Bollywood faced significant losses this year, with few films making an impact except for Stree 2 and a handful of low-budget successes. Amidst this, re-releases of cult classics have surprisingly performed well.
Due to poor planning, the film industry faces a dilemma with either too many releases in a week or none for weeks, a situation currently reflecting a dry spell similar to April-May 2024.
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In response, theaters re-released Rockstar during the summer, and it enjoyed a successful run.
The performance of Laila Majnu (2018) has been particularly surprising; despite its original earning of just Rs. 2.89 crores, its re-release has brought in over Rs. 8 crores in 5 weeks, and it might soon surpass Rs. 10 crores.
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Similarly, Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001), starring R Madhavan and Dia Mirza, has also been re-released. Originally earning Rs. 5.52 crores, it is trending well and may surpass its initial lifetime collections, echoing the success of Laila Majnu.
The latest addition to this trend is Tumbbad, re-releasing on September 13. Advance ticket bookings, which opened recently, have been exceptional, and the film is expected to be the biggest re-release in the past five years. The surge in interest has led some theaters to add more showings, suggesting a strong opening on Friday.
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Tumbbad’s re-release could potentially break records set by recent successful re-releases. For instance, Laila Majnu’s re-release garnered three times its original box office earnings, while Rockstar and Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein also saw positive responses.
The success of these re-releases has been crucial in keeping theaters in North India afloat.
Looking ahead, if upcoming releases like Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Singham Again perform well during Diwali, they might usher in a new wave of success for Bollywood.