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As Hindi Medium crosses the ₹200 crore mark in China, we take a look at why Hindi filmmakers are constantly targeting the Chinese box office

What’s common to Dangal (2016), Bajrangi Bhaijaan (BB; 2015), PK (2014), Secret Superstar (SS; 2017) and Hindi Medium (HM; 2017)? Well, of course, all these Hindi lms have been lapped up by indi film lovers. But not many may be aware that they l have a Chinese connect as ell. Of late, a number of ollywood dream-merchants ave hit upon a lucrative new market — China. To put things in perspective, angal made over ₹2,000 crore n China, while SS raked in a hopping ₹750 crore. Likewise, BB finished its hina run with almost ₹295 rore, while HM has joined the 200 crore club in the neighbouring country. Now, baahubali 2: The Conclusion is reportedly set to release in hina on May 4. “For Hindi films, it [the Chinese market] is like a big lottery. To start with, China scores over India in a big way n terms of sheer number of theatres. Plus, they are cinema-loving people. So, it’s atural that every Indian filmaker wants to have a share of e pie,” says trade expert mod Mehra. It’s believed that ile India has around 5,000 actres, the number goes up 5,000 in China. While SS was released in 00 theatres in China, HM 8,000 screens. “I feel the struggles and challenges that people face are similar in both our countries. I spoke to some locals who told me that they felt as if we were telling their story on the big screen. I was blown away by this,” says HM producer Dinesh Vijan.

Actors, of course, are “thrilled” with such responses in a foreign country. “I’m just someone who is excited about my work, and it thrills me that people all over the world enjoy my work. In my head, I’m just a creative person,” actorproducer Aamir Khan told us, adding, “But it’s a fact that if you’re popular in India and China that have the maximum number of people, you already have close to three billion people liking you, which is half the world’s population. On numbers, the West can’t beat us.”

Sources say that after the back-to-back successes of Hindi films in China, “almost every Hindi film-maker wants to release their film in China”. Trade insiders inform that makers of many recent hits such as Raid, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety and Blackmail are “exploring the possibility” of hitting the big screens in China. “I realised [with HM] that a well-told and presented story can cut across all barriers, and films that are strong on content is the future. This is a great beginning for us and we hope to continue taking China by storm,” says producer Bhushan Kumar.

A still from Dangal A still from Hindi Medium

A still from Bajrangi Bhaija A still from Secret Superstar