ALL SET FOR A GOLDEN YEAR!
As Akshay Kumar’s latest hit becomes the eighth Hindi film to enter the ₹100crore club this year, we take a look at how 2018 could easily become the most profitable year, in recent times, for Bollywood
On Monday (August 27), when Gold entered the ₹100-crore club, the Akshay Kumar-starrer became the eighth Hindi film to join the much-coveted group this year. Other films that made over ₹100 crore at the Indian box office in 2018 include Padmaavat, Sanju (both the movies earned over ₹300 crore each), Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (SKTKS), Raid, Baaghi 2, Raazi and Race 3.
FASCINATING TIMES
Apart from the films mentioned above, a number of other Hindi films, too, hit the bullseye at the box office. The list includes Hichki, Veere Di Wedding, Pad Man, October, Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran, Dhadak and Satyameva Jayate (SJ; still running). It’s interesting to note that 2018 still has four months to go — which is traditionally considered the most profitable time span for Hindi films.
In fact, SeptemberDecember will also see some of the biggest potential blockbusters, such as Zero, Thugs of Hindostan, Simmba and 2.0, hitting the big screen. So, the question is: can 2018 turn out to be Bollywood’s most profitable one in recent times? “Absolutely! To sum things up: till now, this year has been an eye-opener as well as a fascinating one,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
CONTENT IS KING
Experts feel it’s “heartening” to see audiences making their way to cinema halls in such big numbers. “In 2018, nontheatrical revenues have shot up but what’s more significant is that theatrical earnings have increased, which means people have returned to theatres,” says Adarsh, adding that “people have connected with Hindi films again” in a big way. “When that happens, you have won more than half the battle,” he says.
Producer Bhushan Kumar, who backed films such as Raid, SKTKS and SJ, concurs. “In 2018, audiences have made it crystal clear that they will back good and entertaining content. And as a producer, it’s heartening to know that I can
fearlessly back different kinds of films, knowing that people are willing to watch a variety of stories and that too, in theatres.”
Bhushan and Adarsh have a point, considering films belonging to different genres — historical (Padmaavat), femaleoriented (VDW and Raazi), action thrillers (Baaghi 2, Race 3 and SJ), romcoms (SKTKS and Dhadak), biopics/real life inspired films (Sanju and Parmanu) as well as socially relevant movies (Hichki and Pad Man) have made their mark at the box office.
MONEY MATTERS
While experts agree that it all “ultimately boils down to the quality of content”, movies have to be executed in a commercially-viable manner as well. “This year, business wise, what has also worked in a big way are cost-effective and sensibly-priced films. Be it our films (SKTKS, Raid or SJ), or even Raazi, these movies made absolute sense when it comes to return on investment,” explains Bhushan.
But how have the tables turned in such a profitable manner? Says trade expert Komal Nahta: “2018 has been a sort of ground-breaking year. Actually, the last three to four years didn’t turn out to be good for Bollywood at all. In such a case, everyone — actors, directors as well as writers — gets anxious and then, they have no option but to pull up their socks. That’s exactly what has happened.”