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Lights, camera, little action: ‘Bell Bottom’, ‘Chehre’ yet to pull crowds

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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.”

Entertainment

Mumbai: Pan-India Hawala Trail Exposes Chilling Conspiracy Behind Rohit Shetty House Firing Case

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Mumbai: A breakthrough has emerged in the investigation into the firing incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Mumbai, with Crime Branch sources indicating that the attack was financed entirely through hawala channels.

According to investigators, the accused involved in recruiting the shooters, identified as Golu Pandit, received funds via an illegal hawala network rather than through formal banking systems. The money was allegedly routed through multiple locations, including Nepal, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.

Sources further revealed that the financial operations were orchestrated by Arju Bishnoi, an operator linked to the Bishnoi gang. The gang reportedly used its network to channel funds and execute the plan.

Golu Pandit is said to have played a crucial role in the conspiracy. He not only recruited the shooters but also arranged shelter, logistics, and other support required for carrying out the attack. Preliminary findings suggest that the incident was not spontaneous, but the result of a well-planned operation executed over a period of time.

‘Maintain Silence’ Instructions Before Arrest : Crime Branch sources also disclosed that Golu Pandit had been instructed in advance to remain silent if apprehended by the police. Following the arrest of shooters in Haryana, the gang anticipated that Pandit could be the next target of law enforcement action.

It is alleged that jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi conveyed a message through Arju Bishnoi, directing Golu Pandit not to reveal any information about other members of the syndicate under any circumstances. As a result, despite nearly 12 days of police custody, investigators have reportedly been unable to extract significant additional information from him.

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Dhurandhar 2 Box Office Collection Day 9: Ranveer Singh Starrer Earns ₹41.55 Crore On Its Second Friday; Enters ₹700 Crore Club

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Ranveer Singh starrer Dhurandhar The Revenge, in just nine days, has entered the Rs. 700 crore club. The film took a fantastic opening and had an amazing first extended weekend. Even on weekdays, it performed very well, and although it showed a drop in collections on its second Friday, the movie has still collected a very good amount.

According to Sacnilk, on its ninth day, Dhurandhar 2 collected Rs. 41.55 crore, taking the total to Rs. 715.72 crore, which is an exceptional amount. The Aditya Dhar directorial has already left films like Jawan, Chhaava, Stree 2, and others behind at the box office in just a few days.

Its next aim is to cross the lifetime collection of SS Rajamouli’s RRR, which had collected Rs. 782.20 crore. Currently, Dhurandhar 2 is at the sixth position when it comes to the highest-grossing Indian film, and at the second spot when it comes to the highest-grossing Hindi film.

Dhurandhar part 1 had collected Rs. 840 crore, and it is the highest-grossing Hindi film till now. It is expected that Dhurandhar 2 will surpass the lifetime collection of Dhurandhar 1 and become the highest-grossing Bollywood film to date.

Dhurandhar 2 Rs. 1000 Crore Club

When it comes to the worldwide gross box office collection, Dhurandhar 2 has already crossed the Rs. 1000 crore mark. It has collected Rs. 1,128.99 gross worldwide.

However, the trade is expecting that the Ranveer Singh starrer will mint more than Rs. 1000 crore net at the box office in India.

Will Dhurandhar 2 Beat Pushpa 2?

Till now, Aalu Arjun starrer Pushpa 2 The Rule is the highest-grossing Indian film if we look at the net collection in India. The film had minted Rs. 1,234.10 crore at the box office. So, let’s wait and watch whether Dhurandhar 2 will be able to beat Pushpa 2 or not.

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‘Dhurandhar 2 Is A Pakistani Film, Why Show It To People Of Hindustan?’ Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi Slams Ranveer Singh Starrer Movie

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Mumbai: Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi on Friday slammed the Ranveer Singh starrer Dhurandhar 2, calling it ‘a false film’ made to spread hatred. Azmi added that the film is about Pakistan and questioned why it is being shown to audiences in India. His statements came as the release of ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ triggered fresh controversy, with religious leaders raising concerns over its content.

While speaking to media, he questioned, “This film is made only to spread hatred, it is a false film. It is a Pakistani film, so why not show it to the people of Pakistan? Why show the people of Hindustan?”

Azmi accused the film of defaming Muslims, as he alleged that the movie focuses only on a few criminals while ignoring the many major crimes that have occurred in India.

Earlier, SP MLA Rais Shaikh had criticised the film and raised concerns saying that cinema should entertain, not become a tool for propaganda. Taking to his official handle on X (Formerly Twitter), Shaikh claimed that films like Dhurandhar blur the line between storytelling and political messaging, calling the film an agenda, not an art. “Films like #Dhurandhar blur the line between storytelling and political messaging, repeatedly glorifying one government. This isn’t art, it’s agenda,” he wrote.

AIMIM leader Waris Pathan stated movies should ideally provide knowledge and entertainment, alleging that some filmmakers create such content for monetary gain while spreading negativity against a specific community. 

Despite the controversy, the film garnered a massive box office collection by crossing the Rs 100 crore mark on Day 1 itself. With this, the film’s total collection now stands at a staggering Rs 145.55 crore (all languages), setting the tone for a blockbuster run ahead.

During the paid previews on March 18, the film faced cancellations and delays across India. Not just this, Director Aditya Dhar also issued an apology to the audience after last-minute cancellations and delays.

Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar 2 is a spy action thriller that stars Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, and Sara Arjun. Dhurandhar 2 offers a glimpse into Ranveer’s character, undercover agent Jaskirat Singh Rangi, who is fully embedded in the criminal underworld under the alias Hamza Ali Mazari. It also depicts his ascension to the role of the new Sher-e-Baloch and his ascendancy as the undisputed king of Lyari, as the actor unleashes his full intensity after eliminating Akshaye Khanna’s character, Rahman Dakait, in the first part.

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