2023 was a special year in many ways. It began with a bang with the super-success of Pathaan. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback vehicle became the first Bollywood film to enter the Rs. 500 crores club. One expected that no other film in 2023 will be able to repeat this feat. However, 3 more films crossed the Rs. 500 crore mark – Sunny Deol-starrer Gadar 2, Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Jawan and Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Animal. This year hasn’t been as great as 2023 and once again, everyone’s wondering if any film will achieve the numbers made by the aforementioned films.
Trade veteran Taran Adarsh told Bollywood Hungama that it’s too early to make any conclusion. He said, “It’s too early. A lot of times people say ‘Yeh film kaise chalegi’ or ‘yeh film ka kya hoga’. But surprises do happen. Let me give you an example. A premiere was held in 1991 at Gaiety-Galaxy. It featured a new actor, a new heroine, a new director and a new producer. The father’s hero was a friend of mine. It was released alongside Lamhe (1991).”
When asked if he was referring to Ajay Devgn’s debut film, Phool Aur Kaante (1991), he replied, “Yes. When I attended its premiere, people were already discussing at the venue, ‘Lamhe ke saath kaun aata hai?’. After all, it was Yash Chopra’s next after Chandni (1989) and starred Anil Kapoor and Sridevi. But look what happened with Phool Aur Kaante. One Friday changes everything.”
He continued, “Hence, one should never predict ‘Yeh film 100 crore karegi’ or ‘Yeh film 500 crore nahin karegi’. Did anyone expect Pathaan to cross the Rs. 500 crore mark? Did anyone predict that Jawan will open better than Pathaan? Did we imagine Animal doing such humongous business? Hence, the box office can be so unpredictable.”
Also Read: EXPLOSIVE: Taran Adarsh ATTACKS the Buy One Get One Offer scheme: “I am strictly against it. Kya aapne film free mein banayi hai ki aap usko free mein dikha rahe ho?”
