A SUPER BUSY DECEMBER ’18
With half a dozen biggies set to be out in Dec 2018, the question is: can one single month take so many big films?
Traditionally, the second half of a year has been profitable for Bollywood, and that’s why big films are lined up for this period. But this year, there seems to be an unusual December rush with half a dozen big-ticket films scheduled to release.
For starters, Vipul Shah’s Namaste England is set to clash with the Indra Kumar-directed Total Dhamaal on December 7. Then, the December 21 weekend has Aanand L Rai’s Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Zero releasing alongside Abhishek Kapoor’s next, Kedarnath. On the December 28 weekend, Rohit Shetty’s biggie, Simmba starring Ranveer Singh, is set to hit theatres. The Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg 3 is also slated to release in the same weekend. The Accidental Prime Minister, with Akshaye Khanna and Anupam Kher, is also set for December 21.
FIGHT FOR SPACE
But the big question is: will there be space for so many bigticket releases in a single month? “It’s not possible for so many films to release in a single month and become successful,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh. “Too many films will eat into each other’s earnings and nullify the advantage of a special weekend. So, I hope that some films are moved around.”
Trade experts feel that releasing “too many biggies in December won’t be a practical idea” as the preceding months (October and November) will see biggies such as the Sonam Kapoor-Anil Kapoor starrer Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, Ajay Devgn’s yetuntitled film, the Aamir Khan-Amitabh Bachchan starrer Thugs of Hindostan, and Karan Johar’s Student of the Year 2 starring Tiger Shroff.
BIG CONGESTION
“The period around December has always been a festive one. So, people have surplus money and are in the mood to spend on leisure. That’s why the last three-four months are quite profitable for films, too,” says exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi, while hoping that a few films will “move around [their release dates]”. He adds, “I am sure the box-office congestion is going to lessen later as some will [shift] dates.”
Experts admit that coming up with a release date in advance helps. Rai says, “We always knew that Zero would be a challenge, mentally and emotionally. Plus, we have a big star. It was important to give ourselves a deadline to have a clear journey in mind.”