The Bollywood box office stays quiet this week even though three new releases arrive in theatres on 21 November. Pre-booking numbers show that you are not very eager for any of these films. Trade analysts say the response hints at a slow Friday.
Analysts believe one film may gain some momentum through word of mouth after release, but the other two are heading for a weak opening. Advance bookings for Mastiii 4 and 120 Bahadur started today. Paid previews of 120 Bahadur were also held to mark the 63rd anniversary of the 1962 Battle of Rezang La.
These early shows aim to build some interest, yet trade websites say the weekend outlook remains dull. Farhan Akhtar’s 120 Bahadur, directed by Razneesh Ghai, carries a Rs 100 crore budget. Despite its scale and patriotic angle, the film has not drawn strong advance numbers.
Trade circles expect the film to open at around Rs 2 crore on day one. This is still better than its competitors, but far below what a film of this size needs to succeed. Milap Zaveri’s Mastiii 4, with Riteish Deshmukh, Vive Oberoi, and Aftab Shivdasanim, is in an even tougher spot.
Even as the fourth film in a known adult comedy franchise, the audience shows little interest. The trailer brought mixed to negative reactions, with many saying the humour feels dated. The film is expected to open at around Rs 1 crore, far from the franchise peak Grand Masti, which crossed Rs 100 crore in its run.
Vibhu Puri’s Gustaakh Ishq faces the weakest start among the three. The film stars Vijay Varma, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Naseeruddin Shah but has still failed to create any buzz. Backed by Manish Malhotra, the film is expected to collect only Rs 25 lakhs on day one.
Media reports say the makers may even shift Gustaakh Ishq to 28 November to avoid clashing with the other releases. Film enthusiasts online also express concern that the Masti franchise may be hurt by the poor response to Mastiii 4. Some still hope audience turnout improves once reviews appear.
For now, the coming week looks slow for the box office and for anyone hoping for a strong cinema outing.
