After Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani, Gadar 2, OMG 2, Dream Girl 2, and Jawan to score huge: How Bollywood’s coming back to its feet

‘Showbiz’ the word has a deeper meaning than we think. Being in an industry where storytelling is not merely an art, but more of a business, the competition is always fierce. Especially with the pandemic being the biggest jolt for theatres, 2023 has been kind. With Pathaan giving a stupendous kickstart to the box office, many other Bollywood films managed to get back the business of filmmaking on its firm footing. Now, with recent releases like Satyaprem Ki Katha, and even Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani, Bollywood is regaining the supremacy it once held.

Commenting on how the pandemic affected show business in the country trade analyst Akshaye Rathi says…

“Through the pandemic, the consumption habits of the audience changed drastically. There were two years of consuming content from home, and while that became a habit, it takes a bit of time and effort to break that and bring people back to the theatres. Now that viewing habits are changing back to what they used to be, you are seeing great traction at the box office again.”

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“As much as the South has had its Pushpas, KGFs, and RRR come and do great business, Hindi films have also done great business. There was Pathaan, Kerala Story, The Kashmir Files, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani do well, and so it is a balance. It is not about where the movie comes from, it is about how engaging the story is. One benefit of the pandemic has been the audience became a lot more accepting of content from all over the country,” he further added.

The success of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

Karan Johar directed Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is heading to the Rs 150 crore mark in India and has crossed the 200 crore mark globally. And while the film stood strong in its trade game, it’s only proven that the industry is in a fruitful phase now. With Gadar 2 and OMG 2 releasing today, the biz only gets stronger. Especially with Gadar 2 seeing a phenomenal advance booking and strong trade predictions, it will be great to see the moolah Sunny Deol’s film rakes in at its opening weekend.

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Talking about this trade expert Akshaye Rathi says…

As the Hindi film fraternity, we needed to learn and acknowledge that the wider the net you cast, the more fish you catch. Unfortunately, we had been making very niche urban films, but here is a scenario that caters to 1.4 billion people. That’s the reason we are seeing these sorts of numbers. We need to stop making films just for urban cities, but rather make them for India.”

Even producer & film business expert Girish Johar stated…

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani has performed extremely well in metro cities as well as in overseas, catering to urban audiences. It clashed with Oppenheimer. Now with another two big films coming this Friday, there has been a certain aspect of competition.”

The OMG 2 and Gadar 2 clash at the Box Office

While films locking horns at the box office is rather common, this power politics makes for great headlines about a film’s business. But trade experts beg to differ. While Gadar 2 has popularity on its side, Akshay Kumar’s OMG 2 has strong word of mouth in its favor. In fact, with the early reviews of both films, the latter is winning hearts big time and is certainly to be the ‘lambi race ka ghoda’.

Gadar 2 vs OMG 2

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Talking about this clash, Akshaye adds…

The only thing that can spoil a movie is its own merits or demerits, back then Lagaan clashed with Gadar, both did fabulously well. Welcome had come with Taare Zameen Par, Raees and Kaabil had come together, both did well, so no movie cannibalizes into each others business. OMG 2 and Gadar 2 cater to very different audiences, both will co-exist fabulously at the BO.”

On this clash, Girish Johar opines,

There is mass hysteria for Gadar 2, everyone is looking forward for Sunny Deol to roar on the big-screens. Gadar 2 looks promising, hence people are anticipating its release not only in top cities but even in tier 2 and tier 3. Exhibitor frenzy is huge. So its bound to take a humongous start. That’s fantastic because it’s a non-holiday Friday. OMG 2 is a very smart film, the makers know what their limitations are and I think they are playing it to that capability. The film is good, they are relying on the word-of-mouth. So the start may happen with Gadar 2, but eventually in the long run they will find a balance and stand strong at BO. For me both films would benefit in their way and have positive dividends in return.”

Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan taking over Pathaan

While Ayushmann Khurrana’s Dream Girl 2 would also emerge victorious at the box office, the big fish would be Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan. The film will hold the Hindi-speaking belts as well as the South together, thanks to its cast. With Atlee, Nayanthara, Anirudh, and Vijay Sethupathi coming with their own fan bases, experts feel Jawan would be bigger than Pathaan.

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Explaining how Jawan would have a better edge than Pathaan, Akshaye said…

I have no doubts about Jawan, SRK is one of the biggest superstars we have, some of the most iconic technicians and actors from the Tamil industry are also in it. Nayanthara is the country’s biggest female superstar, she is in it. Anirudh’s music has its cult fan following. Jawan will do fabulously well in the Hindi speaking belts as well as the South. It can even go beyond Pathaan. The way the South would deliver numbers on Jawan will be definitely much bigger to how they contributed to Pathaan. In terms of its potential audience, Jawan will be at an advantage compared to Pathaan.”

Girish Johar also states…

I think there is a strategy behind what SRK is trying to do and he is a very smart businessman. First he started with pathaan and he went all out doing mass-commercial films getting hindi audience specifically to the theatres to watch his film. Now he is very smartly trying to go to Southern markets. There are many south films which have done 100 cr in the hindi market, but there is no hindi film that has done 100 cr in South market. I believe SRK is trying to capture that market. He has collaborated with top south filmmaker and co-stars. This will definitely get him desired numbers. So wishing that it collects good numbers.”

Well, the film industry is always on a seesaw when it comes to numbers, at what point the game changes no one knows. So as we welcome Gadar 2, OMG 2, and Dream Girl 2 this month and Jawan the next month, the box office coffers might only be busy with the cash flow. And with it we shall witness Bollywood reach its glorious all-time high by the end of 2023.

Also Read: Gadar 2 REVIEW: Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel starrer offers an outdated story, doesn’t live up to the hype

Nawaz Kochra

Nawaz Kochra has been an experienced journalist in the entertainment arena for the last 9 years. Worked with the biggest brands in the media fraternity, he now heads the editorial desk at Bollywood Bubble. In addition to that, he even hosts a podcast called, Let’s Talk with Bollywood Bubble. Someone who is calm, yet a firecracker, and holds a balanced opinion about things, Nawaz is strong-headed and determined. He loves films as well as web shows and TV (yes, he is from that generation!), and that’s why writing about them is more of a passion for him than just a job.