2017 proved to be a rather mixed year for the industry with big ticket film underperforming at the box office while other smaller release emerged as dark horse money spinners. While each individual in the industry has certainly received a lesson or two in 2017, we at Bollywood Hungama have received one as well, which proclaims that no matter how big a star at the end the audience is the king.

Continuing with the tradition of predicting the year’s top film, like last year, this year too we at Bollywood Hungama are sticking our necks out vouching for these films, which in all likelihood will be big money spinners at the box office. So here are the films that we expect will be making it big at the box office in 2017.

Rs. 300+ crore

Thugs of Hindostan: What happens when a major Bollywood production house decides on developing a film that will feature two of the biggest names in the industry along with the rest of the cast members who are equally big stars in their own right…Well, let us tell you that it is called Thugs of Hindostan. Featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan alongside Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Sheikh the film started making headlines since the day it was announced. But adding that much more mystique to the film, apart from reports of Aamir Khan banning the use of cell phones on sets of the film is the rumour that it will in all likelihood be Aamir’s last feature film. In fact, the actor himself had stated that he would be taking a break from films to focus on a project that will include a film series based on the Mahabharat.

Now, given Aamir’s penchant for perfection, combined with Aditya Chopra’s production value and of course the stellar performance that will be there from the rest of the cast members the film is sure to surpass the Rs. 300 crore mark at the box office.

2.0 [Hindi version only]: The last time a film that featured the Southern superstar Rajinikanth released people saw a queue for tickets that extended an entire city block. We are indeed talking about Kabali that release of which saw Rajini fans flocking theatres both within the domestic and international markets.

Now, alongside Rajinikanth add the Bollywood khiladi Akshay Kumar to the cast members list as the film’s main antagonist and you have a recipe for a Rs. 300 cr blockbuster on your hands. But if that wasn’t enough, the film 2.0 that promises to be an out and out action packed entertainer is helmed by none other than S. Shankar who has in the past given us flicks like I and Enthiran to name a couple.

Rs. 200+ crore

Simmba: Take one of the most effervescent actors of today combine him with one of the most talented directors for a film that promises to be an all-out action drama and you have yourself a Rs. 200 crore money spinner. Well Karan Johar’s Dharma Production has just that in the form of Simmba that marks the union of Ranveer Singh and Rohit Shetty. While this will be the first film the two of them work together in the actor has stated that he will ensure that Simmba will be Shetty’s biggest film till date.

Race 3: Remember the popular franchise Race? Well Ramesh Taurani is now all set on making the third instalment in the franchise. But this time stepping it up, the filmmaker has roped in one of the biggest names in the industry. Though 2017 saw Salman Khan achieve the pinnacle of box office success on one end, while his other release underperformed the actor has promised to be back with a bang in 2018 with Race 3.

But, if you still think that wasn’t enough, the said film will be directed by Remo Dsouza and will also feature another stalwart from the industry Anil Kapoor.

Padmaavat: Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known for making films not just on a larger than life scale but his film also feature ample amount of grandeur and production value. Now combine this with a stellar cast of Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor and you have a sure shot winner. However, given that the film, was initially slated to his screens in December and the number of controversies surrounding it, Padmaavat looks easily a Rs. 200 cr+ film.

Rs. 150 crores

Gold: 2017 proved to be a successful year for Akshay Kumar with both his releases achieving box office success. Well this year the actor will be seen in the sports film Gold that is directed by Reema Kagti. Given Akshay’s track record for his recent releases, and the fact that who better to feature in a sports film than one of the fittest actors Akshay, the film is expected to work rather well at the box office.

Zero: Shah Rukh Khan last couple of releases have opened to mixed response from both the audience and critics alike. However, one thing remains, each of the film have done well at the box office. This year we finally see the much talked about and keenly anticipated film Zero featuring Shah Rukh Khan returning to the screen with his Jab Tak Hai Jaan co-stars Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma helmed by none other than Aanand L Rai.

If that wasn’t enough with the film featuring Shah Rukh as a dwarf, the audience are pretty keen on viewing this cinematic outing on the big screen.

Sanjay Dutt biopic: Rajkumar Hirani, a name that has now become synonymous with films that entertain and hold a rather relevant social message. Now combine Hirani’s directorial prowess with the acting chops of Ranbir Kapoor in a film that is based on one of the most prolific actor’s life and you have a winner. Well the Sanjay Dutt biopic is just that, however given the rather sceptical view of the audience about what exactly the film will feature estimates state that the biopic though good will not be a record breaking film at the box office.

Rs. 100 crores

Total Dhamaal: Comedies are usually sure shot money makers at the box office. And if a film comes as the third instalment to successful films in the franchise, it is certain to be a crowd puller. Well Total Dhamaal is just that. Featuring Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Riteish Deshmukh and Arshad Warsi, Total Dhamaal that promises to be a rib-tickler is directed by Indra Kumar.

Dark Horse

Gully Boy: Musical dramas don’t usually enthral the Bollywood audience, but Zoya Akhtar’s next titled Gully Boy is exactly that. However what sets this film apart is the casting that comprises of Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. It is this unique casting that has compelled us to rank the film as a dark horse, a film that just might make it big at the box office.

Raid: Another film that firmly classifies as a dark horse is the Ajay Devgn- Ileana Dcruz starrer Raid. Said to be based on a real life incident revolving around one of the most popular Income Tax raids in the country the film is set in the 1980s and is helmed by Raj Kumar Gupta. Though much details of the film have not been revealed, buzz is that Devgn might just recreate the success of his recent release Golmaal Again.

Baaghi 2: Back in 2016 the Tiger Shroff starrer Baaghi hit screens, also featuring Shraddha Kapoor the film turned out to be a sleeper hit of the year. Now a couple of years on we see a sequel of the film being reading to hit screens. Once again featuring Tiger, Baaghi 2 also stars Disha Patani. Considering both their fan following we have to list Baaghi 2 as a dark horse of 2018.

Disclaimer: Though we have categorized the films into the segments of Rs. 100 cr, Rs. 200 cr, Rs. 300 cr based on our predictions of their collections, a plus or minus 5% margin of difference can be expected between the predicted figures and attained figures at the box office.

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Keywords: News, Bollywood

The Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed film Padmaavat finally hit screens after much back and forth. Starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor the film which has been in the eye of the storm since the past couple of months seems to have been well recieved by the audience.

In this box office report we take a look at the overseas collections of Padmaavat on Day 6 (Tuesday).

Australia box office
138,358 USD [Rs. 88.06 lacs] from 61 screens

New Zealand box office
36,228 USD [Rs. 23.05 lacs] from 22 screens

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Ranveer Singh has been basking in the success of his recent release, Padmaavat. The film, which has been embroiled in controversies, has already crossed the 100 crore mark. As the film is receiving tremendous appreciation from audience and critics, Ranveer Singh is also winning accolades for his menacing performance of Sultan Alauddin Khilji.

Ranveer Singh’s is the first character amongst others who makes the first appearance as young Alauddin on the big screen. The menacing gaze and the evil smile is what made the audience get hooked. In the very first look, he is shown as the young Alauddin Khilji living under the shadow of his uncle Sultan Jalaluddin Khilji.

We got our hands on the pictures where Ranveer Singh’s transformation is shown. Donning middle-parted neck length hair with bruises on his face, he is seen getting his makeup done and turning into the young beast Khilji. The hazel eyes and surma under his eyes is definitely daunting.

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Padmaavat stars Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as Maha Rawal Ratan Singh, Jim Sarbh as Malik Kafur and Aditi Rao Hydari as Mehrunissa.

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Keywords: News, Bollywood

It was indeed a great moment for the makers and the cast of Padmaavat to finally see their hard work pay off on the big screen despite all the hitches. Followed by the release, while the actors enjoyed all the appreciation coming their way, some stars were probably disappointed with the film. A day ago, Swara Bhaskar reportedly expressed her opinion on the film by bashing the film.

Swara Bhaskar made a comment stating that she felt reduced to a vagina after watching the film. The actress was upset with sati and jauhar being portrayed in the film. She believed that Padmaavat glorified these inhumane practices. However, responding to her open letter that accused Sanjay Leela Bhansali of being regressive, writers of Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram Leela decided to respond. Siddharth and Garima who have worked with Bhansali shared their reply on their blog. Here’s what they had to say about Swara’s comment and feminism in general:

“Feminism: The advocacy of woman’s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.

Now that’s the dictionary definition of the word. But how can anyone advocate about ‘equality of the sexes’? A woman has a vagina, the door to life. It has the power to procure ‘life’, which no man, however hard he tries, can ever do. The question of equality is settled there, once and for all.

There are some film-makers, artists, actors who feel they are the torch-bearers of ‘feminism’ in the new-age cinema.

So here is what the ‘true’ & ‘real’ depiction of feminism in recent films – A woman, betrayed by the lover/groom picks up a bottle of alcohol and walks the streets while an old ‘hindi’ song plays in the background…she managed to something that men have been doing when betrayed. So that’s equality. Men – 10 women – 1 (the films have just begun to become progressive so please don’t mind the score). Just forgot to mention, in the same movie a dialogue goes – “Jab aadmi aurat se pareshaan hota hai ye daaru hi usey sahara deti hai. Isi liye shadi ke baad har mard peeta hai, biwi chillaati rehti hai par aadmi ka gham kaun samjhe” (This is the gist of the dialogue, not the exact dialogue)

In a recent short film, a woman, tired of doing the daily chores in the kitchen, pulls a chair and begins to sip on juice (a la her husband and other ‘men’). Equality achieved. Men-10… women – 2

In another film a daughter smokes and shares a cigarette with her father (which only a boy could do till now) is lauded and celebrated as feminism. Equality again. Men -10 Women – 3

Now coming to the people who found Padmaavat regressive and found their feminism challenged by it.

Did they feel like a ‘vagina’ when Rani Padmaavati almost orders her husband, who obliges, to throw out the lecherous priest? She takes a decision, as a vagina.

Did they feel like a ‘vagina’ when Rani Padmaavati decides to show her face to Khilji in a mirror? Though it was her decision, as a vagina.

Did they feel like a ‘vagina’ when Rani Padmaavati goes to ‘rescue’ her husband who had been abducted? Again, a decision against the system, as a vagina.

They must have felt like a ‘vagina’ when she chose ‘fire’ over ‘rape’? It was her ‘call’, her ‘decision’ as a vagina. Right, wrong, strong, weak is up to you to interpret as a ‘penis’ or as a ‘vagina’.

The word feminism is so misused and so mis-interpreted off late that it feels like an abuse. To women, to the ‘vagina’… to the great feminine power. To the only gender that has the power to procure life.

Films, ads, opinions that portray women doing things that men do are lauded and celebrated as ‘feminist’. Feminism is reduced to women smoking, drinking, gambling etc on screen. Abey aadmi toh hamesha se ‘fucked-up’ rahe. Ab auratein equality ke chakkar mein ‘fucked-up’ ho gayi. Ho gaya feminism. Men – 10. Women -10. Lo daal lo equality jahan daalni hai.

Yes, women were repressed and India was patriarchal, it still is. But feminism is not about women doing things that men do.

Feminism is about taking a stand. Taking a decision and standing by it. About having the freedom to choose. It’s a thought that gives you freedom to just be. Not become equals or equally chutiyatic (wait that’s ‘vaginal’) as another gender.

When you took your whole family and cook for the film, didn’t you know it is going to end with a jauhar? Why act so surprised? Oh because you wanted him to include a comment on the practice? Ok then… as if the number of disclaimers were not enough. It’s the story of womens’ valour and their brave, harsh, radical decision. Their choice. That my dear is feminism. The power to be able to choose.

What perhaps was a victory for the filmmaker was the blinding of khilji as he entered the fort precincts, by burning embers thrown at him by the women. Such was the power of their fire within that they didn’t let the enemy lay their hands upon themselves. Why make them small and guilty of an act that they chose to protect themselves in the face of lynching and a life of slavery? Why judge that day from 700 years ago with ‘what would I do today’? It’s a film based in the 13th century when women preferred and chose death to rape.

Then don’t watch historicals, here or abroad. A ‘gladiator’ would perhaps shake your sensibilities of a slave in today’s context! Or a Troy might again make you feel like some other body part… A squishy liver perhaps. Since we can’t appreciate art, let’s violate it. With karni sena on one side and the vaginas on the other. Let’s demand jauhar from the makers and feel victorious with sensationalizing it with our judgements and parameters.

It was Padmavati’s choice and free will to not give herself up to Khilji. The question about life after rape does not arise. She, out of her free will, chose to embrace the fire rather than the tyrannical Alauddin. How is that any less empowering? It was a matter of choice and not forced upon them by their husbands! So, Padmavati was not a ‘rape victim’ who was so shamed that she didn’t have a right to live, as you make it out to be in your letter. Amazing what you all make it into. Was your open letter about Padmaavat or the regressive ‘Bhoomi’?

And factually speaking – ‘Sati’ was a practice (forced tradition) where women self-immolate themselves (mostly by force, sometimes by will) after the husbands’ death. Similar tradition called ‘Saka’ was observed by men who face a certain death in the battlefield. ‘Jauhar’ is only and only out of free will. As a woman. And as a ‘vagina’.

So people who feel like a ‘vagina’ after watching Padmaavat, should continue to feel like a ‘vagina’ for they would never understand the power it has. The power to create and run the world. Such people are the biggest road-blocks for ‘feminism’.”

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Keywords: News, Bollywood

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to be back this summer and the bidding day was an event to remember. While the team owners were all set to bid on the players, the next generation stars were grabbing eyeballs. One such lady who grabbed attention at the event was Juhi Chawla’s teenage daughter Jahnavi Mehta.

The 17-year-old Jahnavi Mehta was raising the paddle from the Kolkata Knight Riders table. As her parents Juhi Chawla and producer Jay Mehta, who are the co-owners of KKR with Shah Rukh Khan. Jahnavi was representing the team when she gave Preity Zinta run for her money during the bidding.

Preity Zinta, the owner of Kings XI Punjab, was in full form at the event. Post the event, she shared a photograph with the beautiful Jahnavi and wrote, “Forget the madness of the #VivoIPLAuction- it’s awesome to meet the super smart Janvi Mehta who gave me a run for our money #smartgirlsrock.”

Even Juhi Chawla shared a picture of her daughter with the team KKR and captioned it, “At the @IPL auction, @KKRiders CEO @VenkyMysore with my daughter Jahnavi & our team so far #IPLAuction #IPL2018.”

Juhi Chawla has been married to businessman Jai Mehta for over 22 years now. They have two kids- daughter Jahnavi and son Arjun.

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Keywords: News, Bollywood

Ranveer Singh is the ultimate risk taker in the industry and no one can contest this. Right from his wacky choice of clothes to playing an out-and-out villainous character in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s love of labour Padmaavat, he has made sure that he carves his niche in the B-town. His portrayal of Allauddin Khilji in the flick has left us intrigued, impressed and asking for more. Method actor that he is, the Gully Boy star was on a self-confessed exile for the entire period the film was shot and released. Relieved at the success of the movie ridden with many controversies, the Bajirao Mastani star finally opened up about his journey behind Padmaavat.

By and large, the industry loved the flick, and showered special praises for Ranveer’s anti-hero role. Veteran star Amitabh Bachchan too was equally floored by Khilji’s antics on screen. He sent a handwritten note and flowers to Singh in his trademark style, congratulating him on the stupendous success of the film. Overwhelmed with this gesture, Ranveer took to twitter to share this. He posted, “Mujhe mera award mil gaya @SrBachchan “. Looks like he now does not care whether he bags the coveted Best Actor trophy at Bollywood award functions.  The film has won both critical and audience acclaim and is running in packed houses in India and abroad. The historical drama has crossed the Rs 100 cr mark, in turn giving the biggest opening to Ranveer at the box office.

Like Ranveer, Deepika Padukone too was praised by ex-beau Ranbir Kapoor’s parents Rishi Kapoor and Nitu Singh. Speaking about the same she told a daily, “Yes, it was very sweet of them. I was touched. I’ve worked with them in Love Aaj Kal and I have fond memories.”

While Ranveer will be next in Gully Boy with Alia Bhatt, Deepika is set to play a gangster in Vishal Bhardwaj’s next, Sapna Didi.

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