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WILL 2018 END IN A ₹2K CRORE BONANZA?
So far so good; All eyes are now on films releasing the last 2 months
Bollywood has been very experimental in 2018 — exploring spy thrillers (Aiyaary), horror comedies (Stree), taboo topics (Pad Man, Badhaai Ho), costume dramas (Padmaavat) and real-life stories (Sanju, Raid and Raazi). And the box office registers just haven’t stopped ringing. Last year, Bollywood made close to ₹3,000 crore but trade experts say that this year’s collections may better the figure several times over.
Hindi films have made ₹3,000 crore in the domestic market alone so far, with the DiwaliChristmas season ahead and at least five big-budget movies yet to hit the screens.
A whopping ₹1,200 crore is now riding on Zero, Thugs of Hindostan, 2.0, Simmba and Total Dhamaal, which are slated to release in the last two months of 2018.
Trade expert Komal Nahta says, “November and December are going to be very exciting for Bollywood. After all, some of the biggies are slated to hit the theatres. This year has already been super successful and these four to five potential blockbusters can really be the icing on the cake.”
The last quarter of 2017 had only two major hits — Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal Again and the Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif starrer Tiger Zinda Hai. But analysts say the last two months of 2018 can easily help Bollywood earn close to ₹2,000 crore from just the Indian box office. “Keeping in mind such big-ticket projects, the last three months of 2018 could easily be the most profitable last quarter we have seen in recent times for Bollywood,” says exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi.
The upcoming festive period, from Diwali till Christmas, may only boost collections. Other films that will hit the theatres in November-December include the Rana Daggubati-starrer Haathi Mere Saathi and The Accidental Prime Minister featuring Anupam Kher and Akshaye Khanna.
However, makers, on their part, would rather not think about the economics of a film. As Zero director Aanand L Rai puts it: “It is the biggest film of my life till date. But my excitement is the same as any other film of mine. My aim is again to reach my audience with complete honesty. What makes me calm and happy is that it was a great process, and a superb journey. The kind of atmosphere and the sort of people I needed to tell this story were there during the process. It has been a beautiful journey and I’m sure it will reach a beautiful destination,” he says.