Pathaan has been a special for Yash Raj Films for many reasons. Starting from the fact that the film marks the return of the King Khan in big screens after four years to it releasing at the time YRF will be completing 50 years and that’s probably the reason why the production house is leaving no stone unturned to amplify the immense buzz around the film. Last week, the song ‘Besharam Rang’, picturized on the leading man Shah Rukh Khan and leading lady Deepika Padukone, and it showcased the anticipation that the film has. According to a recent post of the production house on social media, the song has already crossed 100M+ views.

Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, who are also one of the most popular onscreen couples, were last seen together in Farah Khan’s Happy New Year in 2014. The onscreen Jodi too is making a return on the silver screen after almost nine years and fans couldn’t be happier to see them together. Coming to the song, ‘Besharam Rang’ is set against the backdrop of picturesque beaches in Spain and it also gives us a sneak peek into the intense chemistry of the duo. While fans are gushing over the song for its romance, and Deepika’s flawless bikini avatars, they cannot wait to see what more Pathaan has in store for them.

100M+ views and we are just getting started ???????? Groove to the beats of #BesharamRang song now! https://t.co/vI9U0qxLVF

Celebrate #Pathaan with #YRF50 only at a big screen near you on 25th January, 2023. Releasing in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. pic.twitter.com/DDApneiKMF

— Yash Raj Films (@yrf) December 17, 2022

Talking about the film, Pathaan is directed by Siddharth Anand and features Shah Rukh Khan in the role of an undercover spy. The film will also star Deepika Padukone in a similar character along with John Abraham playing the antagonist. Interestingly, this film will be a part of the ambitious spy-universe of Yash Raj Films which also includes the popular Tiger franchise starring Salman Khan. It is being said that the superstar too will be seen in a cameo in this action entertainer. Pathaan is releasing on January 25 in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

Also Read: #AskSRK: Here’s what Shah Rukh Khan had to predict about the business of Pathaan

Fans of Shah Rukh Khan already made it special for the superstar by celebrating his birthday in November in a grand manner. Now they are eager to catch him on the silverscreen after a four year hiatus in Pathaan and their excitement has only increased with the release of the teaser as well as the first song from the film, ‘Besharam Rang’. So when the megastar planned for a #AskSRK session last evening, it didn’t come as a surprise that fans wanted to know more about this YRF action entertainer.

Last evening, Shah Rukh Khan decided to interact with his fans through the Q&A session, #AskSRK and the curious fans had many questions ranging from his films to his personal life. While there were many who expressed their excitement about the release of Pathaan, one fan had a unique request and it was to postpone the release of the film. It seems that the fan requested the superstar to push the release of the spy entertainer by a day and knowing the superstar’s witty sense of humour, his answer definitely left many in splits.

Tum shaadi 26 ko karlo ( Republic Day parade ke baad ) chutti bhi hai us din….#Pathaan https://t.co/XmoUdSYa29

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) December 17, 2022

The fan requested, “#AskSRK Sir, I am getting merried on 25th Jan. Can you please postpone Pathaan to 26th. That would be great. Thank you.” To the same, the superstar responded, “Tum shaadi 26 ko karlo ( Republic Day parade ke baad ) chutti bhi hai us din….#Pathaan”.

Talking about the film Pathaan, the action-entertainer will see the famous onscreen couple, Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone return to the big screen together after nine years. The film will have John Abraham playing the role of an antagonist. Directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Yash Raj Films, the film will feature SRK as a spy and is slated to release on January 25 in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

Also Read: #AskSRK: Here’s what Shah Rukh Khan had to predict about the business of Pathaan

Anees Bazmee, who has given the famine-ridden Hindi film industry a rare hit Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 in 2022, is deeply concerned about the frog-in-the-well attitude of filmmakers in Bollywood. “The audience and its tastes and preferences in cinema have changed radically in the last two years. You can’t serve them stale bakwas (nonsense) and expect them to make that trip into movie theatres just because you have lined up stars in a project. Visiting the theatre is like taking an out-of-town trip for the public. Our filmmakers have to understand that the script is the real star now. If you work on that department, everything automatically falls into place,” says Anees, who calls himself a lifetime student of cinema.

“A lot of filmmakers say they are open to learning about cinema. But they are not. They are lying. They only say this because it is fashionable to do so. I am an unabashed student of cinema. I watch a lot of films from all over the world. Believe me; they have a lot to teach us. We can’t be frogs in the well. We have to know what kind of cinema is being made in the rest of the world to grow as filmmakers,” reiterates Anees.

Speaking on the changing tastes of the audience Anees says, “Woh bhola-bhala darshak abb nahin raha. That innocent viewer, who would meekly lap up anything you served him, does not exist anymore. Today’s audience is aware of cinema all over the world, thanks to the OTT platform. With one click you can watch cinema from any part of the world. And the audience is no longer put off by subtitles. They can read and watch at the same time.”

Also Read: Anees Bazmee breaks his silence over outstanding payments and Hera Pheri 3; says, “Firoz Nadiadwala owes me money; I hope he clears my payments before Hera Pheri 3”

Bollywood Hungama recently reported that Sanjay Gupta’s upcoming films will skip a theatrical release and premiere on a digital platform directly. We exclusively spoke to the popular producer-director about this, the box office scenario at present and a lot more.

You recently announced that you’ll be releasing Fardeen Khan-Riteish Deshmukh starrer Visfot and your directorial venture, starring Harshvardhan Rane and Meezan Jafri directly on OTT. Could you tell us the reason behind it?
After the first lockdown, we all were wondering ‘Now what?’. Those six months were very tough. Then the second lockdown took place. I was clear that the cinema going experience is going to change forever. I saw it coming two years back. While that happens and while we figure out, which we are still trying to figure out, we had a bunch of stories and we developed them during the two lockdowns. Through video calls, I interacted with my different teams of writers. We created a lot of these projects and we were clear that it’ll go straight to digital. We shot those films accordingly. So, from day 1, it was decided that these will be OTT releases. But in today’s scenario, my producing partner might tell me that we might have to release the film in theatres due to contractual obligations. But that’s not happened at least till now.

Nevertheless, despite these films are for digital, they are very cinematic. A lot of the content created in India in Hindi which is released directly on the OTT platforms is not cinematic. Usme woh bade parde waali baat nahin hai. I don’t see these films and be like ‘I wish I had seen this in the theatre’. I am trying to bridge that gap in my films. When you’ll watch (Visfot or my directorial venture), you’ll remark ‘Yeh bade parde ki picture main chote parde pe dekh raha hoon’.

When will these two films be out?
It’ll be released in the first half of 2023.

A lot of films, even those starring big names, flopped at the box office recently. A section of the industry is hence asking for price correction and reduction in star fees. Do you think that it’s a fair point?
Yes, it is an extremely fair point. Paying a huge fee to the actor was not unfair as they used to guarantee certain footfalls. But if that is not happening now, it is unfair to ask for those prices. Somewhere, the correction has to take place. We are working out a mechanism where the idea should be that if you are getting the footfall, then you can take your money. But don’t take your money if you are not getting the desired footfall. So, in my opinion, the payment will have to be more performance-based. Aapko Rs. 100 crores lene hai toh lo, lekin aap Rs. 150 crores ka dhanda toh kara lo. Or else, if you want Rs. 100 crores as your fees, make sure that the film’s digital rights are sold for Rs. 80 or 90 crores. Then I am willing to bet. And most practical producers are adopting a simple approach – your COP (cost of production) should be what you earn from digital. It’s as simple as that. Because the theatrical scenario is quite unpredictable like never before and ever since cinema was born. I’d say that if the gamble pays off, actors can keep 80% of the share. No problem with that. Because you have earned it. But if the numbers are not there, then it’s unfair that the actor’s fees are coming out of the producer’s pocket.

Nowadays, it’s also said that the music is not working. Do you agree?
It’s a catch-22. Earlier, we were consuming music from the music channels. Now we are watching songs on YouTube and usually, it’s a one-time watch. Which was the last song that you went and saw for the second or third time? It might be for a rare hit song like say ‘Manike’.

But aren’t people still watching songs on TV? The BARC reports indicate that music channels have a lot of viewership…
I don’t know but what I do know is that we are not spending for playing on these channels. Also, we are not advertising as actively as we did. We are not promoting the film as we used to. And then we are saying ‘filmon mein music nahin hai’.

I guess the songs are there in the film but don’t have a shelf life. An exception is ‘Kesariya’ from Brahmastra, which became a big hit as it was a soulful number, a rarity in today’s times…
Yes, true. But the director’s last film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) had seven blockbuster songs. He’s now delivering just one blockbuster song. Shayad utni mehnat humne bhi karna bandh kar di hai. In my opinion, movies are remembered by their music. Nobody remembers actors or directors or stories as much as you remember songs.

Almost all your films have had some great songs which are fondly remembered even today…
Even my next film has some good numbers. We have worked hard on it. Visfot, however, has no songs (as per the requirement of the story). My directorial film has two young heroes and heroines and is based in Goa. It has youthful numbers. I can’t think of making a film without music. Zinda (2006) had no music but is one of my best albums. Dus Kahaniyaan (2007) had no songs, except for the title song in the end credits. But it has one of the best albums from White Feather Films. I used to always have a double disc, consisting of the club version and the lounge version. Dus Kahaniyaan had a triple disc. Besides club and lounge versions, there was one more CD comprising 10 poems, written by Gulzar and it was inspired by the ten stories. These poems were narrated by different actors from Shabana ji to Naseer saab to Sanju to Nana Patekar to Dia Mirza etc. And it had Bappa Lahiri’s music as well.

You have also announced Shootout 3. What’s the latest update and have you signed any actors?
That is a call Ekta Kapoor has to take. And no, we haven’t approached any of the actors yet. We are still finalizing the script. It was written during the first lockdown. Between then and now, a lot has changed. Ekta is also involved creatively and we are revisiting the script. As soon as the script gets updated, we’ll go ahead.

I believe in all you are coming up with 5 films, out of which you are directing 2 films…
There’s a lot that has been lined up for the next 2-3 years. White Feather Films is going to be extremely active as we are working with a string of directors and coming out with multiple films. One by one, we’ll keep releasing them. 2022 was busy as we completed 2 films. We want to keep the momentum going and hence, there’ll be a lot more happening in 2023.

Also Read: Sanjay Gupta confirms that Fardeen Khan’s comeback film Visfot, co-starring Riteish Deshmukh, will skip theatrical release and premiere directly on an OTT platform

Kareena Kapoor Khan, who recently returned home after a long shoots schedule in London, is spending quality time with her family and enjoying the little moments of being a mother. She, along with husband Saif Ali Khan, was recently seen cheering and supporting her son Taimur Ali Khan at a sports event at his school. The couple, yet again, played perfect parents as they planned a lovely birthday bash for Tim, which was Star Wars themed along with a small cameo from Angry Birds.

Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan planned a perfect Star Wars themed party for their ‘Jedi Tim’. In fact, the actress who is quite active on social media shared a few photos from the fun bash. One of them was a photo of her beloved son Taimur Ali Khan, sliding down the Angry Birds themed bouncy castle, as she proudly exclaimed in the caption, “Ok a clear sign the party was a hit… My Jedi Tim…”

 

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Besides that, she also thanked the event management company for putting this Star Wars themed party together. She also shared a couple of fun moments from the bash on her Instagram story.

A few photos were also posted by the actress’ fan pages, in which it was observed that the cake for the bash was also planned according to the theme. The monochrome birthday cake featured Star Wars in its iconic font along with an edible figurine of a Storm Trooper (popular character from the American sci-fi franchise).

 

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Coming to the work front, Kareena Kapoor Khan will next be seen making her OTT debut with the Netflix film, which is an adaptation of the Japanese Novel, Devotion of Suspect X. The untitled venture is directed by Sujoy Ghosh. She also has a Hansal Mehta directorial in the pipeline, in which she is expected to essay the role of a cop.

Also Read: Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan support Taimur Ali Khan at his school event; Shahid Kapoor’s wife Mira and Karan Johar also attend it

Riteish Deshmukh will reunite with his wife Genelia D’Souza for Ved but it will be the first time where the real-life married couple will be seen together as the leads in a Marathi film. While this film is special for many reasons for the Deshmukhs, another exciting thing is the cameo by Salman Khan. We all know that Riteish shares a great bond with Khan and now superstar will be seen in a special dance number with his B-town buddy in this remake of Majili.

Sharing a glimpse of it on social media, Salman Khan featured in his quintessential ‘tapori’ style with the Bhai swagger that will definitely remind you of Radhe from Wanted. The teaser of the song, which seems to be titled ‘Ved Lavlay’, shows off Salman and Riteish Deshmukh clinging their drink glasses that are placed in their back pocket and it seems that these full-on typical Khan moves have won the hearts of Bhai fans. Posting about it on his Instagram page, Salman said, “Bhau cha birthday aahe - @riteishd Gift to Banta hai. Enjoy #vedlavlay #ved30dec @geneliad”.

 

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Fans, who came across the post, couldn’t stop gushing about the Khan swagger, as one of them commented, “Glass in pocket... it's really Salman Khan's style”. Yet another fan said, “East or West Bhai is the best.” Another user added, “Bhai ka apna style hai… sabse alag… awesome”, whereas one of the users mentioned, “The best gift we can say”. Many fans poured their excitement as they are eagerly awaiting the release of the song.

While Bhai fans would be aware that Salman Khan’s birthday is on December 27, Ved is expected to be one of the last releases of 2022, as the film hits the big screen on December 30. Starring Genelia D’Souza, Riteish Deshmukh, and Jiya Shankar, the film is a remake of the Telugu blockbuster Majili (2019), which originally featured Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya.

Also Read: Salman Khan is all smiles as he meets Satish Kaushik, Arbaaz Khan on the sets of Patna Shukla; see photos

Back in 2008 when Karan Johar’s Dostana had released, John Abraham frolicking on the beach in the briefest of briefs went viral. John was never ashamed of his physique: why would he, when he looked like a Playboy centrespread from the day he was born (well, almost). But he did want to prove that good-looking people are not just eye candy.

In a moment of anguished self-assertion he said to me, “Sometimes I do feel like a meat shop. I am proud of my physique. But I feel I'm also good with emotions. In fact, I perform the best when I'm unhappy. I function best when in angst. Women have reacted as strongly to me as men. Some have reacted to the sensuality; others to the fitness. But everyone has a query about my body. Very often I don't know how to react. Initially, it was fun to be regarded as a body beautiful. I wonder how audiences will react to my physicality in my next release Aashayein where I've lost 30 pounds.”

Nagesh Kukunoor’s Aashayein where he played a successful man who suddenly discovers he has cancer, bombed. A buttoned-up counter-invincible John Abraham was unacceptable to the audience.

Even I believed John was destined for beefcake glory only. When my dear friend Deepa Mehta decided to cast him as a dhoti-clad social reformist in Water I was aghast. I did my best to dissuade her. Deepa and I still have a good laugh over my heated protest against what I saw as a monstrous miscasting.

Recalls Deepa, “Do you remember how much you fought with me? When I told you I want to cast John and Lisa Ray you said it was the worst joke you’ve ever heard. That John had probably never even seen a Dhoti, let alone worn one. I had only one argument to offer: my mother loves John.”

As usual the maternal instinct proved right. John for the first time showed sparks of genuine craftsmanship in Deepa’s film. That performance was followed by Shoojit Sircar’s Madras Café .John was a producer on the project. He was ambitious and hell-bent to make a difference to Indian cinema.

I believe John Abraham and the late much-missed Nishikant Kamat shared a very special rapport. They did several films together of which Rocky Handsome was the best. Heroes are born out of necessity. And John Abraham is a true blue filmy hero. Fully wired for action. Happy Birthday!

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Raksha Bandhan actress Sadia Khateeb bags John Abraham-starrer The Diplomat

Not too long ago, Taapsee Pannu was quite upset with paparazzi for questioning her about her late arrival at an event. Now during the promotions of her latest release Blurr, the actress spoke about how she has faced other issues with them, especially when they don’t respect boundaries and sometimes go to the extent of invading her personal ‘breathing’ space. She also expressed that she feels that there are times when they behave in that way to irk her.

In a recent interview with India Today, Taapsee Pannu opened up on how the whole paparazzi culture bothers her. She said, “It does bother me because, after a point, I realized that they are doing it knowing they are going to irk me. Why will you hold my car’s door when I have gotten in? This is intruding my private space. Imagine if you are getting into your car and there are people who have held the car door and not letting you shut the door and shoving the camera in your face, will you like it? Any person, regardless of being a girl or boy, would you like it?”

She further described the reason behind many calling her ‘arrogant’ saying, “I walk without bodyguards. Just because of that, you have the liberty to shove your cameras and mike into me, physically, and not give me a regular human being's breathing space just because I'm a public figure. It gives you the liberty to violate my personal space. And then, obviously, the icing on the cake becomes when the media make headlines that I'm arrogant. If I'm arrogant to ask for basic human respect of space, then please call me arrogant, but I will not just try to sugar-coat and be this good girl because I'm in front of this camera. I am not that person. You get what you see."

On the film front, Taapsee Pannu was last seen in the film Blurr that premiered on Zee5 on December 9. Directed by Ajay Bahl, the film featured the actress in a double role.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Taapsee Pannu on playing visually impaired role in Blurr; says, “It’s very sad to know that people actually go through it”

Pathaan has been facing major backlash after the release of the song ‘Besharam Rang’ over the use of the colour saffron for a bikini and for the gyrating moves of Deepika Padukone in the dance number. The glamorous song, featuring the Piku actress and superstar Shah Rukh Khan, that has been shot amidst picturesque locations of Spain has been facing severe remarks and comments from politicians and religious groups where some of them have even demanded a ban on the release of the film. Now joining the bandwagon of protestors is Shaktimaan actor and television personality Mukesh Khanna who has called the song ‘vulgar’ and ‘provocative’.

Expressing his thoughts over the song ‘Besharam Rang’ from Pathaan, Mukesh Khanna told ABP News, “I think our film industry has gone haywire. This is a matter of vulgarity; it has nothing to do with any kind of religious problem. The censor board is no Supreme Court. They tell me very prominent people but can they not see all these attacks on the Hindu religion?”

He further accused the censor board of being lenient with the song adding, “The issue at hand is that of vulgarity. Our country is no Spain or Sweden or such a country that allows everything. You dared to bring people in such limited clothing, next you will bring them without the clothes! The job of the censor board is to ensure that films do not hurt anyone's personal feelings and beliefs. The censor must not pass such films that instigate or lead the youth astray. This song can mess up with the minds of the youth, not mislead. This is not a song made for the OTT, but a film. How could the censor pass it? Did they not see the deliberate provocative dressing?”

Pathaan, directed by Siddharth Anand, features Shah Rukh Khan in the titular character as a spy along with Deepika Padukone as his leading lady and John Abraham as the antagonist. The YRF film is expected to release on January 25.

Also Read: Now a Muslim board accuses Pathaan of hurting religious sentiments, MP Ulema Board threatens to stall film’s release

Shah Rukh Khan is gearing up for his first release in five years in theatres. The actor will don the role of a spy in Pathaan. But, even before the release of its full-fledged trailer, it is mired in controversies. The first song ‘Besharam Rang’ remains in headlines and has witnessed polarizing responses on the choices of clothes of Deepika Padukone. The song is picturised on the beaches of Spain where the actress is dressed in swimsuits. While netizens have called out misogynistic reactions to the choices of outfits a woman should or should not wear, certain sections are calling out for a “boycott” of the film. Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) national spokesperson Vinod Bansal demanded that the movie should be boycotted and banned.

He slammed the costumes of Deepika Padukone in ‘Besharam Rang’. Bansal took to Twitter and wrote, “Can a Pathan who believes in Islam film such scenes with a woman with Muslim symbols!! There is a limit to the absurdity of love jihadis!!"

He also shared a video and said, “Calling saffron shameless, what a bold scene to show a Hindu woman wearing a saffron dress and becoming a puppet of Islamic Jihadis? There is a limit to treason too! Hindu society will no longer be able to tolerate these brothers and tukde tukde gang who tarnish Bollywood by defaming it."

A mahant of Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi Raju Das called for people to set fire to the theatres that screen the movie. He also said that this has insulted religious sentiments. This comes after Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra raised issues against objectionable costumes in ‘Besharam Rang’ and Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam said that the film that insults Hindutva will not be tolerated.

A day ago, Shah Rukh Khan was at 28^th Kolkata International Film Festival inaugural where he addressed the hate bandwagon. The actor said, “The collective narrative of our times is shaped by social media. Contrary to the belief that social media will affect cinema negatively, I believe cinema has an even more important role to play now.”

SRK continued by saying, “Social media is often driven by a certain narrowness of view that limits human nature to its baser self. I read somewhere that negativity increases social media consumption and thereby increases its commercial value as well. Such pursuits enclose the collective narrative, making it divisive and destructive.”

He added, “We haven't been able to meet for a while, but the world is becoming normal now. We are all happy and I am the happiest. And I have no qualms in saying, that no matter what the world does, me and you, and all positive people in the world are alive.”

Pathaan is part of Aditya Chopra’s ambitious spy universe and has the biggest superstars of the country Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in it. The film is set to release on January 25, 2023, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

ALSO READ: Pathaan: Ayodhya Mahant calls for boycott of Shah Rukh Khan starrer amid ‘Besharam Rang’ row; says ‘Burn the theatres wherever the film will be screened’

Shilpa Rao has been receiving immense praise for her vocal chords in Pathaan’s popular song ‘Besharam Rang’. But the singer has given credit for the song going viral to Deepika Padukone who appears in it with Shah Rukh Khan.

Speaking about the actress’ act in the song, Shilpa said in a statement, “Deepika is a whole vibe in ‘Besharam Rang’ and the track is addictive because of her! I have sung many songs for Deepika but some have been of romance, some have been of falling in love, some have been of finding your true self, but this one is very different. This one is where she is confident in her own skin, she’s like taking on the world as brilliant as she is and she (her character in the film) is in fact embracing her good and the flaws that she has!”

Exploring the meaning behind Kumaar’s lyrics, Shilpa added, “Deepika is saying that this is what I have to offer to the whole world and I think that is what I love about the song. Many women across the world need to feel really confident in their skin, no matter where we come from. We need to embrace our goodness with the flaws and really celebrate ourselves and that is what I love about ‘Besharam Rang’ and really hope the audiences love it. Have a blast listening to it guys.”

The song has become an instant rage ever since it was released earlier this week. In fact, it has clocked 53 million views in just four days. Apart from Deepika, it features Shah Rukh Khan, who, according to the makers, plays a “gun-toting spy with a license to kill.”

Directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Yash Raj Films, Pathaan will be released in cinemas on January 25.

Also Read: Pathaan: Ayodhya Mahant calls for boycott of Shah Rukh Khan starrer amid ‘Besharam Rang’ row; says ‘Burn the theatres wherever the film will be screened’

Prime Video, India’s most-loved entertainment destination, today announced that it will co-produce a new movie for theatrical release with Dharma Productions and Leo Media Collective. The currently-untitled movie features Vicky Kaushal in the lead, is directed by Anand Tiwari and produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari. The film also features Triptii Dimri and Ammy Virk in pivotal roles and is scheduled for a theatrical release on July 28, 2023. Following the theatrical release, the film will be available for streaming for Prime members in India and in more than 240 countries and territories.

The Vicky Kaushal-starrer is the second theatrical co-production that Prime Video is associated with Dharma Productions. The move marks Prime Video’s commitment to the growth of the content ecosystem in India, by joining forces with the best storytellers in the country.

“As the first choice of entertainment, our aim is to super-serve our delightfully diverse customers in India with local stories that they can enjoy on any screen of their choice. We are committed to the growth of the Indian film industry and our recent foray into co-productions is a perfect example of this,” said Gaurav Gandhi, vice president, Prime Video, India. “Our association with Dharma for theatrical co-productions is a perfect extension of our existing deep association that includes licensed movies, direct-to-service premieres and Indian Originals across both series and films. After announcing Yodha as our first co-production, we are now thrilled to announce Anand Tiwari’s film as the next co-production with them. I am confident that Prime Video and Dharma Productions will together continue to deliver world-class cinematic experiences to viewers within India, as well as across the globe.” he added.

Karan Johar, Dharma Productions said, “Anand Tiwari’s upcoming film is special on several counts. It is helmed by a master storyteller, features Vicky Kaushal – a National Film Award-winning actor, and is also a natural progression of our association with Prime Video. Together with Prime Video, we have delivered some of the most memorable stories to audiences around the world. From direct-to-service premieres of Shershaah and Gehraiyaan, to giving a global reach to our theatrical ventures when they released on streaming, the worldwide success of our films is a testament to the strength of our association with Prime Video. We are thrilled to be collaborating with them across the spectrum of storytelling – licensing, original series, original movies and now theatrical co-productions.”

The announcement fortifies the successful half-a-decade-long association between Prime Video and Dharma Productions.In the last two years, Prime Video launched Shershaah and Gehraiyaan, directly on the service. Taking a step further, earlier in the year, the platform also announced a slate of original series and movies with Dharmatic Entertainment.

“Dharma Productions has a history of successful storytelling and we are proud to have played an important role in taking their best stories to the world,” said Manish Menghani, director – content licensing, Prime Video, India. “This step of foraying further into theatrical co-productions will serve to strengthen our partnership and collective commitment to bringing the best content to our customers, across the world. We are excited to work with the best creative voices in the country to co-create stories that leave an everlasting impression on the viewers. Anand’s untitled next features stellar talent in front of and behind the camera. We are truly excited to embark on this new journey and see where it takes us.”

Apoorva Mehta, CEO, Dharma Productions, said, "Anand Tiwari’s upcoming film is an eclectic mix of drama, emotions and a dash of comedy which will leave the audiences gleaming. With a stellar cast like Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri and Ammy Virk, the film is the perfect summer entertainer and we can’t wait for the audiences to watch it in theatres. We are delighted to collaborate with Prime Video on two theatrical films. In Prime Video, we have found a partner that not only shares our vision of offering engaging cinematic experiences, but also provides global distribution to the best stories from the Indian entertainment ecosystem. Through these collaborations, we will further nurture our successful deep association with Prime Video.”

Leo Media Collective is also a co-producer of the upcoming Vicky Kaushal film. Co-founded by Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari, Leo Media Collective has become synonymous with premium quality, coming-of-age content in the entertainment space. Though he began his career working in Hollywood, Amritpal’s love for Indian content brought him back to India to create Indian content for global audiences. With vast experience in the world of films, advertising and theatre, Anand Tiwari too, has created a niche for himself in the entertainment industry.

Talking about the upcoming film, Anand Tiwari and Amritpal Singh Bindra, founders of Leo Media Collective said, “We are excited to make our theatrical debut working alongside two of the biggest champions of storytelling in India – Prime Video and Dharma. The film is a wholesome entertainer. We are certain that the audiences will love watching a story that hasn’t been told before. We are also excited to partner with Prime Video once again. Together, we have delivered two of the most differentiated stories in recent times – Maja Ma and Bandish Bandits. At the same time, we are looking forward to working with the team at Dharma Productions. The coming together of three entities that have shared values on storytelling and content, makes this film even more special.”

ALSO READ: Vicky Kaushal walks out of Aanand L Rai’s next citing date issues

For those Aashiqui ke aashiq who have been waiting to see the third part of the Franchise featuring Kartik Aaryan, would have to wait for at least one year. Producer Mukesh Bhatt explains why the project will take longer than expected. “It was always planned that way. When we announced Aashiqui 3 with the very talented Kartik Aaryan we had to make sure the screenplay and especially the music would support Kartik’s superstardom.”

Mukesh Bhatt reveals that the music of Aashiqui 3 would be its backbone. “Aashiqui and then Aashiqui 2 both had blockbuster music. In the first Aashiqui in 1990 Nadeem (of Nadeem Shravan fame) gave me one chartbuster after another. Every song was a super hit, and all original. He went on to do chartbuster music in my films time after time. In Aashiqui 2 again the music by Mithoon, Jeet Ganguly, Ankit Tiwari and Raju Singh was the backbone.”

Would Aashiqui 3 have multiple composers?

Says Mukesh Bhatt, “It would depend on the on the output. If one composer can give me all the tunes I want, then why not? However if several composers come up with the quality of music I want, then they are all welcome.”

Mukesh wants to work meticulously on the music of Aashiqui 3. “The songs have to be on a par with the first two parts of the franchise. There cannot be any compromise on the music. It has to be as good, if not better than part 1 and 2. And it has to be entirely original. I don’t want any cut-and-paste rehashes of old songs. I don’t want the music of Aashiqui 3 to sound hungover with nostalgia.”

Also Read: Kartik Aaryan to get new leading lady in Aashiqui 3

As the fans gear up for the return of Shah Rukh Khan to silver screens after five years, Pathaan remains in the headlines. The first song ‘Besharam Rang’ has seen polarizing responses on the choices of clothes of Deepika Padukone. The song is picturised on the beaches of Spain where the actress is dressed in swimsuits. While netizens have called out misogynistic reactions to the choices of outfits a woman should or should not wear, certain sections are calling out for “boycott” of the film. But, the industry is standing with Shah Rukh Khan. Raees director Rahul Dholakia has urged everyone to condemn the hate attack against the superstar.

Rahul Dholakia took to his Twitter account and wrote, “The hate attack (for years now) on @iamsrk should be condemned by one and all in the film industry. SRK has contributed more to our fraternity and India as an ambassador of entertainment & cinema; than most people have. Please tell these bigots with idiotic theories to Shut Up.”

The hate attack (for years now) on @iamsrk should be condemned by one and all in the film industry. SRK has contributed more to our fraternity and India as an ambassador of entertainment & cinema ; than most people have. Please tell these bigots with idiotic theories to Shut Up!

— rahul dholakia (@rahuldholakia) December 16, 2022

This comes after Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra raised issues against objectionable costumes in ‘Besharam Rang’ and Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam said that the film that insults Hindutva will not be tolerated.

A day ago, Shah Rukh Khan was at the 28^th Kolkata International Film Festival inaugural where he addressed the hate bandwagon. The actor said, “The collective narrative of our times is shaped by social media. Contrary to the belief that social media will affect cinema negatively, I believe cinema has an even more important role to play now.”

SRK continued by saying, “Social media is often driven by a certain narrowness of view that limits human nature to its baser self. I read somewhere that negativity increases social media consumption and thereby increases its commercial value as well. Such pursuits enclose the collective narrative, making it divisive and destructive.”

He added, “We haven't been able to meet for a while, but the world is becoming normal now. We are all happy and I am the happiest. And I have no qualms in saying, that no matter what the world does, me and you, and all positive people in the world are alive.”

Pathaan is part of Aditya Chopra’s ambitious spy universe and has the biggest superstars of the country Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in it. The film is set to release on January 25, 2023, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

ALSO READ: Pathaan: BJP MLA Ram Kadam says film that insults Hindutva in land of Maharashtra won’t be tolerated amid ‘Besharam Rang’ row

Ranbir Kapoor returned to the popular romantic-comedy genre with the film Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, that is directed by Luv Ranjan and it will feature Shraddha Kapoor as his leading lady. While the details of the rom-com including its title were being strictly kept under wraps ever since it was announced, a couple of days ago, the makers teased fans by revealing only the initials of the film. Furthermore, they even asked the audience to guess the title. During the same, wife and new mother Alia Bhatt decided to make a guess about her husband’s film and shared it on social media.

After the teaser was unveiled of Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar a day ago, Alia Bhatt took to Instagram to share a story about it. While the makers unveiled the full title of the film in the short teaser, Alia joked about it, adding, “Okay, I think my guess was pretty close #justsaying.” For the unversed, after the initials were announced, the actress had taken to the platform and guessed the title as ‘Tingle Jingle Mingle Mingle’. While her title was nowhere close to the real one, her witty and quirky caption left everyone in splits.

Coming to the film, Tu Jhooti Main Makkaar, the romantic comedy will bring together Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor together on the big screen for the first time. Directed by Luv Ranjan, the recent teaser showcased the over-the-top dramatic avatars of the two actors. It is expected to release during Holi, on March 8, 2023.

On the other hand, Alia Bhatt is currently on a maternity break. The actress, who tied the knot with the love of her life Ranbir in April 2023, delivered their first child in November. The couple named, their firstborn, their daughter as Raha.

Also Read: Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor look adorable in this teaser of the Luv Ranjan directorial Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar

The makers of the Sara Ali Khan, Vikrant Massey, and Chitrangada Singh-starrer Gaslight have decided to release the film directly on OTT, as per a report in PeepingMoon. Directed by Pawan Kripalani, the film, which is a psychological thriller, will be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar.

Explaining the reason for the makers opting for an online release, the publication quoted a source saying, “Gaslight is a psychological thriller with a strikingly unconventional plot, which might not be of interest to theatre-going audiences. This genre of movies has worked better on OTT than in cinemas in the past, and hence the makers have decided to give it a digital release as that would give the film a better reach besides the financial safety that comes with it.”

The unusual casting of the film had made heads turn when it was announced as none of the three actors – Vikrant, Sara and Chitrangada – have worked with each other before.

Kripalani’s last directorial venture was the horror-comedy Bhoot Police, which starred Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor and Jacqueline Fernandez. His last thriller was the Radhika Apte-starrer Phobia. The film tackled an out-of-the-box subject of the psychological condition agoraphobia.

Also Read: Sara Ali Khan juggles between Gaslight, Ae Watan Mere Watan and Vicky Kaushal’s next

It seems that, in a rare moment of sorts, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Karan Johar, and Mira Kapoor were seen attending the same event which was Sports Day at their children’s school. Going by the social media posts shared by them, it seems that Karan, Saif and Mira also participated at parents’ events that were planned on the special day.

In a series of posts shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan, we can see the actress rooting for her eldest born Taimur Ali Khan who was participating in the race. Spotted in the race, was also Karan Johar’s son Yash. Not too long ago, Kareena and Saif were seen showcasing their love for each other as they kissed amidst paparazzi before leaving for the event. The actress also shared another post of Saif Ali Khan participating in a fathers’ event.

On the other hand, yet another social media lover, Mira Rajput aka Mira Kapoor was seen sharing several posts from the Sports Day event. It seems that the celebrity wife was present at the event to cheer for her kids, Misha and Zain Kapoor. In one of the photos shared by her, Mira was standing on the first position with a certificate in hand, indicating her win, as she captioned it saying, “#mamacitas”. Yet another photo shared by her had Karan Johar showcasing his pride as he flaunted the certificate of his daughter Roohi.

Readers would be aware that Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan have two sons, Taimur Ali Khan and Jehangir Ali Khan. While Taimur is currently studying, Jeh is still a toddler. On the other hand, Karan Johar welcomed his twins Yash and Roohi via surrogacy in 2017. Shahid Kapoor has two kids with wife Mira Kapoor, namely Misha Kapoor and Zain Kapoor.

Also Read: Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan share a sweet kiss but Taimur Ali Khan steals the show

Rani Mukerji will make a trip to the West Bengal capital to inaugurate the Kolkata International Film Festival with the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee. In its 28th edition, the festival has invited Rani as a distinguished guest for her illustrious career over the last 25 years and her immeasurable contribution to the Indian film industry. She will be felicitated at its inaugural ceremony where dignitaries from world cinema, Indian cinema and West Bengal will be present.

As a successful mainstream movie star who has sustained over decades and re-invented herself multiple times, the actress has been considered as an inspiration for Bengali youth. Talking about the honour, Rani said, “A visit to Kolkata is always special to me as it brings back childhood memories and reminds me of my love for cinema that grew in my heart from an early age. Kolkata International Film Festival has celebrated the legacy of filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen and many Bengalis artists and technicians who have contributed to creating this vibrant Indian film industry and I’m honoured that this time they have decided to celebrate my career and felicitate me along with other achievers. It is a moment of great pride for me, and I’m really humbled to be receiving this honour in the presence of luminaries of West Bengal, India, and World cinema.”

Coming to films, Rani Mukerji, who was last seen in Mardaani 2, is gearing up to retell the story of  Sagarika Bhattacharya in Mrs. Chatterjee Vs Norway. The film talks about the story of a Norweigan couple of Indian descent who fought for the custody of her own children after they were taken away by the Norwegian Welfare Services. Directed by Ashima Chibber, the film is expected to release on March 3, 2023.

Also Read: Rani Mukerji-starrer Mrs Chatterjee Vs. Norway to release in cinemas on March 3, 2023

In her upcoming release Govinda Naam Mera, Bhumi Pednekar plays a woman whose husband (Vicky Kaushal) has a girlfriend in the form of Kiara Adavani’s character. Normally in Bollywood, such wives are shown in a pitiful state. But, going by the film’s promotional material, Bhumi’s character in the film appears strong.

While speaking about her character in the film, Bhumi said that she is always on the lookout of such characters. “I have always believed that cinema can be a powerful tool to showcase strong, independent and fiercely progressive women on screen,” she said in a statement. “My journey in cinema is a living example of this because I have consciously chosen films that present the woman of today, a woman who other women can connect with and relate to.”

Elaborating on her choice of films in the past, she added, “Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Badhaai Do, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Lust Stories, Sonchiriya, Saand Ki Aankh, Bala, Shubh Mangal Saavdhaan, Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitaare and now Govinda Naam Mera, I have always been inclined to play women who haven’t compromised on their dreams and wishes and stood up against patriarchy.”

Govinda Naam Mera is the first time that director Shashank Khaitan is trying his hand at a crazy quirky comedy. The film is produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and is slated to stream on Disney+ Hotstar on December 16.

Throwing more light on her character in the movie, Bhumi added, “I love Gauri Waghmare who is an unstoppable force of nature and can stand up to a man and also be vocal about what she wants in life. She is an amazing character to play and I thank Shashank for giving me the freedom to run riot with it. I had a blast playing her. I think it’s evident in the trailer of the film and I’m sure it will come out more strongly when people watch the film on December 16.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Govinda Naam Mera debutant Viraj Ghelani opens up on working with Bhumi Pednekar, “She doesn’t think before she talks, she is like a bro”

When the first instalment of Avatar released across countries about twelve years ago, the entire world couldn’t stop gushing about the visual treat. Now a decade later, James Cameron has marked the return of the franchise with Avatar: The Way of Water and fans cannot wait to see what the filmmaker has in store. The fans of this film franchise also include Bollywood stars, who have been eagerly awaiting the release of the second instalment and one of the first ones to catch the screening of the same is Akshay Kumar. The actor took to social media to give his review/opinion about the 3D marvel.

Akshay Kumar took to Twitter to share his experience of watching Avatar: The Way of Water, “Watched #AvatarTheWayOfWater last night and Oh boy!! MAGNIFICENT is the word. Am still spellbound. Want to bow down before your genius craft, @JimCameron. Live on!” Followed by his post, some fans shared their excitement about watching the film when it releases in theatres. One fan commented, “Already I did booking for Friday's show. Thanks for your comment. Will enjoy the movie,” whereas yet another one added, “Cameron to deliver another unbelievable crafting to cinematic world..!”

Watched #AvatarTheWayOfWater last night and Oh boy!!MAGNIFICENT is the word. Am still spellbound. Want to bow down before your genius craft, @JimCameron. Live on!

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) December 14, 2022

Avatar: The Way of Water is a science fiction drama starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, among others. The film is expected to release in India on December 16. The first instalment of the film released in the year 2009.

On the other hand, talking about Akshay Kumar, the actor was last seen in the film Ram Setu that featured Jacqueline Fernandez and Nushrratt Bharuccha in lead roles. It released during Diwali, on October 25.

Also Read: Confirmed: Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi starrer Selfiee to release in theatres in 2023; former starts filming a ‘mast’ song

While the Bollywood community and many fans of Shah Rukh Khan couldn’t stop showering love on his film Pathaan, the film has been facing some issues in certain territories of India. It seems that Indore experienced some disruption as a Right-Wing group has demanded a ban on the release of the film as well as taken an objection to the recently released song ‘Besharam Rang’ that also features popular actress Deepika Padukone in bikinis.

It seems that a group named Veer Shivaji group planned protests on the streets, at a road intersection, in Indore where they burnt effigies of the superstar Shah Rukh Khan. As per reports, the protestors claimed that the song ‘Besharam Rang’ featuring the superstar and leading lady Deepika Padukone has offended the sentiments of the Hindu community. And therefore, they have been demanding the ban on the release of Pathaan, which is expected to be releasing in January next year.

This is probably not the first time when the SRK film has come under the scanner. Earlier this week, after the song released, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra also expressed his displeasure over the romantic track. He not only took objection to the outfits of Deepika Padukone as well as the song in itself while speaking to the media during an event. He had said, “I feel the title of the song 'Besharam Rang' is also objectionable in its sense. The song is made with contaminated mentality, the actor and the actress are clad in green and saffron clothes in an objectionable manner,” he had stated adding that if the makers refused to rectify their mistake, he would have to reconsider releasing the film in MP.

Coming to the movie Pathaan, directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Yash Raj Films, the film will feature Deepika Padukone as the leading lady of Shah Rukh Khan along with John Abraham as the antagonist. The film will release on January 25, 2023.

Also Read: ‘Besharam Rang’ from Pathaan faces objection from Madhya Pradesh’s Home Minister, threatens to stall the film’s release

Rajpal Yadav is currently shooting in UP for his forthcoming film but the schedule seems to have landed him in trouble with the law. A student has allegedly filed a complaint against the actor at the Colonelganj Police station for ‘accidentally’ hitting him with the scooter during the shoot schedule. The said incident is expected to have taken place in the Katra area of Pragyaraj district in Uttar Pradesh. As per current reports, investigations are currently underway.

In the complaint filed, the student has also alleged about the misbehavior of the film’s team. It seems that the shooting was taking place near a certain Laxmi Talkies crossing in the area and it resulted in a massive crowd assembling together to catch a glimpse of the film’s shoot. Later, the shooting was shifted to another area where Rajpal Yadav was expected to shoot the scene of him riding a scooter. After further investigation, the police stated in reports that the incident was indeed an accident where Yadav lost control of the bike because its clutch wire broke midway. Furthermore, these reports also suggest that the Colonelganj police asserted that the student did not suffer any visible injuries.

On the other hand, news reports have it that Rajpal Yadav and the film’s team have also lodged a complaint against some people accusing them of disrupting the shoot, including the alleged victim i.e. the student. From what we hear, despite receiving the required permissions from the district administration, the film’s team alleged that some people tried to stop the shoot of the film.

As for the police, Ram Mohan Rai, Station House Officer of Colonelganj Police Station told TimesNow, “Further investigation is being carried out following which further action will be taken."

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: “Kabhi kabhi aapke kandhe pe bandook rakh ke dusre ko nishaana banaya jaata hai. 99.99% of my memes are in good taste but…” – Rajpal Yadav

The much-awaited Hollywood film, Avatar: The Way Of Water is all set to release this Friday, December 16. The film has been in the news due to its fast-filling shows all across the world, including India. Bollywood Hungama spoke to trade experts and exhibitors to get a sense of how the film can perform in the theatres in India.

Day 1 prediction
Trade veteran Taran Adarsh said, “The advance booking is very good. There has been a gap between the release of the previous part and Avatar: The Way Of Water. It won’t prove to be a deterrent. It’ll take a fantastic opening. Whether or not it crosses the first-day collections of Avengers: Endgame (2019) is something we’ll know closer to the release. The curiosity is humongous.”

Avengers: Endgame is the biggest Hollywood opener in India, which opened at Rs. 53.10 crores. Though Taran Adarsh is not sure whether Avatar: The Way Of Water can surpass this number, he’s confident that the James Cameron directorial can go past the first-day collections of Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), the second biggest opener of India, which stand at Rs. 32.67 crores.

Taran Adarsh added, “Spider-Man’s collections will be crossed. That and Avengers belong to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the advantage was that those films came in quick succession. And its characters are also quite well-known. Here, there has been a 13-year gap. So the generation that came, later on, might not know about Avatar’s characters unless they have seen it on digital platforms. However, in the case of Avatar: The Way Of Water, the biggest star of the film is James Cameron who has delivered humongous films. His name itself ensures that you walk into a theatre.”

Vishek Chauhan, owner of Roopbani Cinema in Bihar, is quite gung-ho about the opening of the film. He said, “The opening will be extraordinary. Despite having the highest ATP (Average Ticket Price) in my cinema, the advance sales are super-strong.” The ticket rates in his cinemas are Rs. 240 for normal seats and Rs. 400 for the recliner class.

He revealed, “If I have to compare, this is the fourth-biggest advance in the year in my theatre after KGF - Chapter 2, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness and Brahmastra. The ticket sales are a little less than Brahmastra.”

Vishek then made a very grand prediction about the first-day numbers, “Avatar: The Way Of Water can open at Rs. 60 to 70 crores. This will easily be a record-opener. What it’ll collect in the North, the collections will be double in the Southern states, proportionately. There’s complete madness down South for this film.” He continued, “If word of mouth is strong, yeh film toh cinema gharon mein aag laga degi! Also, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Trade analyst Atul Mohan stated, “The advance is decent. The opening will be around the numbers of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Avatar: The Way Of Water has an advantage as it has got more shows and unlike Spider-Man, it won’t have restrictions like 50% occupancy. Also, the high ticket prices will go in its favour.”

He then said, “If the word of mouth is strong, then the collections will multiply manifold. Like if it opens at around Rs. 32 crores on Friday, it can jump to Rs. 40 or Rs. 45 crores on Saturday and Sunday if reports are positive.”

Raj Bansal, the owner of Entertainment Paradise in Jaipur, opined, “The advance is very good. It’ll open in the range of Rs. 38-40 crores.” He explained, “The pricing is sky-high because of the popularity and I guess they want to recover the huge investment that has gone into making this film. Fortunately, for them, all cinemas are available and devoid of any other exciting content. This is the biggest advantage for them.”

Regarding the pre-release sales, he said, “In many cities, there’s hardly any advance. Spot booking will play a crucial part. In major cities, the tickets have been sold. In the rest of the country, it’ll pick up from Thursday and on Friday, on-the-spot bahut tickets bikegi. The film’s reports, I heard, are very positive. This can further help the film.”

In agreement, Taran Adarsh exulted, “As per the reports, the ticket sales are far more in South and urban centres and not so strong in mass centres. But never underestimate spot bookings. It can change the game! Friday, hence, will be the deciding factor. Nevertheless, whatever happens on the release day, the film is definitely a box office bonanza.”

Inflated ticket rates: Boon or bane for the makers?
A section of the audience has complained about the inflated ticket prices. Bollywood Hungama reported last week that it’s cheaper to watch this film in the IMAX version in the USA, the UK and UAE than in India!

When asked about this, Taran Adarsh said, “Well, people are buying the tickets. It means that they want to watch the film as they have confidence in the maker and the product. For a common man, yes, it’s definitely going to pinch. Irrespective of the hue and cry, I don’t think the trend is going to stop. The multiplexes and the studios will continue to inflate ticket prices even in the future for event films.” He also mentioned a reason why people will be ready to shell out money for the film, “It’s a festive period with the holiday season around the corner.”

Atul Mohan gave thumbs down to the decision to go for very high ticket pricing, “When the ticket prices are so high, a section of moviegoers goes on a back foot. They feel, ‘Baad mein dekhte hai film’.” He also said, “If the rates were less, the ticket sales would have been more.”

Vishek Chauhan opined, “The rate should have been a little less. Disney should look into it. I know it’s a very expensive film and will be a treat on the big screen. However, I feel the rates in the smaller towns should be less as more and more people should be encouraged to watch it. That will help build the audience base for this franchise. This is a one-of-its-kind film. Let’s not deprive the weaker section of the experience by hiking the price. We have increased the rates by Rs. 100 and that is too much for an aam aadmi. The per capita income in a state like Bihar is Rs. 50,000 annually. For my district Purnea, it’s Rs. 6000 annually. So the price of 1 ticket is like 4% of their annual income. It’s not justified.”

Along the same lines, Raj Bansal made an important point, “I don’t think it’s justified. This is the reason why advance has not picked up in smaller towns and cities. In metros, people are used to such kind of pricing, especially for Hollywood movies, and hence, the advance there is strong. But in B and C centres like Chandigarh, Jaipur, Indore etc, it’s not very easy to sell tickets at such prices.”

Lifetime predictions?
Lastly, if all goes well and if it withstands competition from Rohit Shetty’s Cirkus, which releases next week, can Avatar: The Way Of Water get an entry into the Rs. 300 crore club? Taran Adarsh doesn’t deny the possibility, “There’s a strong possibility unless Cirkus emerges as a typhoon of sorts at the box office and poses a strong opposition to Avatar: The Way Of Water in mass circuits. Yet, I feel Avatar will find patronage. There’s no stopping this one. My confidence stems from the fact that James Cameron is a genius. His films give a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Raj Bansal disagreed, “A lifetime of Rs. 300 crores is not possible with such prices. On weekdays, it’ll majorly impact footfalls. Or else, they’ll have to bring their prices down from Monday, which is unlikely.”

Also Read: Box Office: Avatar: The Way Of Water sells over 3 lakh 30 thousand tickets through advance booking

One fateful evening in June 1997 saw the loss of 59 victims and 100 injured film-goers as a fire took over the Uphaar Cinema in South Delhi. The tragedy is one that has been etched in the minds of many for over two decades. Inspired by the bestseller book, "Trial by Fire: The Tragic Tale" of the Uphaar Fire Tragedy by Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, Trial By Fire will release on Netflix on January 13th, 2023. The series is produced by Endemol Shine India and House of Talkies.

With his novelistic storytelling and non-linear approach to time in the series, director Prashant Nair beautifully captures the heartbreaking yet resilient journey of the parents - Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, who lost their two children to the fire. The limited series will depict their endless trials and tribulations in the pursuit of justice over twenty-four years while also looking at the other lives touched and destroyed by the fire. Trial By Fire is helmed by a stellar ensemble including Rajshri Deshpande, Abhay Deol, Rajesh Tailang, Ashish Vidyarthi, Anupam Kher, Ratna Pathak, Shilpa Shukla and Shardul Bharadwaj.

Catch the difficult yet resilient journey of two parents - Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, seeking justice over the last two decades, in #TrialByFire on 13th January. pic.twitter.com/UVl9Aq7MxL

— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) December 14, 2022

Director and Showrunner Prashant Nair said, “Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy are inspiring examples of the kind of resilience and fortitude it takes to move the needle even slightly in this country. What happened to them and the way they have been forced to fight for justice is truly horrific and, unfortunately, there are countless other people today in similar situations. We are grateful to Netflix for being such courageous partners in telling this story.”

Trial By Fire will premiere exclusively on Netflix on the 13th of January, 2023.

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Abhay Deol reveals what is unfair in the film industry