possible from Sat-Thursday to net the 50 crore needed but seems like the early drops already suggest its a mixed response.
August 31, 2011 at 5:24 PM
Hi Kash—How was the wedding n honeymoon!!
Hope u had a blast!
U told us where u had gone?? NZ? Orlando?
August 31, 2011 at 5:39 PM
It was great Alex, Yup, had a Blast man, 5 days non stop drinking and some more. It was Australia, NZ and Hawaii. It was a blast.
August 31, 2011 at 5:44 PM
gud 2 hear from u Kash.
Hope u have been v nice to your other half !!!
Did u manage some diving in the gt barrier reef? how was it
Might do that myself–deciding between that n orlando next….(but not for honeymoon purposes like u) lol
“and then my health didn’t cooperate! “–Satyam—hope u are safe n sound!
One of the rare occasions where our concern is genuine (on behalf of all others here….)
August 31, 2011 at 5:56 PM
“One of the rare occasions where our concern is genuine (on behalf of all others here….)
–Satyam—hope u are safe n sound!”
true that.
August 31, 2011 at 6:17 PM
quite alright.. thanks..
August 31, 2011 at 6:17 PM
thanks Alex.. though this sort of concern doesn’t suit your image! LOL..
August 31, 2011 at 6:41 PM
Dont believe in/bother bout “image”….
On a lighter note good 2 hear u havent got any “exotic” problems (wont name) or a wierd one like bird/swine flu…lol
August 31, 2011 at 9:45 PM
KBC rules:
http://kbc-5.in/kbc-5-kaun-banega-crorepati-5-beats-indias-got-talent-and-just-dance-in-trp-ratings/
August 31, 2011 at 9:54 PM
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/kbc-5-continues-to-pull-audiences-aheadother-reality-shows/447738/
August 31, 2011 at 10:23 PM
Amitji ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin namumkin hai!
August 31, 2011 at 10:33 PM
August 31, 2011 at 10:40 PM
Bodyguard: Phenomenal Day One In Kanpur
Wednesday 31st August 2011 22.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard has smashed all record in Kanpur by collecting nearly 19 lakhs from the city. Dabangg had collected 14 lakhs on day one. The day one figures from Kanpur are as follows.
Big Rave – 2,40,270
Rave Moti – 3,35,441
Cinemax – 3,52,398
Inox – 4,30,278
Heer – 1,50,288
Manjushree – 1,07,764
Gurdev – 76,992
Shyam – 75,392
Jugal – 70,112
Gunjan – 50,747
TOTAL -18,89,682
August 31, 2011 at 10:41 PM
ET:
Salman Khan’s Bodyguard sets record for first-day box office collections of Rs 20 cr
NEW DELHI: It has been a very happy Eid for Salman Khan three years in a row. After Dabangg in 2010 and Wanted in 2009, his latest movie, Bodyguard, released on Wednesday, has set a new record for first day’s box-office collections. It netted an estimated Rs 20 crore, beating the Rs 14.5-crore opening of Dabangg (last Eid), and the Rs 13.5 crore collected by his friend and rival Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots in 2009.
With several full-house shows and strong advance bookings even for weekdays, Bodyguard could even emerge as one of the biggest grossers of all time, cementing Salman’s position as Bollywood’s biggest boxoffice draw more than 20 years after he made his debut in Maine Pyaar Kiyain 1989.
Over the last two years, in terms of box-office collections, Khan’s movies have also been beating high-decibel releases of Tamil superstar Rajinikanth. But a reason for that could be the wider reach that Khan’s Hindi movies get across the country, whereas Rajinikanth’s Tamil movies are released primarily in theatres in the south, an exception being Robot, which had a Hindi version.
Long queues reminiscent of the openings of Amitabh Bachchan’s movies in the 1970s and 1980s were reported from cities and towns. “Our theatres in Gorakhpur, Patiala and Bijnor are witnessing a deluge of Salman fans. We are sold out for the next few days,” said Tinku Singh of SRS Cinemas, which has theatres across UP, Haryana and Punjab.
At Anurag Cinema in Meerut, shows of Bodyguard are sold out for a few days, said head booking clerk Bharat Kumar. “The crowds have gone mad. There is commotion all around here.”
The movie’s co-producer, Reliance Big Pictures, which spent Rs 22 crore on marketing, says it will raise thatamount through Day 1 collections alone. “We estimate the first day’s business can touch Rs 20 crore net, which will be unprecedented,” said Sanjeev Lamba, chief executive officer of Reliance Entertainment.
Bollywood trade analyst Komal Nahata said the movie would have garnered Rs 18-19 crore in collections. “This looks like the biggest opening weekend ever.
Salman Khan has achieved superstardom,” he said. “Bodyguard has monstrous, earth-shattering, mindboggling opening,” tweeted Taran Adarsh, another trade analyst.
Khan and his team followed a recent trend in Bollywood of launching films ahead of Friday – the day films are traditionally released in India – to take advantage of the extended weekend, which began on Wednesday with Eid. Many parts of the country will be closed for Ganesh Chaturthi on Thursday. The movie has been released across 2,800 screens in India. Multiplex chains are reporting houseful shows, with occupancies ranging between 85% and 100%.
“Bodyguard is witnessing 100% occupancy across shows. Even advance bookings for several shows in the coming days are sold out. We believe there will be repeat audience for the film,” said Gautam Dutta, chief operating officer at PVR, which operates multi-screen theatres in many cities in the country.
Tushar Dhingra, the COO at the ADAG-owned Big Cinemas, which runs theatres in many cities in India, said the film has done well across both big and small centres. “Bookings are averaging 85-100% across board. Audiences are pouring in and advance bookings for the rest of the week are also strong,” he said.
August 31, 2011 at 11:28 PM
sallu is unstoppable….consecutive three 100 cr+ movie in a year…..well! i doubt anyone will be able to that in near future…..aamir does only one film in a year…..srk? BG might even break dabaang’s record…..
September 1, 2011 at 1:53 AM
Dabangg records will go but the real question is can this reach the magical figure of 3I. Should be interesting.
September 1, 2011 at 12:13 AM
Must Admit that Salman in last 2 years enjoying same level of super stardom that Amitabh enjoyed for 13 Years (1975-1988) and to some extent even in dooms phase(1989-1992).
And this is where SRK is lacking .. SRK has given some good Hits .. but the heights of Craze was always missing ..
September 1, 2011 at 3:33 AM
the fact that you’re obsessed with SRK’s BO pull proves how big he really is.. even Aamir’s best phase cant rescue him from not being included in Box-office discussions.. LOL
September 1, 2011 at 8:33 AM
by that token Abhishek is the biggest star around because many can’t stop attacking him and despite his box office weakness a site like BOI cannot stop pulling him down!!
September 1, 2011 at 7:26 AM
jeevan,
absolutely bulls eye…salman is on a hatrick here,
bodyguard is going even further then dabaang,
Amitabh record in 1978 ,particularly in 1 month,he gave 4 back to back super duper hits,
I recon srk films will be a big opening with raa one but salmans films will sustain and cross over 100cr easily.
between srk & salman it remains to be seen how raa one & don 2 pans out…but popularity depends on forthcoming films of srk..both his films will need earth shattering openings..if he can do it then srk will be still no 1 but if it falls flat which i think it will with raa 1 then…you know who is no 1…
September 1, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Salman has really taken Box office by storm, a year ago I would have thought Shahrukh would be the second star to cross 100 crs lifetime business but Salman breached that with dabangg. then I thought Shahrukh would be the second star to have two 100 cr grossers in a year with Don and Ra.One but there again Salman followed up Dabangg with Ready. The only way Shahrukh could have come close to trumping Aamir and Salman was by getting a massive initial ( >100 cr first week) with Ra.One but it looks like Salman has that record in the bag as well. Truly at this point Shahrukh is chasing Aamir with Salman way ahead of the pack.
September 1, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Even Devgan now has a 100 crore grosser!
Will say this.. SRK is not maximizing his potential as a star in terms of his reinvention choices. Now in one sense there’s a logic to it. He clearly couldn’t go on with the Yashraj/Johar stuff (barring as exceptions), he is not the most authentic candidate to jump on the masala bandwagon as this world argues against the older one that brought him to his peak as a star. He’s always been big on hi-tech movies and so on but this also allows to move away from Raj/Rahul without totally abandoning the coordinates of that world and hence his signature as a star. So doing Don as pure thriller by emptying out its masala elements more or less can still go hand-in-hand with doing RNBDJ. But you can’t be doing singham and RNBDJ at the same time! The hi-tech thriller also has the virtue (for that mindset) of always seeming aspirational (I will someday make a film with Hollywood-like SFX!). The same goes for Ra 1 (it shall be like Hollywood). So keeping in mind all these factors his insistence on this sort of cinema is not simply a personal quirk. The problem though at a practical level is that he has to diminish himself with audience segments where he is strongest to make this sort of pitch and also as an aging star he is also attempting the highly improbable. In other words even if Ra 1 works this surely cannot be his career going forward?! The world over this genre depends on younger stars. so he has on the one hand the older audience for his love stories et al who will show up for him but won’t really love these films. And then a younger one that loves this sort of film but finds him passe and even moreso attempting it. Salman’s and Aamir’s choices are not dependent on age. However big 3I was and however improbable Aamir would seem to be as a student the fact is that this film has no bearing on his career following this (barring in the obvious box office sense). He’s not trying to do other films like 3I. Salman similarly will milk this genre as long as he can and given the same age Salman’s is less important for his films than SRK’s is for his choices.
It is also true that with SRK it’s always about trying to set himself apart from the competition. This too has become an increasingly implausible pursuit for him for more or less a decade now. And so it’s even amusing to see him voice some of the sentiments Anil Kapoor once did — I am beyond the competition, I am only competing with myself, I am playing a different game, I am making the most expensive production, so on and so forth. This kind of bravado always comes about when one is in decline never otherwise.
Going forward it’s easy to see what Salman’s plan is. Aamir has always had a plan anyway. SRK seems to be at a truly transitional, unsettled stage and for sometime now. This year he has two very big projects. He’s bet the house and more on these. The problem is that given the ‘I am beyond the competition’ narrative the Ra One kind of attempt or for that matter even the Don 1 doesn’t seem to be very removed from the ‘pack’ in terms of genre and/or aspiration. Moreover in a box office sense he’s not likely to outgun an opposition that’s producing 100-150 crore grossers with somewhat alarming regularity. If you do a Lagaan the final gross doesn’t matter. All you need is a success and the rest is about the critical attention. You can’t however get that sort of result with Don 2 and Ra 1!
But for all this I do believe SRK could have made better choices in this reinvention phase.
September 1, 2011 at 5:51 PM
All of the mistakes that SRK has made over the last few years, his fallout with Farah is hurting him the most. the 2 movies that they have hit the right notes from an audience point of view. the big problem that SRK has now is that Aamir and Salman have ushered in the era of massy action flicks. this is a genre that SRK has never dabbled in but now everyone and their uncle has jumped on the bandwagon.
His best chance is now to forge partnerships with directors like Rohit Shetty. He still remains a major star but someone who does not have too many avenues open going forward
September 1, 2011 at 8:29 AM
It’s not like Bachchan at his peak period. In 1981 Bachchan had Naseeb and Lawaaris within three weeks of each other but then he also had Yaarana, Barsaat ki ek raat, Kaalia the same year. Only Silsila did not work. I would like to say that this was one of his biggest years except that he had many like this one and some bigger than this. In 1978 for example he had Don, Trishul, MKS, Ganga ki Saugandh, Kasme Vaade. Besharam didn’t do much that year. I could go on but it’s just mind-boggling. The scale of success combined with that sort of frequency. And this is the point I’ve made again and again. That fundamentally however well stars have done in the contemporary age at different times, however remarkable their success might seem it simply pales in comparison with Bachchan who’s ahead of everyone by an order of magnitude. Between 1973 and 1986 less than half a dozen films of his actually lose money. Even between 1988 and 1992 when he was clearly on the downswing that number does not increase very greatly (though of course the scale of the successes was much diminished).
September 1, 2011 at 9:14 AM
post 1988 Amitabhs films started to decline,
in 1989 his films like toofan & jaadugar were a gap of 2 weeks,toofan created 100% occupancy but from monday onwards it crashed.
jaadugar went on a similar faith..
1990,only aaj ka arjun saved him from total disasters.
pre-1988.
shahensha was most awaited film ever,
I remember i went on holiday to muscat which in oman and year was 1987 march,video shops had a poster of Amitabhs shahensha which i thought at that time that it was releasing in 1987..,a guy came in the shop and asked if shahensha had released and shopkeeper said it will be soon so instead he took a video of anil kapoors mr india.
In 1986 Aakhree raasta was released and at that time i had a video shop renting english & asian bollywood films,
Aakhree raasta cost me £42.00 at that time and we used to to buy additional copies with orignal and total vale came to £65.00 orignal + 10copies..
we recovered on that film in just 2 days and it continued for 2 weeks …Amitabh films were coming like 1 film a year and plus he entered in politics aswell.
membership wise i had 3000 customers and 2 third of them were always asking Amitabh films ,his old folms were rented almost everyday.
There will never be another Amitabh..srk do come second in popularity…
September 1, 2011 at 9:19 AM
Toofan did quite ok though. The first two week percentages were in general very good. It didn’t really lose money. Jaadugar crashed completely. Aaj Ka Arjun was a big one. and of course Hum created hysteria (though didn’t sustain like Aaj Ka Arjun). He was nonetheless getting by far the biggest initials of the industry even in this period. But times had definitely changed.
September 1, 2011 at 9:27 AM
satyam,
silsila did brilliant bussiness in overseas.
suppose video piracy was not there then overseas income of amitabh films would have been unthinkable.
In england the last ever film i saw was don in 1978 and after that maube 6 months almost all cinemas had closed showing indian films axcept in london where in remained opened until 1981.
in 1983 channel 4 in england started showing asian films on sunday afternoon and guess what..
all films were Amitabhs.
starting with sholay,AAA,Deewar,naseeb,and satte pe satta.
in 1991 hum opened huge ,due to chuma song..
1992 khuda gawah opened well but again it was khuda hafis for amitabh retirement.
like i said due to piracy in uk ,aMITABH SUCESS HAD BEEN LIMITE BUT IF NOT FOR PIRACY HE WOULD HAVE CREATED HISTORY.
September 1, 2011 at 3:31 AM
As usual, Satyamshotites are going orgasmic on a single day figure, which may or may not be correct, and going uneasy on SRK.. lol.. if SRK isnt even the No. 2 star anymore, why bring him in every second comment related to box-office discussions..
seems like his influence as a star is unmatchable.. Let the Lallu panjus give BBs and be part of the insane rat race of who’s the No. 1 and who gave 150 crore grossers in a calender year.. LOL LOL!
It was all the more hilarious when some one above decided on Ra. One’s opening record based on the Chammak Challo song’s bad choreography based on some random data on YouTube.. Ha! *rolling my eyes in disgust*
September 1, 2011 at 4:03 AM
LOL that was very funny. Unintentional ofcourse
September 1, 2011 at 8:32 AM
Is that all you’re arguing for? SRK # 2 status?
September 1, 2011 at 8:45 AM
Bodyguard Early First Day Estimate – 21 Crore Nett
Thursday 1st September 2011 09.30 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard has smashed all records on Eid and seems to have collected around 21 crore nett as per early estimates. The Eid holiday helped a bit but still it is 15-20% more than any other film has collected on any day let alone its first day day.
There were circuit records in every circuit while four circuits crossed the 1 crore nett for the first time ever on first day. They were West Bengal, CP Berar, Rajasthan and Nizam. Multiplexes and single screens were both phenomenal across the board.
Bodyguard will have extra shows at multiplexes today (Thursday) as many multiplexes started shows at Noon yesterday but there is still likely to be a drop in all India collections as yesterday was a holiday for Eid and today is a normal day.
September 1, 2011 at 8:50 AM
taran_adarsh taran adarsh
Okay, here are the *actual* figures of ‘Bodyguard’ in India on Wednesday: Rs 21.51 cr nett. That’s a new record!
taran_adarsh taran adarsh
‘Bodyguard’: Despite 10% to 15% drop over Wed figures, the Thu total should be anywhere between Rs 16 cr to Rs 18 cr.
taran_adarsh taran adarsh
‘Bodyguard’ – Thursday trends: Should be 10% to 15% less than Wednesday. Two reasons: Ganesh Chaturthi pooja and non-holiday.
September 1, 2011 at 8:52 AM
Salman Khan’s Bodyguard Nets Rs. 21 Crore On Opening Day
September 1st, 2011 by Komal Nahta
Salman Khan has done it once again! His latest film, Bodyguard, which released on Eid (August 31), collected a record-breaking Rs. 20.5 – 21 crore (approximate net collections) on the opening day in India. The film also broke records in the overseas, where Salman’s popularity has been on the rise. As already reported, the film broke all records at various centers and cinemas across India. Koimoi.com had predicted such an opening for Bodyguard.
Looking at the extended weekend ahead, the film is sure to cross the Rs. 70 crore mark and could even touch Rs. 80-85 crore mark in the first weekend! This is indeed good news for Salman Khan, his fans, the producers of Bodyguard and the industry in general.
September 1, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Watching bodyguard v shortly — housefull..
Got some “Bollywood-naive” nubile company– would be interesting to hear their views…Nice to be the “guide” lol
September 1, 2011 at 2:28 PM
You’ll probably find more interesting “action” in the aisles than on the screen.
September 1, 2011 at 4:24 PM
LOL!
September 1, 2011 at 3:05 PM
Salman did it again.South movies are best for hero elevation and enetertainment and salman did right thing choosing remakes.Now ajith film is going to be big hit in Tamil nadu.This is the right time for abhishek do remakes with directors like rohit setty,prabhu deva and puri jaganaath.If no producer is ready to make movies with him better he try to produce movies from his banner.But he should act fast and competition is heavy for remakes.He need to choose good action fims from tamil and telugu .also he need to do altleast 3 to 4 films per year .But he should stop acting in multi starrers and even those films are hits no use for him.Now abhishek should relize big openeing and boxoffice is importatnt , no one cares about content and reviews if movie is bg hit proof is ready and now bodyguard
September 1, 2011 at 5:52 PM
Well, I have to say that ‘this’ is a masala film in the true sense. It felt like watching a pre 70s film.
-The hero falling in love with a ‘voice’ ….like Rajender Kumar with Sadhana’s eyes or Madhubala with Bharat bhushan’s songs and shaiyri over the radio.
-The heroine’s role as important as the hero’s because of the dominance of ‘romance’
-there is even a Rajendernath type comedian for the CSP (comic side-plot)
-then there’s the fight scene with the heroine behaving as stupidly as the heroines of that time by running around during the fight, distracting the hero from his job of bashing up the villains, and getting caught, making the hero helpless for a moment, till he finds a way out of the situation
-the ending ( quite a surprise) could also be compared to the old films, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers.
Lovely film all the way
Salman has never looked so endearing before. He’s charm personified.
A clean family film, the way they used to be made.
Imagine no item song either with near naked women.
September 1, 2011 at 6:02 PM
thanks for your review.. pre-70s is not masala cinema though by and large. There are some rare exceptions. These elements you mention are there in a number of latter-half 60s films but these don’t quite have that epic resonance or the authentic socio-political that define the truest masala. Clearly these films are moving in that direction but are not there yet. I certainly don’t associate the iconic Rajendra Kumar films with masala! Towards the end though he did a bit of this stuff.
September 1, 2011 at 6:03 PM
A word (or words) about ‘masala’ films.
From what I gather (as my father used to say, expressing the general sentiments of the people of those times, which gave the films this term) a masala film just meant….a film which was a mixture of everything. Song, dance, comedy, villains, fights, family emotion, and above all romance.
True, some films had more of one or the other ingredients. There was a time when violence dominated the other ingredients of the masala, at some point it was romance.
September 1, 2011 at 6:26 PM
I don’t think the word was really used before the 70s, at least not in any commonly understood sense. For example see this Wikipedia piece that credits Desai with its invention:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masala_%28film_genre%29
I would have written this piece differently though it is certainly true that the Desai style if you will epitomizes masala more than anything else.
The difference between something like Evening in Paris and a quintessential masala flick of the 70s is that in the latter instance every aspect of that world is marked by those epic resonances or those ideological stakes while in the former the mode is a more ‘picaresque’ one where plot developments simply take place without being necessitated by the world of those films. Desai’s films have a certain inner logic even when various genres are mixed. The same is true for Prakash Mehra. It is not just about violence. Some 60s films have violence too in that same literal sense. But in the 70s you just have a more ‘violent’ world which is not about action sequences. In fact most of the important films of that period do not have that many action sequences. This is the bourgeois caricature of that period. Because people didn’t like the ideological implications of those films they accused them of indulging in excessive violence.
The only rare example of a love story that is truly a masala film is Bobby (and here one must yet again credit Raj Kapoor for truly understanding what masala was about when it was just emerging in its mature form). I wouldn’t call anything in the 60s masala though there are transitional films at times. Pieces like the wikipedia one place the advent of masala in the 70s but their definitions are otherwise often not precise enough. If it’s just a mix of genres your case would be a fair one but it’s more than this. And even to this very point I’d argue that there aren’t the sorts of extremely radical shifts across genres in the 60s (even where there is that mixture of romance and comedy and action) as there are later. When genres shift in masala a different time and order are often introduced. No such heightened sense is available in those 60s works.
What happened once masala became dominant was that people sometimes inaccurately associated commercial cinema with this or the terms became interchangeable. In turn a third synonym for the same was ‘escapist cinema’. So there were the 50s, then the frothy 60s and everything else was masala. All of this is necessarily a bourgeois framework and indicates ideological choices more than anything else. But not surprisingly it became important. One could then accuse ‘rickshawalas’ of loving violence and so on.
And my final ‘radical’ statement on all of this is that Bachchan epitomizes masala more than anyone else. Not for the obvious, mundane reason that he was the dominant star of that age but because masala becomes more credible when he attempts it. It is not that other heroes are less effective at it but that they are so for precise reasons. Desai certainly intuited this. But no star before him or since could ever be as ‘universal’ as he was, as persuasive doing that entire gamut of high and low types. He was the perfect messenger for masala. There are very enjoyable (and successful) masala films elsewhere too but no star could ever be consistently successful at it. Because the Bachchan absence was always felt and it was a massive one. And again it wasn’t about a star being more suited to it than any other. This would be nothing new (every genre has stars who are more convincing doing it than others). It is that the socio-political stakes of the authentic masala universe were most credibly incorporated in Bachchan’s signature. No one else could do the same. On Bachchan’s political resonance I have written very much and won’t repeat all of that here.
September 1, 2011 at 6:36 PM
You know what masala means?
Several ingredients mixed together.
The word is self explanatory. Wikipedia isn’t bible.
September 1, 2011 at 6:42 PM
Yes, but there’s a difference between cooking and making films.
September 1, 2011 at 6:43 PM
I read somewhere that the word ‘masala’ came about because of the comparison with Hollywood (as always) which were linear in their narration while the Indian films tended towards being a mixture of everything like *our* masala.
September 1, 2011 at 6:45 PM
>Yes, but there’s a difference between cooking and making films.
Hmmm, there’s a difference between a computer and a house. (Yes, I’m pointing at the windows).
September 1, 2011 at 7:22 PM
“Alex adams Says: Watching bodyguard v shortly — housefull..
Got some “Bollywood-naive” nubile company– would be interesting to hear their views…Nice to be the “guide” lol
GF Says:You’ll probably find more interesting “action” in the aisles than on the screen.”
Well: the prophesy of GF has come true lol
Havent read any reviews so just some random thoughts/observations—in the tradition of b rangan-some “bullet points”…am a bit “spent” so just some incoherent unstructured bits…
Background/setting–Houseful #my routine multiplex NOT in a conventional “bollywood ethnic ghettoised area” –bollywood films dont find many patrons here normally–”houseful” here counts more than some other places….
#expectedly more family crowd–(but including some lecherous vagabond-ish characters—-had to be a bit of ” bodyguard” esp due to the accompanying multiple-eyecandy lol)
#85% of the film is a somewhat listless premise /buildup to the last 10% which is not only the highlight but the saving grace of the film (although that too is full of loop holes/lacunae/issues)
#My ranking of salman films in his current “golden” phase–
Dabang>>>ready>bodyguard~wanted
#if one takes out the last 10-15% of bodyguard, it will get submerged way down into the rest of his long list of insignificant filmography!!!
But have to give it to salman & Salim khan (script consultant) for having the conviction that the ending WILL make up for the rest ..
#Dont think much money has gone into its making–shooting in india and significant bits indoors—relatively low cost excpet some songs
#good action (but sometimes too gimmicky)
#Salman carries the film (literally) on his shoulder and one cannot really fault him for anything here –he does his best to prop up this one..and he tries to put up an honest endearing/heartfelt yet massy act
#Kareena is (unsurprisingly for me) uniformly a pathetic eye sore. In addition the closeups were quite variable and unflattering mostly.
Overheard a guy somewhere–”she is so fair and “white”-what bollocks!!
A symptomatic mindset obsessed with “fair n lovely”-rest doesnt matter..lol
#There was herculean effort in making Kareena look as best as she can and the other girl (think her name is Hazel) as worst as possible. Unfortunately, imo Hazel still trumps her-although she had v little to do/say!!!
#this film has probably has more for the females than some other salman films. Could sense the females flanking me threatening to get “moved” somewhat towards the end lol(sic!)
#Music was a weaklink–desi beat was truly pathetic.
The title song & “teri meri” was reasonably alright .
Standout for me were the male vocals of Ash King in “I love u”
#it would have made this film much more worthwhile for me (not necessarily for the masses) if the last half hour was explored more.
Not a fan of how hazels character was made to look villianish towards the end and had to pay for her “sins” lol. If her character graph was more explored and “fleshed out”, wouldve been better…
btw my/our views dont represent the majority patrons of this type of stuff and for all u know, it will do v well/record breaking box office esp after the historic start……
Even in the most uttercrap films, my (hopefully) “discerning” eye does capture some key moments.
The shot (which may actually be unintentional on the part of the director)that i liked was the small child assuredly seeing the dustbin pass by from the train (where he had “disposed of the diary”)!!
With that shot the “germs” of a worthwhile film also passed by…….
September 1, 2011 at 11:48 PM
good read here.. thanks!
September 2, 2011 at 1:27 PM
Great review Alex! Thanks for sharing!
Ok so you found the movie underwhelming, hmmm,guess I will have to lower my expectations a little before I go and watch it.
Glad to know that you thought Salman did a good job, he’s the only reason I have any interest in this movie so I might just enjoy it because of him!
Lol, you really don’t like Kareena!
Now I’m looking forward to seeing it for Sallu only!
September 1, 2011 at 9:10 PM
Three ques after watching Bodyguard’s box office performence.
1- Is salman has the highest number of Solo All time blockbusters
2- How many All time blockbusters are there of Amitabh Bachchan (Solo or multistarer)
3- Has Big B gave any ATBB or BB after the age of 40.
September 1, 2011 at 11:49 PM
If this were a serious question I would have responded!
September 1, 2011 at 10:56 PM
mard coolie both are blockbusters. And both are at the age of 41 and 43 respectively. And if you want to compare salmaan with bachchan. Then please also compare flops given by salmaan. And last thing yes i m big b fan. But i also salmaan fan. Basically i m fan of any successfull film and star. But yes the fact remains that currently salmaan is enjoying best ever period by any star in hindi film industry.
September 1, 2011 at 11:50 PM
September 2, 2011 at 12:11 AM
AWESOME REACTION by the audience!!!
Can’t bloody wait for the 8th
September 2, 2011 at 12:13 AM
why can’t you go before?
September 2, 2011 at 9:06 PM
I’m in Saudi Arabia
September 2, 2011 at 12:07 AM
Will Bodyguard Hit The 100 Crore Nett Mark In Week One?
Thursday 1st September 2011 18.30 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard has smashed all opening day records with a collection of 21 crore nett approx and now the question will be can it do a 100 crore nett in its extended first week. This would have been unthinkable six months back but the releases are getting bigger and bigger at a very fast rate.
It can be said 100 crore is just a number so even if its 96 or 97 crore it does not really make much difference to the overall picture and that’s true but 100 is a special number and to be first film to get there in a week is a milestone although be it an extended first week.
Bodyguard is a SUPER HIT film even with a worse case scenario but this 100 mark for the week will depend on what happens on Friday. There is a drop today as its not a holiday like yesterday, it is more noticeable at multiplexes due to the heavy volume of shows. The important day will be Friday as a further drop will make it tough to get to a week of 100 and a jump would mean it is very much in range.
All in all its long term box office run is also dependent on how the film behaves on the normal weekend days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
September 2, 2011 at 12:10 AM
Film Review | Muscle and the maiden
The new Salman Khan-starrer is crass and brain-dead. Protect yourself from it
Sanjukta Sharma
If the absurd and by now stale Salman Khan logic at the box office works again, the disproportion between his appeal and his complete lack of talent will be more firmly established. In Bodyguard, his new film, Khan’s arms, which seem ossified, have moved further away from his body. His every expression is more robotic and frozen. There’s no semblance of acting—what he really does is puff his bare chest, purse his lips in rage, and stop short of growling. The best action sequences are digitally engineered, so he doesn’t have to do much in that department either.
This is the third time writer-director Siddique has made this film (the first was in Malayalam and the second in Tamil). Besides its mass marketability, there’s nothing meaty or engaging in the story.
The new-born Lovely Singh (Salman Khan) is rescued by Sartaj Rana (Raj Babbar), an arrogant man of inheritance. Lovely grows up to be a ferocious, fearless, muscle-flexing bodyguard. He flies in the air and springs atop steep peaks to rescue women in danger. So one day, he is hired as the bodyguard for Sartaj Rana’s daughter Divya (Kareena Kapoor)—her life is in danger. Will they fall in love and live happily ever after? There are minor hurdles, including a romance blossoming over telephone conversations and a friend’s betrayal.
The story is replete with crass digs at overweight people, homosexuality and physical disability. Everybody is a caricature; the humour could induce headache or depression—definitely not laughter. Kapoor has a few good moments on screen and she more or less effortlessly plays the sacrificial, ornamental, submissive female, a counterpoint to the invincible bodyguard.
If potboilers from the south have become a template for commercially viable Bollywood, it is, first, tragic, and speaks of the Mumbai film industry’s dearth of ideas even for mindless entertainers, of which there are many good examples from the past. Second, most of them are poor imitations. Producers who are remaking successful action flicks from the south—it is now almost a foolproof formula for box-office success—are begging for comparison. The few films of which I have watched both versions are better in the language they are originally written in and the milieu they are meant for—Singham is the most recent example.
The makers of Bodyguard obviously imagine a nebulous, brain-dead mass audience. They destroy the idea of a culturally vibrant and disparate country which is obsessed with cinema.
Bodyguard is not worth anybody’s money or time. It is a silly, humourless, offensive project, marching shamelessly towards a remarkably thoughtless climax and the puerile goal of making money out of thoughtless replication.
Salman Khan is at his worst; Chulbul Pandey, the enduring police inspector of Dabangg, is a faint memory after this film.
Bodyguard released in theatres today.
September 2, 2011 at 1:29 AM
@
If this were a serious question I would have responded!
Is it necessary to see agenda behind every question related to bachchan ? Yes this is serious question and pls don’t give argument that what Big B has done before 1980. My que is specific.
1- Highest no of ATBB by salman ?
2- How many solo ATBB by Big B ?
3- How many ATBB or BB by Big B after 40.
September 2, 2011 at 2:29 AM
Actually Salman doesn’t have an ATBB other than HAHK as far as I can tell. The trade though has cheapened a lot of the terminology these days and uses it indiscriminately. Depending on who you believe HAHK in 1994 had collections of 60-65 crores. Even 3I isn’t comparable to this. So Salman certainly has big ones today, calling them all time hits is simply ridiculous. Even Raja Hindustani with a gross of 45 crores in 1996 is closer to that than any of these Salman films.
On the rest the reason I responded as I did was that your question is completely arbitrary. I could have listed the big ones Bachchan has after the age of 40. I could have provided details on these films. I could have also mentioned other important stats of Bachchan after 50 or 60 as well. But to do this would have been to confirm the completely arbitrary structure you set up in your question. What does “after 40″ mean? Why is it important? Specially when the stars in question are hardly true blue superstars even in their 30s! Again the word has been cheapened by the media to simply mean ‘star’ but how many ATBBs does Salman have even in his 30s?! “After 40″ means something only for the greatest stars who remain at the top of their game for years and years. Not for someone like Salman who forget giving ATBBs was even close to being irrelevant for most of the last decade if you just consider his grossers and the kinds of films he was doing.
On the other hand for titanic superstars terms like “after 40″ or what have you don’t make any sense because their scale of accomplishment is already something for the ages. Rajesh Khanna was a titanic superstar for a few years. He didn’t last too long at those heights but most stars who’ve been very successful for very long still cannot compare with his peak period either! Again with Bachchan no matter where you set the marker he’s still ahead of everyone else but the Bachchan-Salman juxtaposition is so absurd that I would feel silly actually comparing the two to make a point either way.
So yes your question isn’t serious and I’m being polite here! Salman is doing hugely well at the moment but let’s not lose all sense of proportion here.
September 2, 2011 at 3:00 AM
MPK is an ATBB
September 2, 2011 at 9:10 AM
I did think about MPK. Bit on the fence about this one. It’s a difficult call on ATBB for this one. It was obviously absolutely huge specially relative to its budget and so on. ATBB I am not completely sure but I guess I wouldn’t argue too much here looking.
September 2, 2011 at 4:56 AM
Satyam: “Actually Salman doesn’t have an ATBB other than HAHK as far as I can tell. ”
But you’ve gone on record many times that you don’t consider HAHK to be Salman’s success at all, but Madhuri’s. Then that would mean Salman has no ATBB’s to his credit in your book.
September 2, 2011 at 9:06 AM
Those are two different points. Salman didn’t get much out of HAHK and his career after this film till he reinvented himself with Dhawan proves it (though he also had a big one in Karan Ajun the following year with SRK). It was all a Madhuri show. But he nonetheless was the hero of the film. It’s not what I consider though but what was the overwhelming sense at the time. Much as with Mr India it became a Sridevi show even though Anil Kapoor had the title role. The film was dubbed ‘Miss India’ by some. Salman after his initial success (even after MPK he had a number of plus films/hits) was in some drift for quite sometime, despite getting a HAHK or a Karan Arjun. His 1999 was big with HSSH (though it didn’t perform as expected), Biwi No 1, HDDCS were the top three grossers. But then there was serious drift again. Between 1999 and 2007 (Partner) you don’t find a Salman film in the top 5 grossers of the year in any of those years!
It’s fair to say that Salman’s appeal was always greater than the numbers might have suggested but nonetheless the fact is that his box office track record is a pretty ordinary after his initial wave of successes and even including high points like HAHK or KA and a year like 1999. When Dabanng released I remember saying this was his most important moment as a star literally after MPK. And I’ll say again today that this incredible run he’s been having since (on his third straight 100 crore grosser) is easily the very best phase of his career, there isn’t even a real comparison elsewhere. SRK himself has never had this kind of magnitude married to this sort of frequency. Aamir is a different ballgame because he’s not had a failure since Lagaan in any genre, anywhere! That’s pretty stunning. And for each genre he’s delivered some of the biggest numbers. And of course capped it off with Ghajini and 3I, still unsurpassed on the trending and were certainly the first films to shock us with such numbers.
The problem again and again in these discussions is that people think I’m being partisan. This is what people do when it comes to the box office. But that’s certainly not what I’m ever engaged in. And frankly I didn’t start following Salman or Aamir or SRK 5 years ago or 10 years ago! I was following the HAHK wave in real time! It’s like ten years later if Abhishek is in a fantastic box office position and someone mentioned D2 many of us would have to honestly point out that this was perceived as a Hrithik show. Certainly in the absence of scientific polling the media ran this narrative. The same was true for HAHK vis-a-vis Salman.
September 2, 2011 at 8:07 AM
Agree that today ATBB term is such a lose talk .. If 3I at 200 Crore was ATBB then how come Dabangg after one year at 150 Crore can be ATBB ??? Just like Sholay at 15 Crore was ATBB but MKS, AAA, Coolie, Mard, Kranti etc though huge Hits and crossed 10 Crore magical figure, are not considered ATBB .. because standard was higher .. i.e. 15 Crore.
So today standard is 200 Crore .. so how come 150 or 100+ Crore can be considered as ATBB ?? And beyond that 50-60 Crore budgeted movies earning 100+ Nett … is any comparable to 1 Crore movie earmning 10+ Crore Nett ????
In fact based on business volume and profits and even Jubilees, Amitabh has more than 15 ATBB … and in 1983 trade magazine has written this fact that Amitabh has 13 All times Hits.
September 2, 2011 at 10:07 AM
Can you please explain what is the criteria for ATTB ? If Dabang and Maine pyar kiya considered as ATTBs Bachchan might have minimum 20 ATTBs and out of 20 ,10 were solo ATTB’s..For expamle DON made in 1978 with budget of less than 50 lakhs and DON total collctions around 6-7 crores.Yes he gave blockbusters after 40 aslo.Lawaris,yarana,kaalia,akhari raasta,mard,sharabhi,shehenshah all are solo Blockbusters after Bachchan crossed 40
September 3, 2011 at 2:30 PM
I would like to know the same also, because there seems to be no consistent criteria for an ATBB, where the trade analysts are concerned.
September 2, 2011 at 9:30 AM
Bodyguard Second Day Territorial Breakdown
Friday 2nd September 2011 16.30 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard had a huge second day at the box office as it collected around 17.25 crore nett approx taking its total to 38.50 crore nett in two days. The second day territorial breakdown is as follows
Mumbai – 6.28 crore
Delhi/UP – 3.21 crore
East Punjab – 1.21 crore
West Bengal – 83 lakhs
Bihar – 52 lakhs
Assam/Orissa – 34 lakhs
CP Berar – 95 lakhs
CI – 72 lakhs
Rajasthan – 1.09 crore
Nizam – 1.36 crore
Mysore – 63 lakhs
Tamil Nadu/Kerala – 20 lakhs
TOTAL – 17.34 crore
September 2, 2011 at 9:31 AM
Bodyguard Day Two: Two Sides Of The Film
Friday 2nd September 2011 13.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard has seen a huge varying rate of drops on the second day while some places hardly show a drop, others have fallen over 40%. Below are the second day figures with first day numbers in brackets from Gurgaon and Kanpur single screens.
Gurgaon
PVR Ambience – 3,73,446 (6,40,012)
PVR MGF – 3,42,124 (6,58,429)
PVR Sahara – 85,765 (76,343)
DT City – 3,19,256 (5,64,438)
DT Mega – 1,35,629 (2,62,258)
DT Star – 2,04,799 (3,35,371)
SRS Omaxe – 2,06,806 (2,90,542)
SRS Wedding – 1,43,492 (3,19,143)
Big – 2,56,603 (4,64,580)
TOTAL – 20,67,924 (36,11,121) – 42.73%
Kanpur Single Screens
Heer – 1,50,288 (1,50,288) 100% both days
Manjushree – 1,07,764 (1,07,764) 100% both days
Shyam – 75,392 (75,392) 100% both days
Gurudev – 76,992 (76,992) 100% both days
Jugal – 66,324 (70,112) 100% first day
Gunjan – 33,496 (50,747)
TOTAL – 5,10,256 (5,31,295) – 3.96%
September 2, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Satyam, Not sure if you got to this news yet. But Amitabh Bachchan is going to be working with Luhrman in The Great Gatsby with Leo Dicaprio. See this link.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/luhrmanns-latest-gives-a-third-dimension-to-great-tale-of-long-island-decadence-20110902-1jq2h.html
September 2, 2011 at 11:10 AM
thanks, I believe Bachchan mentioned something in passing on his blog recently..
September 2, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Oops, Sorry then, I missed last months blog from him, Will have to read em all. Sorry to take this space.
September 2, 2011 at 11:30 AM
no problem at all.. I just put up a post on it..
September 2, 2011 at 11:04 AM
‘Bodyguard’ storms international markets
-By Taran Adarsh, September 2, 2011 – 16:09 IST
BODYGUARD is faring very well internationally and is expected to be Salman Khan’s biggest solo Hit, at the rate it’s faring…
U.K. [£]
Tue – 64,191
Wed – 194,413
Thu – 136,812
Total – 395,416
Australia [Aus$]
Wed – 33,097
Thu – 32,515
Total – 65,612
New Zealand [NZ$]
Wed – 12,689
Thu – 10,534
Total – 23,223
Fiji [Fiji$]
Thu – 12,029
UAE
Tue, Wed, Thu – $ 1.3 million
USA figures are awaited.
September 2, 2011 at 11:04 AM
great news, so that is why Big B was in Australia recently …
September 2, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Update: ‘Bodyguard’ shatters all previous records, 39.81 cr in 2 days
-By Taran Adarsh, September 2, 2011 – 10:49 IST
Salman Khan’s BODYGUARD has smashed all previous records and has emerged the biggest opener ever in the history of Hindi cinema. The film collected Rs 21.51 cr nett on Wednesday and Rs 18.30 cr nett on Thursday, taking the 2-day total to Rs 39.81 cr nett. The business is expected to zoom upwards from Friday onwards, when the weekend begins. At the rate it is faring, the film can cross the magical figure of Rs 85 cr + in its 5-day weekend, which will be a new record.
September 2, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Salman Khan’s Bodyguard 2 Days Net – Rs. 38 Crore!
September 2nd, 2011 by Komal Nahta
Salman Khan in BodyguardAfter taking an unprecedented opening across India and even abroad, the Salman Khan-starrer, Bodyguard, has made another Rs. 17.50 crore in all-India net collections on day 2 (Thursday, September 1). This takes the film’s total two-day tally to a humongous Rs. 38 crore!
Bodyguard continued to do roaring business in the Overseas circuit also. In UK, the film collected a massive 200,000 pounds on day two (Wednesday, August 31). This takes the total UK gross to a record 260,000 pounds.
It is now estimated that the film might even cross the Rs. 80-85 crore mark in its five-day weekend.
September 2, 2011 at 11:23 AM
@kash ” Amitabh Bachchan is going to be working with Luhrman in The Great Gatsby with Leo Dicaprio”
This is the best piece of news in a long long time and the write up there is inspiring – ” Luhrmann described him as one of the world’s great screen legends. ”Over the years, Amitabh’s films have made a tremendous impression on my life and work,” he said. ”His film Sholay was my introduction to Indian cinema.”
I am happy Big B has maintained a low profile over this, but hope something special and substantial comes out.
September 2, 2011 at 11:32 AM
On BG, would be perfect if this reaches a 100cr in week 1.
If fri/sat/sun can notch up 45 cr (very much possible) that takes the total to 83 cr. It will then need 17cr from the rest of the week to touch a 100 cr!!!
I vividly remember Satyam’s words on market capacities and how the box office numbers put by srk during his peak were barely exploiting the full potential of the market.
Movies like 3Idioits and BG show us the real box office reach/market of domestic market in bollywood.
September 2, 2011 at 12:44 PM
Have posted my views on Bodyguard above.^^^^
Although i hope it does v well and breaks records, I myself found it underwhelming. This apart, I recognise that “popular tastes” can differ a lot. Going by the box office of the golmaals etc, this may also work big time!!
But am watching with curiosity, what happens AFTER the end of the long weekend once the euphoria settles down—how much will be the fall (if at all)….
Anyhow —the film I would have seen instead IF it was showing–wont get released in multiplexes here , but quite interesting specially from the stables of Anurag Kashyap….
Review: That Girl In Yellow Boots
( 4.5 stars out of 5)
The only hint of colour that there is in the life of the female protagonist is confined to her boots. It is significant that we do not see that piece of fancy leather footwear ever again after the introductory scene, which provides a worm’s eye-view of British citizen Ruth (co-screenwriter Kalki Koechlin) patiently waiting for her turn at the foreigners’ registration office in Mumbai.
The girl is here to seek an extension of her tourist visa. But she doesn’t palpably have a chance in hell in this beehive of slothful, corrupt and predatory government functionaries out to extract their pound of flesh.
Director Anurag Kashyap projects this den of exploitative red-tape as a microcosm of sorts of a pitiless city that breeds social and moral deviants who think nothing of riding roughshod over the destinies of the defenseless.
The superbly crafted, wonderfully acted and consistently evocative That Girl in Yellow Boots paints a dark, dismal and desperate portrait of life inside Mumbai’s daunting entrails where Ruth hopes to find salvation and a father who went missing from her life when she was only five.
In order to merely stay afloat in this putrid urban cesspool, the girl works in a massage parlour where she services wrinkled, lustful old men, going beyond the call of duty to make some money on the side.
Just as gloomy and grim is the dank ambience of Ruth’s little home, which seems to be under constant siege. It is invaded frequently by a coke-snorting boyfriend Prashant (Prashant Prakash), a Kannada-speaking gangster Chitiappa (Gulshan Devaiah) and sundry other strangers out to exploit her vulnerability.
That is the price that she must pay for being an illegal migrant: the search for her father brings her face to face with the dregs of society as she is dragged head first through the moral muck of a massive metropolis where Ruth is reduced to a hapless prey.
Kashyap’s film is structured like an urban thriller sans the fisticuffs and gunfights. But the sights and sounds of the city remain on the fringes of Ruth’s ill-fated quest for happiness. The focus of the drama is squarely on the protagonist’s inner traumas as she negotiates dangers and bitter truths at every step.
That Girl in Yellow Boots does not traverse familiar thriller terrain. We see stray bits of the city entirely from the perspective of Ruth’s alien eyes. She isn’t familiar with the dynamics of Mumbai; so the view is tempered with a degree of bewilderment.
We see Mumbai from a half-open window of the massage parlour or from the entrance to her home or in the form of what Ruth catches from a moving auto-rickshaw or taxi. She does not have the wherewithal to come to grips with Mumbai. It is too overpowering for her.
The Mumbai that we usually see on the big screen has as much music and magic as mayhem and madness. But in the city that this film depicts, there can be no room for a fairy tale. It gnaws into the vitals of individuals in insidious ways and leaves them gasping for a gust of the fresh air of innocence and honesty.
That Girl in Yellow Boots is obviously the story of Ruth, a girl caught in a ruthless world, and Koechlin captures the landscape of the protagonist’s bruised heart and mind to absolute perfection. But the film benefits no less from the finely etched cameos of the supporting cast.
Especially impressive are Puja Sarup as the loquacious massage parlour receptionist who is constantly on her mobile phone making small talk even as an emotional storm swirls around Ruth and Gulshan Devaiah as the fumbling gangster whose bravado borders on the comical.
If we do not see more of Sarup and Devaiah in Mumbai movies in the years to come, the loss would be entirely Hindi cinema’s.
One might quibble about the director holding his punches in portraying the ‘physical’ dimensions of the moral quagmire that Ruth is trapped in, but That Girl in Yellow Boots is a significant step forward for Kashyap.
It is well-nigh his most controlled film to date: the style, fluid and unobtrusive, complements the theme rather than overshadow it
Read more at: http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_Review.aspx?id=649&cp
September 2, 2011 at 1:14 PM
Bodyguard Friday Update: Huge But Another Drop
Friday 2nd September 2011 22.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard is set to have another huge day on Friday but there seems to be another 20% plus drop on the cards. Last year Dabangg collected 14.45 crore on Friday which was its first day and it is possible that Bodyguard’s Friday may end up below that figure.
This will also make it tough for Saturday to show much growth though Sunday should show a jump but how much remains to be seen.
Bodyguard is a huge winner at the boxoffice but early trends suggest that the Dabangg lifetime nett total of 140 crore set last year on Eid seems safe while the jury is still out whether it can cross the lifetime 121 crore nett total of Ready which is the biggest grosser of the year so far.
September 2, 2011 at 2:10 PM
these big drops don’t bode well for a massive total here.. 100 crores is not going to be a problem at all.. but it would be underwhelming if it stayed at Ready level after opening much bigger.
September 2, 2011 at 1:33 PM
“Great review Alex! “–thanx Filmifan…
Let me know your views as well—when r u watching it?
September 3, 2011 at 2:28 PM
Probably will only watch it next week! Too much Uni work to do
September 2, 2011 at 2:14 PM
Why Bodyguard is a big hit already
September 02, 2011 17:40 IST
Salman Khan is emerging as the Rajnikanth [ Images ] of Bollywood, says media professional and industry observer Abhijit Mhamunkar, as the two-days collection of Salman Khan’s [ Images ] Bodyguard raked in around Rs 38.7 crore.
Despite being a flawed film, Mhamunkar says it is doing well because “Salman’s film is like Rajnikanth’s film, people go to watch Salman Khan so there are no complaints from hardcore fans. Besides, people did not hate the film nor are they saying it is a flop film.”
He explains further: “Salman Khan’s movies are critic-proof. People don’t wait for reviews and then go and watch his films, they are waiting for the release of the film. With each multiplex having around 27, 19 and 21 shows, every screen is showing Bodyguard. It is a well planned strategy; everyone who goes to the cinema is getting a ticket so they are watching it.”
The first two days of the film’s release were holidays. The first was for Eid. Since Muslims abstain from watching films during the month of Ramzan, they are eager to watch a film, not just a Salman film but any film, after that. If it is a Salman Khan film on Eid, then it’s like the cherry on the icing.
“The fall will begin today, Friday. In fact, it has already begun from today — morning to afternoon there has been about 30 to 40 per cent fall. That is not a huge fall but it is considerable compared to the last two days,” says Mhamunkar.
The estimate of Rs 100 crore in earnings in the first weekend now seems difficult, but on the other hand, the next two days being a weekend, sales could be good.
Irrespective of the financial performance of the film, its star will remain untarnished. “Even the harshest critic of Bodyguard has not pointed to a flaw in Salman Khan’s performance. You will find no review where Salman Khan is criticised. Even (movie critic) Rajeev Masand has tweeted that he is an endearing character in the film,” Mhamunkar points out.
He compares it to the Amitabh Bachchan [ Images ] phenomenon, when in his heyday the Big B [ Images ] could do no wrong.
Salman is suffering from trigeminal neuralgia and is in the US for treatment, but the sympathy wave is not the reason for the good box office takings, Mhamunkar says.
He believes people are drawn to the character Salman plays in this film. In his recent films, “Salman played the over-smart, stylish, larger than life character. Here he plays a simple, endearing, down to earth and real character.”
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Singham have been the biggest hits of the year so far, but Mhamunkar’s guess is that Bodyguard will surpass them. “Singham earned Rs 100 crore, but it was in the theatres for long, so it took a long time to earn that kind of money. But Bodyguard’s growth is rapid so therefore it will surpass Singham.”
The only other film that could compete with Bodyguard is Shah Rukh Khan’s [ Images ] Ra.One because, says Mhamunkar, SRK [ Images ] is a good strategist and will bombard cinemas with many more prints, and also because “though Salman Khan has a huge fan following in India [ Images ], it is not as huge as Shah Rukh Khan’s, who also has a fan following among NRIs. His last film My Name is Khan did not do that well in India, but was a huge hit overseas.”
September 2, 2011 at 2:15 PM
Hard to count all the instances of bull in this piece!
September 2, 2011 at 9:14 PM
ZBMD and Singham biggest hit of the year LOL can some1 pls tell him a film called Ready is ahead of those films and is the biggest grosser so far.
September 2, 2011 at 2:49 PM
Bodyguard makes history! Breaks all records
The festival of Eid has once again proved to be lucky for Bollywood superstar Salman Khan whose new release Bodyguard has earned a record Rs 22 crore net as first day collections — surpassing blockbusters Dabangg and 3 Idiots.
The action-packed drama, in which Salman has teamed up with Kareena Kapoor, was released on Eid-ul-Fitr Wednesday. His Wanted and Dabangg too released on Eid in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
Bodyguard has not only surpassed first day collections of Singham (Rs 9.1 crore), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (Rs 8.15 crore), Delhi Belly (Rs 7.15 crore), Ready (Rs 13.5 crore) and Dum Maaro Dum (Rs 6.2 crore), it has also overtaken the box office earnings of Dabangg and 3 Idiots, which collected Rs 14.5 crore and Rs 13 crore, respectively, on the first day.
Film expert Komal Nahta says that the films has broken all international records also. Nahta told a daily, “In Dubai, the movie opened on Tuesday because that’s when Eid was celebrated. While Dabangg had opened with 7 lakh dirhams (`87 lakh), Bodyguard made 11 lakh dirhams (`1.36 crore). In London, the movie opened with a collection of 60,000 pounds (`44.4 lakh) on Tuesday, which too is unheard of. It has broken all previous records for any Bollywood film.”
“The response to the film has been amazing. We had estimated the collection to be Rs 20 crore on the first day and it went on to be Rs 21.5-22 crore net, which are phenomenal figures for the first day,” Priti Shahani, chief strategy and marketing officer, Reliance Entertainment, told IANS.
“Salman, no doubt, is the biggest driving factor as he has a huge fan following. A good release date is extremely crucial on the theatrical side and Salman and Eid are indeed a lethal combo,” she added.
Made at an approximate budget of Rs 60 crore, the film released in India with 2,600 prints and 325 prints overseas. Shahani said they haven’t yet got the figures for overseas collection.
A Hindi-remake of the Malayalam film of the same name, Bodyguard has been directed by Siddique and co-produced by Salman’s brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri and Reliance Entertainment.
Shahani predicts that the film will cross the Rs 100-crore mark in the very first week.
“Looking at the unprecedented response to the film, Bodyguard is likely to cross the Rs 100-crore mark in its first week,” she said.
With an extended weekend, multiplex owners are hoping to make good business.
“The opening has been nice, the occupancy has gone up to 80 per cent. People are liking the film. We are hoping for a good weekend and expect the occupancy to go up to 100 per cent,” said Munish, managing director (marketing) of Satyam Cineplex.
Yogesh Raizada, of Waves Cinemas calls the film a treat for Salman fans.
“It’s a complete Salman Khan with lots of action and some comedy. People are enjoying the film. On the first day, the occupancy was around 80 to 90 per cent in the suburbs and in the NCR region. We hope an equally good response over the weekend,” he said.
September 2, 2011 at 7:08 PM
http://www.thevigilidiot.com/2011/09/02/bodyguard/
How is this movie even getting 2/5 stars in reviews?
September 2, 2011 at 8:40 PM
lol this was a hilarious read!!! thank you.
“your humble narrator is as WTF-ed up as you, folks”. this was epic.
in sallu bhai’s recent successful films, wanted and dabangg were good although i prefer dabangg. ready was crap and now looks like so is BG. will be watching it soon with very low expectations.
September 3, 2011 at 7:53 AM
Surprising how the shift has started
From the talk of overtaking 3I, now it imay not cross Dabangg and at worst even Ready!
What irks me is the inability to understand the market dynamics and how unbelievable 3I performance was. There is such loose talk amongst fans and even amongst trade sites like BOI claiming any well liked film can overtake 3I. It is stupidity or dishonesty of the highest order. People get giddy like school girls over a days or a weekend performance and start dreaming 3I.
Even the talk of a 100 crore week was so unrealistic.
BG has opened fab but as I said in day one, decay will be fast
September 3, 2011 at 9:53 AM
3 Idiots has done extremely well in places like Taiwan and Korea. And mainland China may not have released the film theatrically (to my knowledge), but the film has plenty of fans there.
Can masala pap like Bodyguard capture the imagination of Asian students? I am happy for Salman, that he has three hits in a row; now let him show some responsibility and act in good cinema that is not masala /formula/ whatever.
September 3, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Well, the bar keeps getting higher for SRK.
It will be tough for him to follow and live up to the expectations of the trade and his fans, given that every big star has had his 3 idiots moment recently:
Salman has had Dabangg, Ready and now Bodyguard
Hritik has had ZNMD
Ajay has had Singham
Abhishek has had Dum Maaro Dum.
September 3, 2011 at 11:07 AM
“Abhishek has had Dum Maaro Dum.”
LOL…Don’t keep the bar so low for SRK…
September 5, 2011 at 2:47 PM
now, i can only see big slide for srk, he has passed his best days behind, explain to you i can say peeche nahi dekhne ka, peeche dekhne se purana jamana laut kar ane vala hai, nahi ayega. ra one and don 2 will also pull srk down.
September 4, 2011 at 10:12 AM
SRK had his supreme for long time. I don’t think ra1 will bring back his glory,but Don-2 should do well.
There were times(2000-20090 people even not turn up SK’s movies. Whree was he in the last decade? It never happens for SRK.
Why people bring Abhishek into ever discussion?
September 4, 2011 at 10:18 AM
Execpt for HR, who had the variety movies like Guru, Delhi-6 and Raavan in their career? They sre still my top choices in the last five years. I’ve never expected Abhishek as mass star, but he will bounce back to his 2005 days. As a fan, I am happy with that.
September 4, 2011 at 10:41 AM
To put it another way if you did want him to become a mass star you’d lose the actor you love in those films. And this is something many fans often forget. Even someone as titanically gifted as bachchan could fundamentally no longer find the scripts he was associated with in the 70s (from Salim-Javed to Hrishikesh Mukherjee) in his 80s period. Now we love many of the films in the latter, without doubt Bachchan elevates many of these into very enjoyable experiences, but these are in many cases very pedestrian films. This is where the logic of mega-stardom leads. Because the biggest stars get people in even for mediocre films and/or satisfy people with barely enough in many of the same films. And this is the reason why I would never trade Bachchan’s 70s with any other stage of his career even if there are important truths illustrated about him as ‘the’ supreme star in the 80s. Far moreso than even in the 70s. Anyway the point is that if Bachchan himself wasn’t immune to the logic of stardom the others are just lesser mortals. And here as I said recently one should as a fan of Guru, D6, raavan be concerned about Italian Job and Bol Bachchan and so on. He needs the box office at this point so I certainly don’t question these decisions but if these become big grossers the market pressure is then intense to repeat yourself in the same subjects. And the media celebrates hits irrespective of what they’re worth while on the other handing raking the same actor over coals for something like Raavan. A star then cannot be blame for choosing safer choices and certainly after such experiences. But as a fan of some of the films you’ve mentioned some of this stuff makes one wary. Which is another reason why I have been more interested in the Ghanchakkar project coming about. Having said that Abhishek is still less likely to be completely swayed by box office success. He’s already once walked away from the low-hanging spoils after 2005. But nonetheless 100 crore grossers create some very unique issues.
September 4, 2011 at 2:09 PM
Abhishek is an actor of JayaBahduri’s mould, not his father. Unless he reinvents something (like SK did in the last few films), it is very hard to become mass star at this stage. He says that he likes action, but I’ve observed he was very uncomfortable doing those scenes or ads. (Mani’s movies are an exception).
September 5, 2011 at 1:24 AM
Imagine if Abhishek acted in Singam ,wanted , body gurad etc defientely he would have been in top position at boxoffice .All these reamkes any top actor can able to do it easily.
Its not difficult to give big hit for Abhishek at boxoffice,but he need to act fast and try to remake telugu or tamil masala/action hit films.Better he should stop acting in karan johar,yash chopra and faran akthar banners.They will never give good films for abhishek.Karan johar never make films with abhishek except dostana kind of films and yash raj also never make films with him except dhoom series and look at faran akthar he choose abhi for game and they not even gave publicity for that film .So abhi better stop trusting these guys.Insted he produce films in his banner with good directos like rohi setty,prabhu deva etc
Its really frustating to see movies like game,khelenge hum jee jaan seand dum maro dum failed at boxoffice . He is also so lethargic and failed to understand what fans are expecting from him.Now ball is in abhi’s court many telugu/tamil super hits are available for remakes and only thing he need to do choose a right film and complete it three months and so he should act atleast 4 films per year, two remakes and two staright films.
September 5, 2011 at 2:43 PM
it’s not about remaking south films, but he should do more youth oriented movies, that will bring big initials, he is very good actor, needs to establish good boxoffice record once again, it is not that he has not given any superhits, but after raavan he badly needs super hit movie, dum maro dum is not biggest grosser but it has done decent business at bo and he is appauled for his performance, for me dmd is success for him at this stage after the debacle of khjjs and game, and he has the talent so, no point that he will not able to give superhits, but as his fan i would like to see him in films like guru, delhi 6, sarkar, dmd, sarkarraj, yuva etc. i am very excited about ghanchakkar rumour to be directed by rajkumar gupta.
September 3, 2011 at 8:28 PM
“Abhishek has had Dum Maaro Dum”
Guess you were being sarcastic here!
To be fair to SRK here, he has attempted something novel and daring with Ra.One and that thing needs to be applauded at a time when crap seems to be gaining recognition. Reminds me of the times of the 80s when Hindi cinema with its B-grade stuff hit an all-time low.
Agree with the notion of watching masala cinema once in a while, which brings back some good old memories but a dozen films lately have been exploiting this thing to the hilt. It started with Wanted, was all right till Dabangg (that was well-made masala) but Ready, Singham and Bodyguard (if its as disappointing as it seems) have taken the viewers for granted..
If such films can become blockbusters, I wont mind Ra.One or Don 2 being big hits.
September 4, 2011 at 2:07 AM
“he has attempted something novel and daring with Ra.One and that thing needs to be applauded at a time when crap seems to be gaining recognition.”
Even in 80′s .. B Grade “Aaj Ka Arjun” was Super Hit .. and Classic “Agneepath” became Average (though both were among top five grosser of year).
September 4, 2011 at 5:02 PM
Aaj ka Arjun might have been huge.. But I found that one bad. Agneepath was better but still – no comparison with Amitabh’s earlier films.
Even though he kept getting his blockbusters in the 80s, the standard was affected deeply..
September 4, 2011 at 12:32 AM
Bodyguard Third Day Territorial Breakdown
Saturday 3rd September 2011 13.30 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard had a good third day at the box office but there was a noticeable drop on an all India level. The film collected around 13.25 crore nett on its third day taking its total to 52 crore nett in three days. The third day territorial breakdown is as follows
Mumbai – 4.77 crore
Delhi/UP – 2.53 crore
East Punjab – 1.01 crore
West Bengal – 66 lakhs
Bihar – 38 lakhs
Assam/Orissa – 25 lakhs
CP Berar – 68 lakhs
CI – 48 lakhs
Rajasthan – 88 lakhs
Nizam – 96 lakhs
Mysore – 51 lakhs
Tamil Nadu/Kerala – 17 lakhs
TOTAL – 13.28 crore
September 4, 2011 at 7:48 AM
taran_adarsh taran adarsh
#Bodyguard -Saturday *actual figures* Rs 15.43 cr nett. 4-day total stands at Rs 70.75 cr nett.
September 4, 2011 at 4:15 AM
BG will be collecting 86 cr in 5 days,that is history in making.
It should do 150 cr easily from here on.
3I record, bg may not break now,but it will be trashed within a year with so many huge movie comming in another 6 months.
expecting krissh 3 or dhoom3 doing a minimum 250 crore.
September 4, 2011 at 7:44 AM
Bodyguard Fourth Day Territorial Breakdown
Sunday 4th September 2011 14.30 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard had a very good fourth day at the box office as it jumped 10% from the previous day. The film collected around 14.75 crore nett on its fourth day taking its total to nearly 67 crore nett in four days. The fourth day territorial breakdown is as follows
Mumbai – 4.80 crore
Delhi/UP – 3.25 crore
East Punjab – 1.41 crore
West Bengal – 80 lakhs
Bihar – 45 lakhs
Assam/Orissa – 25 lakhs
CP Berar – 70 lakhs
CI – 47 lakhs
Rajasthan – 81 lakhs
Nizam – 90 lakhs
Mysore – 65 lakhs
Tamil Nadu/Kerala – 16 lakhs
TOTAL – 14.65 crore
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September 4, 2011 at 7:44 AM
Bodyguard Back On Track On Saturday
Sundday 4th September 2011 12.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard went back on track on Saturday after a noticeable drop on Friday. The film collected 15 crore nett approx on Saturday as per early estimates as the bigger circuits dominated by multiplexes showed healthy jumps while single screens areas were similar to Friday.
The film has now collected 67 crore nett approx in five days and the weekend is looking at a humungous 85 crore nett.
Bodyguard showed good jumps in the North on Saturday and this was the area which was lower comparatively on Thursday and Friday. This is a good sign for the long term business of the film.
AdChoices
September 4, 2011 at 5:32 PM
Continuing with my earlier comment, I believe Salman has become increasingly repetitive with his choice of films and will shade out soon.. similar to what happened with Akki.
and thats where I believe Aamir and SRK to be the true blue superstars of today, with their constant experimentation and investing heart and soul in every movie of theirs..
So you have a Ghajini which is as different from TZP and 3I as chalk n cheese and an SRK who has gambled a lot with roles as diverse as Rizwan Khan/Kabir Khan/Surinder Sahni with success in each one of them.
September 4, 2011 at 6:02 PM
i do agree with that….as much as sallu bhai has had success…we cannot forget veer, london dreams and mr and mrs khanna to name a few debacles in the last couple years where he tried to do different roles.
but the thing with him is he always comes back no matter what. you can never count him out. he has sustained this stardom for 20 plus years along with the other two khans whereas akki i think has started his around 2005-06 after garam masala, he took off into another level of success. i think satyam has said this over and over…akki missed the boat on this ‘masala’ wave in hindi cinema right now.
September 4, 2011 at 6:09 PM
in my mind…the three khans have swapted ‘rankings’ ever since 1988. its been them and every one else. govinda, anil kapoor, sanjay dutt, ajay devgn, akshay kumar and sunny doel have challenged them but they havenet sustained the level of success that the khans have had. ive maintained for the longest time, after amitabh, its been ‘the three khans’ that have took over the crown and carried it for 20 plus years. i think ranbir and hrithik are the future.
September 5, 2011 at 12:58 AM
Not from 1988 but from 1994 khans domination started. 88 to 93 Bigb ,anil,sanjay and govina were top stars at boxoffice and khans started their carrer at that time. Hrithik ruled 2000,2003 &2006 and in 2001 sunny deol ruled at boxoffice .Khans collectively ruled boxooffice from 94 onwards but invidually they failed to rule not even 5 years continuously at boxoffice.Now salman has chance to become no.1 at boxoffice next 5 yeras if he choose right films
September 5, 2011 at 4:47 AM
Amitabh Bachchan was No. 1 Till 1992 …. Openings of HUM and Khuda Gawah was 3 times more than any biggest opener of past.
September 5, 2011 at 4:50 AM
In fact this was first time that BBC in its prime time news gave coverage of Khuda Gawah opening .. it was such a historic .. though not sustained.
And HUM was humongous for 3 consecutive weeks … so much so that Stardust even declared it blockbuster and also had last minute update of HUM special coverage in same month issue .. and later on this was objected by some readers in later issues.
September 5, 2011 at 4:52 AM
Khans became big after HAHK, DDLJ and RH… and gave random success and failure through out .. alternatively dominate on each other at some or other point of time ..
September 5, 2011 at 7:22 AM
I have some doubts on boxofficeindia.com figures. In one post they are stating bodyguard has grossed 84.65 and on the other post its 85.5.
In their earlier post they were pointing to the negative none of which became true.
Yet according to Taran and others such as reliance themselves its more in the range of 89.
I wonder boxofficeindia.com has any credibility apart from its name.
September 5, 2011 at 7:41 AM
Midweek: ‘Bodyguard’ creates history, shatters all records
September 5, 2011 at 7:42 AM
Bodyguard Fifth Day Territorial Breakdown
Monday 5th September 2011 12.30 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard had a super strong fifth day as it collected 18.75 crore nett approx. The film collected 85.50 crore nett approx over its extended five day weekend. The fifth day territorial breakdown is as follows
Mumbai – 6.38 crore
Delhi/UP – 3.87 crore
East Punjab – 1.59 crore
West Bengal – 1.01 cr0re
Bihar – 57 lakhs
Assam/Orissa – 33 lakhs
CP Berar – 1.01 crore
CI – 72 lakhs
Rajasthan – 1.10 crore
Nizam – 1.12 crore
Mysore – 73 lakhs
Tamil Nadu/Kerala – 22 lakhs
TOTAL – 18.65 crore
September 5, 2011 at 7:43 AM
Bodyguard RECORD BREAKING Weekend
Monday 5th September 2011 11.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard has simply torn up the record books and smashed practically every opening record at every cinema it was released in. The holiday period and humungous releases has meant that it has smashed the first week record of Dabangg (81 cr nett) in just five days. Bodyguard managed to hit around 2800 screens on nearly 2000 theatres over the weekend when its release was the widest.
The film has collected another 17.5-18 crore nett on Sunday which has taken the five day extended weekend to somewhere between the 84-85 crore nett range as per early estimates.
The film help up supremely well at places over the five days while other were up and down depending on which day was a holiday. Overall the film is almost certain to emerge the biggest hit of 2011 beating the other Salman Khan release this year Ready.
September 5, 2011 at 7:44 AM
Bodyguard Weekend Territorial Breakdown
Monday 5th September 2011 16.30 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard grossed 84.75 crore nett approx over its extended five day weekend. All territories were simply phenomenal. The weekend territorial breakdown is as follows
Mumbai – 29.41 crore
Delhi/UP – 17.51 crore
East Punjab – 7.19 crore
West Bengal – 4.52 crore
Bihar – 2.39 crore
Assam/Orissa – 1.33 crore
CP Berar – 4.46 crore
CI – 3.30 crore
Rajasthan – 5.05 crore
Nizam – 5.00 crore
Mysore – 3.48 crore
Tamil Nadu/Kerala – 98 lakhs
TOTAL – 84.62 crore
September 5, 2011 at 7:47 AM
Salman Khan’s Bodyguard Nets Rs. 86 Cr Over Weekend
September 5th, 2011 by Komal Nahta
Update: In light of additional collections received from our representatives from all over India, the total net collections of Bodyguard are revised to Rs. 86.10 crore. These collections are historic and the Salman Khan starrer has beaten all opening week records in just 5 days! The revised day-wise collections are as follows: Wednesday – Rs. 21 crore; Thursday – Rs. 17.50 crore; Friday – Rs. 13.25 crore; Saturday – Rs. 14.85 crore and Sunday – Rs. 19.50 crore. Total – Rs. 86.10 crore.
Salman Khan’s Bodyguard has broken all records for the opening weekend, making a total of Rs. 83.50 crore (all-Indian net collections) over its first weekend at the box-office. The film, which opened to record-breaking houses on Wednesday (August 31), saw festive crowds and fans pouring into theatres in large numbers in spite of the mixed reports it got. By any standards, the opening weekend’s collections are superb. In fact, Bodyguard will go down in history as the fastest grosser till now.
After the opening day’s collection of Rs. 20.50 crore (all-India net), the Salman Khan starrer went ahead and scored at the box-office by adding Rs. 17.50 crore on Thursday, Rs. 12 crore (Friday), Rs. 13.50 crore (Saturday) and Rs. 20 crore (Sunday) to its kitty. Point to note is that Bodyguard has surpassed the entire first week’s (7 days) collections of Dabangg (Rs. 81 crore) in its first weekend (5 days)!
September 5, 2011 at 2:59 PM
right now salman khan is the king of boxoffice and collections of his films phenomenal, just out of imagination, that is true star power, i really salute to him and his star power, despite releasing his two films in three months, it dosenot affect the business, instead bodyguard has better initials than ready, right now, we can say he is the ultimate & biggest superstar of bollywood of 2010 & 2011, right now, only aamir’s film can compete his initials, if not surpass it. srk has given so many hits but every time he needs big director, excellent music to get his big hits, but salman today is just like rajni or great bachchan of 70 & 80′s, their name is enough to bring people to theatres.
September 5, 2011 at 7:48 AM
Bodyguard Juggernaut: Bol, Aarakshan, Singham Make Way
September 5th, 2011 by Koimoi.com Team
Bol, also released on Eid, was crushed under the weight of Bodyguard.
Films like Mummy Punjabi and Bas Ek Tamanna, also released on Wednesday to take advantage of the Eid holiday, actually had to bear the brunt of the opposition of Bodyguard. Both the non-star cast films went largely unnoticed.
Shabri failed to make any mark at the box-office. Its limited release (in Bombay and C.P. Berar only) last week will now ensure that the film will not see the light of day in most other circuits because of zero appreciation. Stand By did not even stand by as an extra. Its collections in the first week were dismal. Chitkabrey, too, bombed in its first week itself. Recorded extremely low collections.
The audience stayed away from Yeh Dooriyan which is why it was able to gross poorly in its first week. Conan The Barbarian (dubbed) and the original English version (of the same title) from which it has been dubbed, did average business in the first week. Chatur Singh Two Star is in its last lap – that is, where it is not out of the cinemas after a disastrous run of two weeks. Not A Love Story crashed further, in its second week. It is also breathing its last where it has not already been discontinued from the cinemas.
Aarakshan had to make way for Bodyguard from 31st August at several places. While it managed to record fair collections in its third week at some centres, it went out of steam at others. Singham managed to yield shares in its sixth week too. It seems to have exhausted its meritorious run, now that Bodyguard has caught the fancy of the audience. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is another winner that fetched shares in its seventh week too.
September 5, 2011 at 8:45 AM
Bodyguard has done exceedingly well over the weekend and created new bench marks. It highlights how well a hyped up film with a wide release can do
September 5, 2011 at 8:57 AM
Happy to see it reach 85 cr until Sunday. Needs another 15 cr to set another benchmark for 100cr first week, fastest 50 / 100 etc etc..
Watched the movie with a packed crowd which was ready to lap the movie with both hands. Unfortunately except for few chartbuster songs and couple of fist fights there wasn’t much to cheer about. A disappointment in terms of – what could have been…
Badly directed and edited.
September 5, 2011 at 9:34 AM
then why are you happy to see it breaking records?
September 5, 2011 at 10:02 AM
LOL!!
September 5, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Just setting the bar for SRK.
This is also a test on market capacity ! and lastly over the years how much srk movies underperformed to real potential.
September 5, 2011 at 12:06 PM
>over the years how much srk movies underperformed to real potential.
ALL!
If it makes you happy
September 5, 2011 at 12:27 PM
but it’s true and it’s a point I’ve made for years.. the SRK films were just feeding off the multiplexes and doing very little or nothing from the rest. Not surprisingly you’re getting these 100 crore grossers with regularity only when the smaller centers (basically all kinds of audiences) are involved. Singham is in some ways an even better test case because it didn’t open like these Salman films but it was liked more by some of its base audience and still got to 100. This was true even in early years by the way where even then the films that were doing well in small centers were outgrossing SRK’s films. Which is why whenever Hrithik had a filmkraft film (which always did well in small centers) he usually did better than the big SRK film. And which is why OSO (because of the masala admixture) also did way better than most other SRK films in that period (including Don.. which despite the same storyline had the masala ‘refined’ out of it). More recently we saw ZNMD do about 90 crores and this was very successful in the multiplexes. On the other hand Singham wasn’t a small center supergrosser and it wasn’t huge in the multiplexes. But it had enough of a coalition to get ahead of ZNMD. These Salman films are opening hugely but not sustaining the way they should. Otherwise 150 crores would minimally be on the cards for some of these if these just trended like Ghajini. The thing with Ra 1 or Don 2 is that you still have formats that rely on multiplexes (unless Ra 1 has been really Indianized a la Rakesh Roshan.. I doubt Anubhav Sinha is capable of pulling it off this way) and hence even given a huge initial you’re probably not going to exceed 100 crores by much. This is a long way off from even Salman’s films these days let alone something like 3I (and I’m not even getting into factors like inflation and so on here).
September 5, 2011 at 1:14 PM
what about RNBDJ and OSO?
they wouldnt have grossed 60 crores had these single screens not contributed to their success..
September 5, 2011 at 5:00 PM
RNBDJ did well but was way behind Ghajini, nonetheless because it had that small town feel to it it did alright. I’ve already talked about OSO in the comment.
September 5, 2011 at 5:16 PM
By your logic, even Singham did alright as it was much behind Ready .. Still you’ve got only positive things to say about Singham and compare it to the likes of ZNMD to show how it has outgrossed the multiplex film.. Why not, instead of comparing RNBDJ and Ghajini, go for a RNBDJ v/s Love Aaj kal, for instance?
September 5, 2011 at 5:35 PM
Singham had a first week much lower than Ready but trended way better than it. There is a difference! And the ZNMD comparison is apt because the latter did very well in multiplexes. It’s hard to imagine a ‘multiplex only’ film doing much better than this (leaving aside much bigger scale subjects like Dhoom or whatever). But Singham is hardly the best possible performance for a masala subject. As for RNBDJ v LAK this actually proves my point. RNBDJ had some non-multiplex appeal because of its ambience and so on. It of course also compromised a bit of its multiplex audience for the same reason. LAK was multiplex-only and it didn’t do as well. Of course LAK unlike ZNMD wasn’t the best possible multiplex performance either!
September 5, 2011 at 3:54 PM
AH!! Another happy man
September 5, 2011 at 12:19 PM
agreed and Bodyguard could have done even more than this over this extended weekend period.. because it had some drops over the weekend leading upto Sun.. 100 crores for a 4-5 day period combined with the weekend is clearly on the cards for a film that is liked enough.. don’t think we’re even that far off from the right kind of film doing 100 crores over a regular 3 day weekend.
September 5, 2011 at 11:34 AM
MSDhoni ur no Dhoni
and go have a cry lol
September 5, 2011 at 5:12 PM
There’s Something About RA.One by Box Office India (September 4, 2011)
To start with, we, at Box Office India, had the privilege to watch a sizeable portion and songs of Shah Rukh Khan’s ambitious venture RA.One. We were, and still are, speechless. It’s simply MINDBLOWING, and needless to say, every single scene is a treat for cinema lovers. After the film releases on October 26, we’ll have to coin a better word to describe the film than GRANDEUR.
It’s hard to pick a highlight of the film because every scene is awesome, and the SFX is definitely at par with Hollywood standards. King Khan says his proudest moment will be when someone asks if this film was actually made in Bollywood, and he replies, “Yes, RA.One was made in a studio in Andheri, Mumbai.” And mark our words, it will be a proud moment for not just SRK but for the film fraternity as well as cine lovers.
We were also privy to the RA.One merchandise, which SRK and his team have worked so hard on. Again, the merchandise is of international standards. In short, this film is expected to not only create
September 5, 2011 at 11:55 PM
I remember same words by Trade for Roop Ki Raani Choron Ka Raja ..
September 7, 2011 at 6:12 AM
aadmi,
you sound like a desperate for srk salvation,
Boi said mind blowing,they even said swadesh will be a film of the decade,could not even be a film of the month,if i were you i would ignore what BOI has to say…they are always wrong in their calculation.They have got it wrong of Raa One,creating havoc on this film,cheap stunt publicity..
September 5, 2011 at 5:23 PM
It is a good thing that the above text posted by Aadmi is not from BOI.com but from boi.co.in. Tho, they are so similar in content I have my doubts if they are really distinct entities. If it was really from BOI what ever vestige of credibility thwy have left ,would have vanished. The article quoted above looks like the creation of an unabashed fan boi.
September 5, 2011 at 11:56 PM
RA-One will be another Roop Ki Raani Choron Ka Raaja ..
September 6, 2011 at 12:46 AM
“RA-One will be another Roop Ki Raani Choron Ka Raaja ..”
Aap ki dua Jaroor Kabool hogi
September 5, 2011 at 5:30 PM
gud 2 take a break from work——All those of us pretending to work (like me) while surfing bollywood etc–beware!!! lol
When one is slogging and having to compete with a Mila-Kunis lookalike —how ruthless can one get!!!
And what if this Mila Kunis lookalike happens to be an SRK fan—– courtesy dubbed cds!!!!!
btw –just read the above post by aadmi ^^^^^about some1 having inside info and having seen bits of ra.one—lol—dont know if this can be believed …
However dont rule out srk coming out with something good after spending ages and fortune on it……
Anyhow was just casually hypothesising about SRKs inexplicable “pull” with certain sections.
And out of all quarters, got a probable intelligent answer from the mila kunis lookalike (who was expected to be naive about this).
her hypothesis—SRKs modus operandi is to act as if he is catering to kids and he has to capture/maintain their attention—this way he gets a certain quaint rapport/grip irrespective of theme/his own lack of technique/skill.
whether i found that hypothesis plausible or not, sometimes one has to be polite n agree…lol
September 6, 2011 at 2:32 AM
even SRK has agreed to it, that he plays to the kids..
he isnt a very good actor but a very intelligent one.
September 5, 2011 at 11:31 PM
110cr net expected 1st week according to BOI. Really huge. Salman is really setting new standards when it comes to opening movies. That’s sheer stardom. In terms of fans following, I don’t think anyone beats him right now. He is by far the No.1 in that respect.
September 5, 2011 at 11:51 PM
Bodyguard Monday Early Estimate
Tuesday 6th September 2011 09.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard has done extremely well on Monday and collected around 8.50-8.75 crore nett as per early estimates.
The film should hit the 100 crore nett today (Tuesday) as its business so far for six days is 93 crore nett approx. The week is probably heading for 111-112 crore.
The North has held up very steady with Delhi/UP recording very good collections. The central belt of CP Berar, Rajasthan and CI is also very strong. The biggest drops have come in Mumbai city and the South.
September 6, 2011 at 12:44 AM
I guess my prediction that it will break Dabaang’s Record will be true…
ETT is one film where Salman has a very good chance to break 3I total collection…Yash Raj+Kabir Khan+Salman+Katrina…It will be a monster for sure…
September 5, 2011 at 11:58 PM
Salman’s agenda for 2012
By Taran Adarsh, September 6, 2011 – 07:42 IST
Salman Khan Salman Khan is the flavor of the season and rightly so. With BODYGUARD emerging a major money-spinner at the ticket window, the media is focusing on Salman and only Salman since the past few days. Be it the mind-boggling start undertaken by his new film BODYGUARD at the box-office or his surgery in the U.S., not a day passes when you don’t read or watch a news bulletin about the developments in the actor’s personal and professional life.
Now here’s something about the actor not many know. Salman, who underwent surgery last week in the U.S., has started promoting BODYGUARD while recuperating in the U.S. [he has been advised a week's rest by the doctors]. Fully aware that he’s required to reach out to his fans when his movie releases, the actor has started connecting with Indian moviegoers via television, radio and print interviews.
Meanwhile, the actor will commence filming EK THA TIGER at a foreign destination. And like this year, which witnessed two releases [READY and BODYGUARD], Salman will have two releases next year as well — Yash Raj’s EK THA TIGER [which will release soon after the IPL cricket matches] and Sohail Khan’s SHER KHAN [Eid release].
September 6, 2011 at 1:44 AM
I’m still hoping for ETT to release on Eid. Should be a MONSTER!!!
Bodyguard will cross 150
September 6, 2011 at 8:13 AM
Let me give it to you in writing -ETT will NOT get even close to 3I. It would take a different kind of film to do it. ETT may do extremely well but not will not cross 3I.
September 6, 2011 at 8:33 AM
agreed..
September 6, 2011 at 8:11 AM
I think it is very likely BG will cross Dabangg. Well done.
It would seem with the expanding BO potential domestically, 150 is the new 100 ( crores). Even Devgan has one.Both Salman and Aamir have more than one in their kitty i.e 100 plus crore grossers. SRK and Hrithik need to get one promptly if they want to stay in the top rung. SRK hasnt had a movie in a while except MNIK which his fans will contend eas ‘different’ and hence not subject to the usual BO criteria.
BG has raised the bar even higher BO wise. Atleast one of Don2 and Ra.One has to surpass 150 crores for SRK to remain in the discussion for the top. It is a different story that all these huge grossers have a very short half life and are eminently forgettable toher than their BO fireworks.
September 6, 2011 at 8:34 AM
Satyam bhai,
but my point here is why’s your judgement on a film’s and a star’s standing not consistent.. Not today but several times I have noticed you belitting SRK’s achievement with RNBDJ and always bring Ghajini in, showing the latter’s higher gross.. If I remember clearly, you believed Aamir was a bigger star than Hritik in 2006 despite the younger star outgrossing both Aamir’s films with Dhoom 2 and Krrish. for you, a Fanaa for Aamir was a bigger achievement than SRK’s RNBDJ, though when taken into consideration, Krrish, LRM, and Dhoom 2- all of them outgrossed the Aamir starrer.
At the time, you brought all talks of consistency in terms of box-office delivery; yet when it comes to SRK, that term is totally ignored. It’s about delivering the highest grosser..! Arent you manipulating things according to your convenience and suitability?
September 6, 2011 at 9:01 AM
I have actually said the very same things at every point. It’s also about contexts. You cannot look at anything in isolation. On Fanaa my point was that it would have made significantly more with Gujarat part of the mix. Just Ahmedabad is one of the top 3-4 grossing cities in the country for Hindi films. My sense was that Fanaa would have been minimally a 62 crore grosser or something without this loss. Given that the film did very well everywhere else doing well in Gujarat was a guaranteed result. This wasn’t a film that did well in pockets although it was super in the North. but also earlier this earlier Aamir had RDB which was the biggest possible success at the time for a ‘different’ film and especially one where the bulk of the business came from metros around India. Even today accounting for everything there is no film in that category that’s done better than it. No ‘multiplex only’ film, no ‘different’ film and so on. The film did 50 crores or more at the time. This to my mind made Aamir’s year better than Hrithik’s. Of course the latter had a super year but he was playing to his strengths and one of the films was a multistar sequel, the other was a sequel too. These things matter. But the contexts (won’t repeat everything I’ve said about all of this) made Aamir’s achievement more valuable and at the risk of sounding smug I think Aamir has proven my claim! Unlike others I don’t believe Aamir became big just with Ghajini!
On SRK I don’t believe he’s been an Aamir in consistency. KANK collapsed after a big initial (before this he had Paheli), Don was decent but nothing special given the budget and so on (nonetheless did fairly in terms of audience reception), he had a great 2007 with CDI/OSO (can’t take away anything here) and then he had RNBDJ at the end of 2008. So he was consistent for a few films in that relatively brief period (with Aamir we’re talking a decade and the biggest possible successes relative to genre) but then again he had a rather poorly performing MNIK in India and he hasn’t had anything since. We still await the results of Ra 1 and Don 2. But going back to RNBDJ if you’re SRK and you return with a Yashraj love story and the film opens well enough but not hugely and then picks up over the weekend and week and does rather well (big enough total and good trending) this would normally be fine except that there was Ghajini round the corner. No one had expected the sorts of numbers that film threw up and it completely drowned RNBDJ. The latter still did well but Ghajni commanded all the attention and rightly so. But even on its own terms RNBDJ wasn’t really an OSO moment for SRK. Not all hits are equal. It’s always about what the hits (or flops) mean.
And the reason I have ‘historically’ argued against SRK is not because I am somehow blind to his brand or what have you. But because the claims made about him are often outlandish both online and in the media. The standards are always changed for him. Again won’t repeat everything I’ve said for years here. By the way even with Salman I’ve said ‘controversial’ stuff. He is clearly the man of the moment with a hatrick of 100 crore grossers. But I would still put Aamir over him. At some point the pure numbers become overwhelming. Maybe if Salman has 5 of these I’d reconsider my decision but I haven’t so far. Then again Aamir could have a 100 crore grosser in a less than ‘mass-oriented’ film. Salman is currently second to none as a box office opener. No doubts about this. But that isn’t the whole story. Certainly not when G3 gets close to a 100 and SIngham does a 100!
September 6, 2011 at 1:10 PM
SRK was popular in metros and overseas only and his populartiy is big hype created by media.In reality all his big budget films like Devdas,don,KANk and MNIK did average business at indian boxoffice ,Luckily overseas collections saved those films. Also his TV shows like KBC,Kya paanchavi ka pass etc failed misreably thats shows his real popularity in all over india.Also he was not popular in masses and his films are successful beacuse yashraj/karan joahr banners.Only OSO was big hit outside these banners and beacuse of special appreances helped to get big initial for this film.
September 6, 2011 at 4:03 PM
.. And i thought srk fans were the only dumb species in the post-dinosaurean era..
September 6, 2011 at 4:26 PM
Dinosaurs were very smart actually!
September 6, 2011 at 9:37 PM
“SRK was popular in metros and overseas only and his populartiy is big hype created by media.”
Yes and in metros and overseas no one watches Panchavi pass that is why it failed…and since Bachhan’s KBC is such a huge hit it confirms his popularity and see his films are also highest grossers at the BO now a days…TV serials of other stars like Rani mukherjee are also bigger hit than Panchavi pass..
September 7, 2011 at 9:19 PM
Yes TV reaches wider audience compared to movies .Family audience not interested to watch movies unelss movie’s WOM is good like l Hum aapke hai kaun or 3 idiots.Thats why top heroes also interested do TV shows. SRK is not popular in small towns and villages or you can call single screen audience and that is the reason his TV shows received poor ratings comapred ro salman’s TV show.Regrding movies now only youth/youger audience patronizing and that is the reason Bigb movies are not doing well even though he is most popular actor in all over india.
September 7, 2011 at 9:57 PM
So a popular TV actress is more popular than Katrina Kaif..That’s what you want to say…
Do u know how is TRP calculated?? Do small towns or villages add anything to TRP calcualtion??
Do you know a lot of small towns/villages in india don’t have cinema halls near them but do have cable TV. The public there are quite aware of Film stars. If you have any doubt go to those villages and ask them before declaring anything.
September 8, 2011 at 5:34 PM
“Do u know how is TRP calculated?? Do small towns or villages add anything to TRP calcualtion?? ”
Yes definitely small towns and village add in TRP calculation.check below link
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-06-08/open-space/27214614_1_trp-television-rating-point-channel
“The public there are quite aware of Film stars. If you have any doubt go to those villages and ask them before declaring anything.”
You should know diffrence between awareness an popularity
Why Bigb ‘s KBC so popular and Srk’s KBC3 failed ?
SRK is not popular in massses like Bigb , salman and sunny deol.Problem with SRK fans ,they believe that he is most popular person in the world and they dont accept reality
September 6, 2011 at 4:00 PM
either you havent got my point or you dont want to repeat yourself which is fine.. I never asked for Fanaa’s would-have-been- business in Gujarat nor did I ask why RNBDJ didnt gross as much as Gajini or more..
September 6, 2011 at 4:19 PM
Not sure what your question is then! I think I’ve addressed everything and specially if you’ve been following me since ’06!
September 7, 2011 at 8:44 AM
spot on Satyam very fair views and valid points, i too like you don’t believe that Aamir has become a supertsar just from Ghajini it’s from Lagaan/DCH.
September 6, 2011 at 9:31 AM
Slightly off Topic..
Amar Singh arrested in cash-for-votes scam
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Amar-Singh-arrested-in-cash-for-votes-scam/articleshow/9883788.cms
September 6, 2011 at 10:45 AM
hey satyam, you missed “billoo barber”..that was a true blue srk flop
September 6, 2011 at 11:11 AM
I’ll give him a pass on this!
September 6, 2011 at 4:02 PM
You also forgot to mention Lucky By Chancce and Om Shanti Om.. Every actor in the industry gained and lost prestige because of these.
September 6, 2011 at 10:49 AM
also, i saw the malayalam version of bodyguard last week..slept through most of the movie..if this kind of a script is breaking BO records, there’s a lot to be said about salman’s star power!!
September 6, 2011 at 2:19 PM
I had reserved my judgement after seeing an underwhelming “Bodyguard”.
Was curious to see what will happen after the long festive opening weekend once the euphoria will settle.
With any lesser star (even at salmans current form) with this film, I expected a significant drop.
But seems there hasnt.
no ifs no buts—-Time to applaud Salman Khans (now undisputed) box office pull….
Orgasmic fest for the likes of Naveed and sm…
btw dont think EHT will trump 3I—though it may be the best quality Salman product in a long while —-perhaps his alltime best quality product —–(after Dabang…)
IMO Salman has already given his lifetime best film/performance—dabang &will be surprised if anything beats that
no ifs no nu
September 6, 2011 at 2:26 PM
Coming to the discussion of —who will beat 3I…
Its actually not that easy —even with the “market expansion” wherein every singham etc is notching 100 crores.
Its takes a peculiar appeal — multiplex, single screen , overseas, india, repeat audience, someone with aamir and hirani credentials to go into the mix to get that
Well—-although Im far from his fan—–but feel that in the next year or so, the only film that has a potential do that is the upcoming double-whammy from —yes—–the “self proclaimed king”.
Im not able to find a example in bollywood where the fate of two films have been so crucial not only for the “king” but the entire discourse.
SRK has done well to keep people waiting & in doubt—but the time has now come to put the doubts to rest…..
And dont think success of one of them will suffice.
Think srk has to hit BOTH the balls out of the park to establish his now disputed status…..
Soon either he shall be uncrowned officially or will reinforce it (albeit with certain clauses)
September 6, 2011 at 2:45 PM
don’t think there will be any extraordinary new benchmarks set before D3. Even here the film will have to be way better than D2, otherwise we’ll see a 150-175 crore grosser in the best case scenario but not more than this. The thing in commercial cinema is that it is always hard to do a film that has both substance and enough eye candy/songs or what have you to get the repeat audience in. If it’s only the latter you get the current Salman Khan trajectory. The right star, the right combo is big but makes a disproportionate share of the eventual gross in the first 5-7 days. If it’s more of the former the film gets the right critical attention, works very well but cannot quite get people to go in again and again. Hirani is the rare guy to be able to do both but he makes comedies. It’s much harder to do it with drama. You’re then looking at a subject where the performances and/or lines and/or plot elements hit the audience at a gut level or move them to such a degree that many in fact do want to come back for one or all of these. But that’s then the sort of authentic film that Bollywood has rarely made since the early 80s.
when in doubt it’s obviously smarter to do more on the eye candy side of the equation than the opposite. There’s a bigger safety net this way. D3 has the elements in place but it needs to be better than D2 (an easier job) but also better than the first one (somewhat more difficult) and then a whole lot more (!) to get a film that doesn’t just open in the biggest way imaginable (this is more or less a given) but also gives you that 3I sort of trending. Now of course the franchise has never tried to do anything half-serious before this! What they’d need here is a ‘serious’ soundtrack (not just the usual Preetam stuff) and most importantly a serious script with strong dramatic potential. If they make this film into a serious Aamir-Abhishek contest the rest will take care of itself. And when I say this I don’t just mean footage but a script that develops serious face-off possibilities. The actress again is crucial here (established or new). But the face-off will really be the crux.
September 7, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Dhoom 3 will be HUGE that’s all I can say, if the crap Dhoom 2 could make 85cr+ in 2006 with that patethic script then the Dhoom 3 with Aamir+good script should break all opening records and if decent should match or get close to 3 idiots! if good then 3 idiots record will be like cake.
@Satyam: your predictions for D3…?
September 6, 2011 at 2:58 PM
yes—-it is actually v difficult to beat 3i in an year or so —i mentioned above—”even with the “market expansion” wherein every singham etc is notching 100 crores. Its takes a peculiar appeal and magic potion— multiplex, single screen , overseas, india, repeat audience, someone with aamir and hirani credentials to go into the mix to get that”
Having said that—–IMO i will go on record to say that even if it is atleast a D2 level film——
D3 will break 3I record !!!!
reasons—there is a gap of atleast 1-2 years-fast market expansion
also Aamirs massy film after a long gap after ghajini
Dhoom frachise
the usual yashraj machinations…..
The REAL question is—–will Ra.one beat 3I—even if it is as good a film as being touted as and even if it is liked…
thats an intriguing question.
But the “finish line” unfortuntely has been further pushed for SRK—due to the budget, genre and a long awaited srk release.
Anything below 125-150 crores will be subpar for srk here—-strange to say and appears biased—but true
September 6, 2011 at 4:53 PM
SRK takes Ra.one to Prague….
He seems to be leaving no stone unturned……Like the spirit and the intensity —THIS is something i like about srk
Even at this stage/age, the burning desire to come out tops!!
Obviously my impression here is not only based on this dubious news report!!
http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2011/09/06/16273/index.html
^^^^the royal “buildup” has started
Having said that—–just watched the “chammak challo” akon song.
Song is not bad but again spoilt by kareena
btw prediction question—
what will be the opening weekend and lifetime gross of Ra.one
Will it beat Dabang/ 3I
Whats your take, satyam
September 6, 2011 at 8:05 PM
I’d be stunned if it got anywhere close to 3I. And SRK should be happy if it does 100 crores and regard the rest as bonus. That’s from the audience point of view. To be properly profitable this film needs to gross an astronomical amount though I am led to believe that factoring in satellite and audio rights as well as the possibility of a silver jubilee run in Phuket and finally the all the free hamburgers provided to the unit for lunch on many occasions the cost is not 135-150 crores but 120 crores and actually the film just needs to gross 45 crores to be a superhit. Because Paa and Bbuddah never got the same deal from McDonald’s. Those films actually had to gross 45 crores off a 10-12 crore cost in each case. Not to mention the obvious fact that prints and publicity for both those films cost much more than for Ra 1 and Don 2 put together. The same goes for Aamir who too spent a Paa-like amount on TZP but really needed to get 50 crores or so for his astronomical costs elsewhere. Not to mention something like RDB which at 45 crores (Nahata’s number) in 2006 scraped to a semi-hit (Nahata’s verdict) status.
Ultimately these are the facts — Ra 1 and Don 2 combined need to gross 100-120 crores. Their combined satellite rights and so on have already had offers of 300 crores. Word is that SRK and the production teams want a 450 crore deal for both. The reason being that if they can get the latter the films will be superhits even if no one watches them. Not a single one. This is the new business model. Fools like Aamir try to pull in the audience for 200 crores. And Aamir is great at these scams. He cons the audience into showing by making good films. Enough! Someone has to put an end to these unfair tactics. Not just this. he also releases his films on sunny days so that weather doesn’t prevent another from showing. After these sorts of frauds 200 crores is not a big deal. Of course nothing can compare with the Lagaan scam where he convinced the world he had made a good film.
September 6, 2011 at 8:25 PM
LO!!!
But, it is true. Thta is how the eunucs at BOI will try to portray it.
September 6, 2011 at 8:57 PM
“…as well as the possibility of a silver jubilee run in Phuket and finally the all the free hamburgers provided to the unit for lunch on many occasions the cost is not 135-150 crores but 120 crores”
LOL! Let’s not forget the pro-bono work they got out of Akon since he and SRK are old school-chums.
September 6, 2011 at 10:15 PM
Ha!
September 7, 2011 at 8:26 AM
You sound bitter, satyam.
September 7, 2011 at 8:42 AM
One gets bitter sometimes in matters of taste!
September 7, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Sorry to hear about your affected tastebuds.
But as soon as some AK film releases they’ll sweeten up (hopefully).
September 6, 2011 at 8:05 PM
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/30/2011090720110907035722418e7f05d8a/Shah-Rukh-turns-ghost-director.html
September 6, 2011 at 10:11 PM
^^lol @hamburger deals with McDonald and releasing in sunny days.. Lol
Btw saw chamak challo–&srks waist looks delectably tender , he looks quaint and reptilian and puff faced horse kareena spoils the show — akon saves the song somewhat by his vocals
September 6, 2011 at 10:23 PM
Chennai Box-Office – Special Festival weekend (August 31 to September 4, 2011)
Tuesday, 06 September , 2011, 12:15
It’s Mankatha, Mankatha, Mankatha all the way…The festival season of Ramzan and Vinayaga Chathurthi became an event at the CBO with the release of Thala Ajith’s Mankatha on August 31. The Ajith film went on to take an earth shattering opening and is the clear number one by a mile!
Mankatha has netted an unbelievable whopping Rs 2.72 crore in the five-day festival weekend from 19 screens in Chennai city. The multiplexes gave it the maximum number of shows including morning shows in all screens. Sathyam Cinemas reported a net of Rs 33, 72, 000 from two screens for the five-day weekend.
Down down below in the number four is Salman Khan’s Bodyguard, which opened in nine screens. In the fifth place is Kanchana
http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=14978423&cid=13525926
September 6, 2011 at 10:26 PM
http://satyamshot.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/mankatha-official-trailer-thala-is-back/
September 7, 2011 at 2:33 AM
i like Satyam BS its going to be great to make him look like ….
September 7, 2011 at 8:16 AM
Bodyguard Tuesday Territorial Breakdown
Wednesday 7th September 2011 15.30 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard grossed 6.50 crore nett approx on Tuesday which is 25% drop from Monday. The six day business is 99.50 crore nett approx. The Tuesday territorial breakdown is as follows
Mumbai – 2.05 crore
Delhi/UP – 1.52 crore
East Punjab – 54 lakhs
West Bengal – 32 lakhs
Bihar – 24 lakhs
Assam/Orissa – 15 lakhs
CP Berar – 39 lakhs
CI – 25 lakhs
Rajasthan – 44 lakhs
Nizam – 30 lakhs
Mysore – 25 lakhs
Tamil Nadu/Kerala – 10 lakhs
TOTAL – 6.54 crore
September 7, 2011 at 8:29 AM
Business Talk With Taran Adarsh
Tornado called ‘Bodyguard’
September 7, 2011 – 08:29 IST
It’s a Tornado. And it’s called BODYGUARD. The film has emerged the biggest opener ever in the history of Hindi cinema — a fact, I am sure, you are well aware of by now. So let’s not repeat something that’s already public. Instead, let’s talk of something else…
The one question everyone’s asking is, will BODYGUARD outdo READY [Rs 120 cr nett] and DABANGG [Rs 145 cr nett]? Well, at the rate BODYGUARD is faring, surpassing READY seems like a cakewalk. In fact, it might touch that figure [Rs 120 cr] in the next few days itself.
As for overtaking DABANGG, well, it all depends on how the film opens in its second weekend. There’s a major release this Friday [MERE BROTHER KI DULHAN] and the screen count of BODYGUARD, at plexes mainly, will be reduced to accommodate the new release. Which means that the revenue is expected to decrease in Week 2. Also, it also depends on how strong the opponent is, so the second weekend will be the deciding factor and whether it reaches the DABANGG mark or overtakes it will only be known then.
Now let’s have a look at the economics of BODYGUARD. Will simplify it for you to comprehend where the film stands vis-à-vis its costing…
Cost + P & A expenses – Rs 77 cr
Money recovered from Satellite Rights – Rs 27 cr
Sale of Music Rights – Rs 4.5 cr
Amount to be recovered from India and Overseas theatrical and Home Video – Rs 45.5 cr
The amount that was to be recovered [Rs 45.5 cr] has already been recovered from the *weekend business* of BODYGUARD. Yes, you read it right. The distributors’ share from 5-day weekend alone [from India] should be in the range of Rs 50 cr +, which makes BODYGUARD in commission already. And if one adds the Overseas revenue [US$ 5.3 million in its 5-day weekend], the makers are already laughing all the way to the bank.
The one to benefit the maximum is Salman Khan. He seems to be raising the bar with every film. This is his third film in a row to touch the Rs 100 cr mark in India, which only cements his status as the most bankable star, besides Aamir Khan. The expectations from EK THA TIGER, his next release, have only grown multi-fold.
September 7, 2011 at 8:30 AM
“This is his third film in a row to touch the Rs 100 cr mark in India, which only cements his status as the most bankable star, besides Aamir Khan. “
September 7, 2011 at 8:56 AM
‘Bodyguard’ wave all over
- By Taran Adarsh, September 7, 2011 – 09:37 IST
BODYGUARD has fetched an electrifying start in the international markets as well. In fact, the film has already overtaken DABANGG’s international gross of US$ 5 million to become Salman’s biggest grossing film ever in Overseas. BODYGUARD stood at US$ 5.3 million in the international markets, till Sunday … BOL got affected due to the BODYGUARD wave internationally, but despite the absence of big names, the film has recorded better collections than several biggies released earlier this year … Tamil film MANKATHA has fared exceptionally well … 3 IDIOTS is superb in South Korea.
Weekend: September 2 – 4, 2011.
U.K. BOX-OFFICE
BODYGUARD: In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 8,39,833 [approx. Rs. 6.21 crores] on 51 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 16,467. Note:- 6-day weekend. Addendum:- BODYGUARD is nearing Salman’s biggest hit in U.K. – HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN [UK Pounds 1.05 million] set in 1994. HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN was one of the first Hindi films to hit the 1 million Pound mark in U.K. Salman will break his own record after 17 years in U.K.
MANKATHA [Tamil]: In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 1,10,383 [approx. Rs. 81.72 lacs] on 16 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 6,899.
BOL: In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 93,290 [approx. Rs. 69.07 lacs] on 22 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 4,240. Note:- 6-day weekend.
ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA: In its eighth weekend, the film has collected £ 2,356 on 2 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 1,178. Total: £ 8,95,069 [approx. Rs. 6.63 crores].
AARAKSHAN: In its fourth weekend, the film has collected £ 966 on 1 screen. Total: £ 1,72,420 [approx. Rs. 1.28 crores].
JIHNE MERA DIL LUTEYA [Punjabi]: In its sixth weekend, the film has collected £ 318 on 1 screen. Total: £ 79,540 [approx. Rs. 58.90 lacs].
U.S.A. BOX-OFFICE
BODYGUARD: In its opening weekend, the film has collected $ 13,61,790 [approx. Rs. 6.27 crores] on 88 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 15,475. Monday collections included.
BOL: In its opening weekend, the film has collected $ 1,05,354 [approx. Rs. 48.45 lacs] on 38 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 2,772. Monday collections included.
U.A.E. BOX-OFFICE
BODYGUARD: Has collected US$ 1.96 million [approx Rs. 9.04 crores] till Sunday. Is set to become the 4th highest in history by overhauling GHAJINI’s total of US$ 2.16 million. BODYGUARD broke DABANGG’s mark of US$ 1.7 million [lifetime] in 5 days flat, by Saturday, 3 September.
AUSTRALIA BOX-OFFICE
BODYGUARD: In its opening weekend, the film has collected Aus. $ 2,47,524 [approx. Rs. 1.20 crores] on 16 screens, with the per screen average working out to Aus. $ 15,470. Note:- 5-day weekend.
NEW ZEALAND BOX-OFFICE
BODYGUARD: In its opening weekend, the film has collected NZ$ 86,344 on 5 screens [approx. Rs. 33.45 lacs], with the per screen average working out to NZ$ 17,269. Note:- 5-day weekend.
FIJI BOX-OFFICE
BODYGUARD: In its opening weekend, the film has collected FJ$ 74,192 on 2 screens [approx. Rs. 19.34 lacs], with the per screen average working out to FJ$ 37,096. Note:- Thursday to Monday figures.
REST OF THE WORLD
BODYGUARD: Has grossed US$ 570,000 [approx. Rs. 2.63 crores] in rest of the world markets, with Pakistan leading the way with US$ 300,000 [approx. Rs. 1.38 crores] till Sunday.
SOUTH KOREA BOX-OFFICE
3 IDIOTS: In its third weekend, the film has collected Won 214,348,500 on 133 screens. Total: Won 2,022,554,500 [approx. Rs. 8.68 crores].
September 7, 2011 at 8:58 AM
Hope people are adding the 3I numbers here to the worldwide total! Specially those who were following 12th week collections for MNIK in Irkutsk!
September 7, 2011 at 10:48 AM
MNIK seems to have set a trend for bollywood films there in S Korea (and elsewhere).
I’m not surprised. With all their arty tarty films these must offer a pleasant diversion. Same as here in Europe where fans of bollywood films are ever on the increase…because of the difference, and of course SRK remains the ‘star’ they know most.
September 7, 2011 at 10:56 AM
think Black released in S Korea before MNIK..
September 7, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Not only it did but made more money than MNIK almost a decade ago. In South Korea.
September 7, 2011 at 4:19 PM
You mean Black didn’t leave any lasting impact ?
10 years is a long time.
Never mind. The rekindling has been successful.
September 7, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Lol^^^
talking of Irkutsk —unveiling a current curiosity — in reel n real life —-mila kunis
September 7, 2011 at 10:29 AM
^^^^ hope not to do a Justin timberlake….lol
Btw Dates have been marked(without my knowldge) &have already been “prebooked” by some crazy nubile fans of the “only khan that matters” imp release to “grace ” the occasion by my company—lol haha
The film in question is ra1—of all the films.
I better start pretending to be an SRK fan (briefly)….
September 7, 2011 at 10:29 AM
Talking of 3I totals, domestically tow films I think have POTENTIAL of coming close are D3 and Ra.One. Nothing I have seen of Ra.One actually convinces me that it will but a lavishly mounted Sci-Fi film that can appeal to an entire family and starring an erstwhile superstar is one way to go about beating 3I. And, another way is a very popular franchise from the biggest production house with the reigning superstar in an unlikely role. The others can be huge grossers but cannot match 3I.
September 7, 2011 at 10:40 AM
My take — maybe wrong but can be revisited later to double check.
Have seen certain orgasmic frenzy first hand and not from expected quarters.
I go on record—
D3 will break 3I
Ra1 has to be liked to avoid a kites like fate first.
But there won’t be a “middle ground” on ra1.
But if it is Even reasonably liked, ra1 will not stop at
Ready, bodyguard, dabang will be taken in it’s wake to fall Just short of 3I !!!
September 7, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Somehow don’t want Srk to get destroyed– that’s what will happen if ra1/don2 tank.
He doesn’t deserve that fate(yet).
Feel Srk needs to stay relevant for bollywood as of now(inspite of my own subpar opinion of his acting n certain aspects of personality)
When singhams and golmaals are creaming 100 crores–c’mon let’s give Srk some respect….
Afterall he is/was the “king” (with no clothes ) lol
September 7, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Dont worry. Don2 is certainly not going to tank.May not break records but is a very safe bet. I do hope for a graceful exit for every one.Sooner or later the sun is going to set on his career as it is going to happen with all Khans and all actors. One just hope that it is dignified and graceful and relatively painless.
It is a rare bird and a rare talent like AB that has such longevity and maintains relevance so late into their life.
For those who watch KBC, hearing him recite lines from Kabhi Kabhie on yesterday’s episode was still magic.
September 7, 2011 at 10:54 AM
“Same as here in Europe where fans of bollywood films are ever on the increase”—agree there. Have seen it first hand although molnowhere on the scale that kjo/Srk would want us to believe…..
Btw which country in europe is oldgold ( of “jude” fame– If I’m not mistaken ) from ….?? Lol
September 7, 2011 at 3:28 PM
Definitely D3 will go close or past 3 Idiots. The market is so big now. Bodyguard is making 100 crore in like 6-7 days. Come next year, D3 will make that in 5 days. The rest will be quick too. Bodyguard looks like it will get close to Dabangg without really creating the euphoria that that film created.
The benchmarks will be established once an SRK or Aamir film releases. But Salman has really made the small centres his own and to cover that shortfall you really need a montrous performance in multiplexes. Can’t see any film this year doing it. Betting on D3 all the way!
September 7, 2011 at 6:14 PM
It’s true that Dabanng has easily been one of the most iconic films in the last half-decade or more. It’s become a part of the culture and lingo in very many ways. What’s surprising though is that given all this the film couldn’t really trend like Ghajini when the latter can hardly match it on this scale of ‘popular currency’.
In terms of D3 you’re right but I’m also looking for a film that does the Ghajini sort of trending at the very least if not 3I. It’s possible, the films aren’t doing it because they’re mostly disposable cinema riding on Salman’s stardom. But Singham trended very well. Presumably with Salman this film could have opened bigger and trended the same. But we saw Rajneeti get to 90 crores or more by trending quite well. So in a film with enough substance this is possible. On D3 I don’t think Aamir would appear in a D2 like film. I expect a better script here.
The film I’m most looking forward to at this point though is this next Aamir film. Abhishek has very commercial stuff coming up, I’ll show up but it’s nothing to be excited about (though I’d be excited if he did the right kind of masala film). There are some other films that interest me (Agent Vinod for example) but can’t say I’m really excited about anything with the major stars in it. And again the Aamir film because it seems to be a narrative-driven subject.
September 8, 2011 at 7:40 AM
Bodyguard Wednesday Early Estimate
Thursday 8th September 2011 10.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
Bodyguard collected around 5.50 crore nett as per early estimates on Wednesday. The fall from Tuesday to Wednesday was a normal weekday fall. The collections for the first eight days are around 105.50 crore nett.
The film will cross the distributor share of Dabangg to become the second highest revenue earner in the domestic market after Three Idiots, The nett business of Dabangg at 140 crore nett should also be crossed but it depends on the second weekend.
A 150 crore nett total may also be possible but that is looking towards the top of the range going by present trending. In Rajasthan and Bihar it is likely to have the highest distributor share ever.
September 8, 2011 at 7:57 AM
SRK might replace Salman in KJo’s film
Karan Johar last worked with Salman Khan in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. And after more than a decade, the two were teaming up together in a film directed by Rensil D’Silva.
But it looks like, SRK might step into Sallu’s shoes, all because of the actor’s nerve ailment and a choc-a-bloc date diary. Salman Khan has apparently got a week’s ultimatum from Dharma Productions to work on his dates or else his arch-rival Shah Rukh Khan would replace him.
Post his surgery Salman Khan will get busy with EK Tha Tiger and Sher Khan. He also has a second surgery scheduled in US. In such circumstances, it’s unlikely that Sallu would be able to give dates to KJo.
Katrina Kaif, who’s already doing a YRF film with SRK, would then star opposite him again in the movie. Wonder if she would be happy or sad with the development.
September 8, 2011 at 7:58 AM
Singham collection reaches Rs 100 crore
Filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s action-packed Singham, starring Ajay Devgn as an honest cop fighting to clean the system, has earned Rs.100 crore net in India in its sixth week.
It is said to be the seventh film all time to have crossed the mark of Rs 100 crore net in collections. Produced by Reliance Entertainment, the film is still going strong in the theatres. It will complete 50 days on September 10.
“A hard-hitting story, the wonderful combination of director Rohit Shetty and star Ajay Devgn and some amazing action sequences have resulted in an extremely successful run for the film,” Sanjeev Lamba, CEO, Reliance Entertainment said in a statement.
“Singham is the first mainstream film produced by Reliance Entertainment and we are very pleased with the results,” he added.
The cast of the film also includes Kajal Aggarwal and Prakash Raj.