Bollywood has heaved a sigh of relief. After the success of the Akshay Kumar-starrer Housefull, lined up ahead are some more impressive biggies – Badmaash Company, Kites, Raajneeti and Raavan. Close to Rs 250 crore (Rs 2500 million) is collectively riding on the five releases. "These are big films and there are big hopes from them. On an average, there is more than Rs 250 crore riding on these movies now," says trade analyst Komal Nahta. Vikas Mohan, who runs the trade publication Super Cinema, says: "We are very optimistic that the industry will smile again and these movies will bring Bollywood a breather."
Money matters
Nahta throws some light on the budgets of the five big banners’ big starrers. "Badmaash Company has been made on a budget of about Rs 35 crore by Yash Raj Films. While Kites has a budget of over Rs 60 crore, Raavan has been made at Rs 45 crore. Raajneeti too has been made with almost the same budget," he added. Director’s cuts Releasing Friday, Badmaash Company is actor Parmeet Sethi’s directorial debut. Anurag Basu’s love story Kites that has garnered an unprecedented buzz, thanks to its lead pair — Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan and Mexican actress Barbara Mori — releases on May 21 in Hindi and English. Prakash Jha’s politics-centric thriller Raajneeti, which will release on June 4, has a mixed cast that consists of experienced actors like Nana Patekar, Naseeruddin Shah, Ajay Devgn and Manoj Bajpai, and new talents like Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. It will see Arjun Rampal in a completely different avatar.
Another much-awaited film is Raavan. After Guru, Mani Ratnam has once again teamed up with the real life couple Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. But the two are pitted against each other in this one. It is scheduled for a June 18 release. Raavan, too, will be released in two languages - Hindi and Tamil. Southern superstar Vikram will make his Bollywood debut with the Hindi version where he will be seen as Aishwarya’s husband. “These are the hugely awaited films of the year and we are hoping they do well. The coming months should stabilise the industry,” said trade analyst Atul Mohan.
{{/usCountry}}Another much-awaited film is Raavan. After Guru, Mani Ratnam has once again teamed up with the real life couple Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. But the two are pitted against each other in this one. It is scheduled for a June 18 release. Raavan, too, will be released in two languages - Hindi and Tamil. Southern superstar Vikram will make his Bollywood debut with the Hindi version where he will be seen as Aishwarya’s husband. “These are the hugely awaited films of the year and we are hoping they do well. The coming months should stabilise the industry,” said trade analyst Atul Mohan.
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