Bollywood on a roll

After a dull 2010, Bollywood has taken off on a high note this year. Four hits in the first month — the year starts on a promising note for the box office.

After a dull 2010, Bollywood has taken off on a high note this year. The month’s four releases — No One Killed Jessica, Yamla Pagla Deewana, Turning 30 and Dhobi Ghat — have opened to good reviews and profits at the box office.

HT Image

No One Killed Jessica, the year’s first release, is going strong in theatres even after two weeks since its opening. “People are really appreciating the content as well as the acting by both Rani (Mukerji) and Vidya (Balan). The occupancy is still 83%,” says Amit Awasthi of Spice Cinemas.

The second film, which promised to be a lot of fun, was comedy caper Yamla Pagla Deewana, starring Bollywood’s Punjabi father and sons — Dharmendra, Bobby Deol and Sunny Deol. After Apne, the Deols once again struck a chord with the audience, but this time in a funny way. “The Deol family has a good fan following that is pulling crowds,” says Yogesh Raizada of Wave Cinemas.

Turning 30, starring Gul Panag and Purab Kohli, is also a hit with the multiplex audience. Mr Perfectionist Aamir Khan’s Dhobi Ghat has grossed Rs 93 million in the first two days.

January ends with Madhur Bhandarkar’s debut attempt at a romcom, Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji, which opens on Friday.