I phone my box office manager to enquire about the new release’s ticket sales. Jordaar, Jayeshbhai His voice is hesitant, and the number he says isn’t worth mentioning. He closes by suggesting that we consider decreasing Saturday shows. This has been the story for most Bollywood films released following the Delta or even Omicron waves, week after week. To say the least, the last several weeks have been pitiful. Attack, Jersey, Heropanti 2 and Runway 34 all flopped at the box office. All of these films had a good track record and were predicted to do well.
When you consider that, aside from Bollywood, every other industry is gaining popularity and success at the same time, things become much more complicated. Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Punjabi, Bengali, and other films are doing well in theaters. Dr Strange, which was recently released, has surpassed the Rs. 100 crore mark, adding salt to Bollywood’s wounds.
Films translated into Hindi are doing extremely well in Hindi-speaking countries. RRR and KGF2 have wreaked havoc across the Hindi belts, reviving the stagnant exhibition industry. Due to these films, many exhibitors have decided to return to the fold.
Before these dubbed films, a local documentary drama called ‘The Kashmir Files’ achieved phenomenal business, leaving the trade breathless, and utterly choking ‘Bachchhan Paandey’ in its second week.
Films are being made all throughout the country, yet Bollywood continues to be rejected by its audiences. The box office hasn’t been kind to the business since the outbreak, and it sorely needs a hit.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 has received positive reviews from theatergoers. The best thing the creators have done is keep the prior installment’s tunes. That movie was a smash hit and fared extremely well in theaters.
The film has a lot of fans, and the creators have made sure there are enough hooks in it to connect to the prior installment. Kartik Aaryan, the film’s starring man, has had a terrific run at the box office with a couple of solo hits and has a decent fan base among young people. Anees Bazmi has been tapped by T-Series to direct this horror comedy, and he has a strong track record in comedies. The addition of Tabu, in my opinion, provides significant legitimacy to the film by compensating for Vidya Balan’s absence. The decision to keep Rajpal Yadav provides a strong link to the prior installment.
So far, the picture has hit all of the right notes, and preview screenings began today around the country, with an encouraging response considering the film’s release date is only four days away.
Consistent failures are weighing heavily on the sector, and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is critically needed to rebuild confidence and reestablish faith in the industry.
The entire industry is anticipating its success and praying for it. Crossing my fingers!
