Entertainment
Lights, camera, little action: ‘Bell Bottom’, ‘Chehre’ yet to pull crowds
Two back-to-back big releases — Akshay Kumar’s ‘Bell Bottom’ and the Amitabh Bachchan star vehicle, ‘Chehre’, both well-received by critics — may have buoyed the spirits of film exhibitors, but their box-office collections have been far from encouraging.
‘Bell Bottom’, which was released on August 19, according to trade analysts, has grossed Rs 18.55 crore till date. Compare this with the Rs 64.99 crore collected in its opening weekend by ‘Good Newzz’ (with Diljit Dosanjh), Akshay’s last film before the first nationwide Covid-19 lockdown. And that was far less than the extended opening weekend earnings — Rs 97.56 crore — of the other big 2019 film, ‘Mission Mangal’.
A number of factors have contributed to this significant drop in earnings: cinema theatres are still under lockdown in Mumbai and Pune, depriving Bollywood of 25 per cent of its revenues; the requirement in a number of malls for patrons to produce double vaccination certificates before being allowed in, which is affecting attendance in theatres located in malls; and, significantly, the closure of 1,500 single screens across India because of the pandemic-induced economic stress.
On ‘Chehre’, which opened on Friday, the analysts were not very bullish about box-office figures. Karan Taurani of Elara Capital predicted that it would make a “lifetime collection” of Rs 5-6 crore because of its “niche” storyline that only a “discerning audience” would appreciate.
Taurani also pointed out that collections have been low because of “very low occupancy in morning shows and night shows not being allowed”. He also blamed the low occupancies forced by social distancing norms being in force. Also, over the last eight days, barring this past Sunday, which did see a spike in Delhi as a result of Raksha Bandhan festivities, attendance in theatres was at an all-time low across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Exhibitors, however, are cautiously optimistic about their business coming back to life, even if partially, because of ‘Bell Bottom’ and ‘Chehre’.
Gautam Dutta, CEO, PVR Limited, said in a conversation with IANS: “Post the reopening of cinemas after the second wave, ‘Bell Bottom’ was the first big Bollywood movie to have hit the big screen. And it has done reasonably well within the restrictions in capacity, show limitations and weekend closures.”
He also emphasised the lockdown still in place for cinema theatres in “major markets such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.”
The sentiment was share by Rajender Singh Jyala, Chief Programming Officer, INOX Leisure.
Speaking to IANS, he said: “We have always said that the industry needed a couple of mass entertainers to kick off the recovery process, and we are glad that these have arrive and are doing phenomenally well, despite the restrictions.”
“We positively hope that the momentum built by the fantastic response to ‘Bell Bottom’ in the week gone by, and the hype around ‘Chehre’, would mark the onset of our revival journey.”
For Dutta, more than the initial numbers, it is the momentum that matters. He said to IANS: “We are encouraged by the release of the long-awaited ‘Chehre’ today. Hope this will encourage producers from the Bollywood fraternity to announce their big films for theatrical release and get movie-goers back to cinemas.”
Bollywood
BB 20: Yung DSA opens up on growing up amid parents’ financial struggles

Mumbai : Rapper and musician Yung DSA opened up about his childhood. He recalled a difficult phase when financial problems would often lead to fights between his parents and how those experiences made him accustomed to living away from his family.
During a conversation inside the Bigg Boss season 20 house, Yung DSA was asked by Arishfa Kham as to whom he was missing the most at the moment. While he mentioned his close friend Samiksha, he said that being away from his parents was something he had become used to from a young age.
“I mean, I am used to staying away from parents, to be honest. When I was a kid, my mom used to go to Solapur. My grandparents used to live there, so we used to go there to get things,” he recalled.
He then opened up about the financial difficulties his family faced during his childhood and how they affected his parents’ relationship.
“My parents used to fight a lot because of financial issues. So, my dad and mom used to work and my brother and I used to live alone. So, I am used to it,” Yung DSA said.
He said that frequent travel and work-related commitments later further accustomed him to staying away from home.
“I used to travel a lot. So, I have moved away and stayed away from home a lot,” he added.
Despite spending considerable time away from his family, Yung DSA stressed that the distance has not affected their bond. “My family and I are very much connected. But I’m used to living without them,” he said.
The rapper during the family messages task inside the Bigg Boss house was seen getting extremely emotional upon listening to his mother, father and brother’s voice.
Bollywood
Qazi Touqeer calls Arijit Singh the ‘father of crazy things’

Mumbai : Singer Qazi Touqeer opened up about his bond with fellow singer Arijit Singh.
He described the latter as a private person who, despite his reserved nature, shares a similar sense of craziness with him.
Talking about Arijit to Arishfa Khan and Uditi Singh in Bigg Boss Season 20, Qazi said the singer has a different level of madness and is someone who keeps pushing himself to explore more.
“When Arijit and I sit together, Arijit has pain in the stomach laughing. My level is different from his. He also does crazy things. He is the father of crazy things. But he is a private person. He only opens up with his close people. He is like me,” Qazi said.
Qazi went on to describe how Arijit’s curiosity and creative approach continue to push him further. “He keeps increasing his level of craziness. He digs the well so much. He finds the fun part, digs in more. But that’s how it should be,” he said.
Praising Arijit’s personality, Qazi added, “He is crazy. He is beautiful. It should not end. He is amazing. He is a champ. He has the attitude of a champion.”
Drawing a parallel between himself and Arijit, Qazi said the two share a similar personality despite their different levels of expression. “But we both are the same. He and me, we both are the same,” he said.
For the uninitiated, Qazi and Arijit have both carved their own spaces in the Indian music industry, with Qazi gaining popularity after winning the first season of the singing reality show Fame Gurukul. Arijit went on to become one of the most prominent playback singers of contemporary Hindi cinema.
After Qazi entered Bigg Boss 20, Arijit took to his private X account to cheer for his former Fame Gurukul co-contestant, writing, “I will have to watch Bigg Boss for the first time because apna rockstar Qazi hai udhar.”
Bollywood
Saif relives his Rajasthan road trip during ‘Laal Kaptaan’, Kareena reacts

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan decided to relive his Rajasthan road trip during the shoot for his 2019 drama, ‘Laal Kaptaan’.
On Friday, he uploaded some snippets from his road trip to Ramathra, Deogarh and Narlai. Saif revealed that the journey was filled with great music, great highways, Ancient forts, and rugged locations.
“What a road trip ! Great music and great highways ! What an adventure making Laal Kaptaan… Ancient forts and stunning, rugged locations in romantic Rajasthan .. we had a really great time on this ambitious, mad and sadly, ultimately doomed adventure !! But what a ride !! Ramathra, Deogarh and Narlai !! (among others !) (sic)”, Saif wrote on the photo-sharing app.
Reacting to the post, wife Kareen Kapoor mentioned in the comment section, “Finally you can post all your favourite pictures love”, followed by two red heart emoticons.
Saif has been acing the social media game ever since he joined Instagram in October this year. The ‘Hum Tum’ actor has been treating the netizens with fun glimpses from various aspects of his life.
On Wednesday, Saif shared that he has resumed his fitness routine as he prepares to welcome the New Year.
The ‘Omkara’ actor provided a glimpse of his latest workout session. In the clip, Saif was seen performing some yoga asanas in his garden, wearing nothing but shorts. He was seen flaunting his well-toned physique and muscles as he focused on bringing both his mind and body back on track for the coming year.
“Time to get back to work!.. First the mind.. then the body .. back on track for a happy new year,” Saif wrote on his official handle.
Meanwhile, Saif recently appeared with Kareena on Karan Johar’s popular chat show ‘Koffee With Karan’.
In a hilarious moment during the episode, Karan asked the couple to call someone famous. Saif wanted to call his wine dealer, but when Bebo pointed out that the wine dealer was not a celebrity, the actor quipped, “Well, he is a celebrity to me.”
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