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ARE PRE-PLANNED FRANCHISES A GOOD GAMBLE?
Industry experts weigh in on the emerging trend of announcing films as part of a pre-determined series
It is common practice in showbiz for films to receive sequels and eventually become franchises. However, it was dependent on a number of factors, including how well the film did with the audience, to determine whether or not a sequel would be demanded. But now, producers are announcing movies while introducing them as the first instalment of a predetermined series.
Intended as a trilogy, the upcoming movie Brahmastra, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, is one such example. The reason, according to director Ayan Mukerji, is “confidence, hard work, and nervousness”. “We really believe in the content. We had set out to make a trilogy and we are confident,” he asserts.
But what about waiting to see how the first one is received? Mukerji says, “I know how the movie business is. I hope the youth gets attached to the movie, so it can give us wings.”
Aside from Mukerji’s movie, actor Allu Arjun’s blockbuster Pushpa (2021), too, was released as Part 1: The Rise . So was John Abraham’s Attack, which has been released as Part 1. Its director, Lakshya Raj Anand, says more than confidence, it’s the art of storytelling: “It’s not just about how well a project should do so that we could make another one using the same name. For me, it’s passion-driven. We created these characters whose journey doesn’t end in part one; it only begins.” Ask him about the risk involved in terms of box-office and he says, “The industry has always been risky.”
Industry experts credit Baahubali for propelling this trend. “People saw that it had come out in two parts. And the success of the movies made the makers think and come up with something (ideas for films) that could have two parts or be a trilogy,” says trade expert Atul Mohan. He adds that in case the first instalment was a flop, the public won’t recall if a franchise was ever launched: “The public memory is too short. Two-three years will pass after the release [of the first movie]. Makers will claim story nahin mil rahi, and the actors will say they are [too] busy (for sequels).”
EActor Nagris Fakhri, who was on a planned break in the US, is now back in India and raring to get back to work. However, despite being on a break, she was making headlines. Rumours that she has found love again with US-based Kashmiri businessman Tony Beig were under the spotlight recently. “You know, people say so many different things, so I am actually not going to say anything about this, because everyone just writes whatever they want to, so I will just let everyone have fun,” she laughs when we ask about it.
Aside from their love lives, another recurring topic that celebrities deal with is their body image. And Fakhri was a victim of it when she took a three-year break after Azhar (2016) and returned to the big screen with Amavas (2019). The rumour mills labelled this break a maternity leave. Several sources claimed that the actor was pregnant, when it was simply a case of weight gain, as she later revealed on Instagram, with before and after pictures: “On the left I weighed 178lbs (80kg) and on the right, I was 129 (58kg). I have since lost 20lbs (9kg) through making lifestyle changes. If I can do it, so can you.”
Ask her about the same and she reveals, “I definitely faced body shaming for a short time. I do believe there is a certain look or appearance people expect from you. So there is pressure to maintain that.” Delving into the details when we probe further, the actor continues, “It’s funny because I realised you are never good enough, and everyone has an opinion. When I first came to India, I was too skinny, so everyone was like, ‘You need to put on weight’... I have a naturally skinny physique. Later, I gained about 50 pounds (approximately 22kg), so they posted that I was pregnant, which I thought was very funny. I think at first my feelings were hurt, but I realised it’s my job to take care of myself. I lost 40 pounds (about 18kg), worked out, and got that [fitter] body back.” ight-year-old Kian Bhatt found his name in the India Book of Records in September 2021 for longest tabla performance by a child — 31 minutes, 38 seconds. The tabla prodigy says this was the minimum duration he needed to play to create this new category, but he could have played for longer.
“I love playing tabla. I want to learn other instruments, too. I want to be a musician when I grow up,” says the Mumbai boy, who has performed at many cultural events, been an accompanist for his grandfather, who is a singer, and has a fledgling YouTube channel as well. His record has now been broken by Parvathy Unnikrishnan from Kerala (46 minutes, 36 seconds). But he has no plans to reclaim his title. His father, Samir Bhatt, says, “We’re not after records. There are more challenges [to conquer]. And records are meant to be broken anyway.”
After noticing his predilection for banging on pots and pans at the age of three, his parents decided to direct his efforts with music classes. He is now learning to play the harmonium and plans on performing in an orchestra setup in the future. Kian also plays cricket, and his parents admit to worrying about his fingers, which are crucial for his musical talent. And while they support his decision to make a career in music, they want him to continue his studies as a backup plan for the future.