A sneak-peak into what’s been cooking in the Bollywood Universe

BOLLYWOOD LOSES ITS SHEEN IN CHINA Indian films slowly seem to be losing shine at the China box office, a market so far springing up one blockbuster after another. Akshay Kumar’s biographical drama Padman released last week, has registered an unimpressive total of $3.55 million (Rs. 25.54 crore). The film that also features Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte had made Rs. 78.22 crore upon its release in India earlier this year. Trade website Box Office India pointed out that at $1.75 million, the opening numbers of the R.Balki directed film were even lower than Kumar’s last release in China Toilet: Ek Prem Katha that had collected $2.25 million. “Pad Man registers a low start in China. Opening day numbers are much lower than Toilet: Ek Prem Katha which opened in June 2018. The two-day total remains on the lower side,” tweeted trade analyst Taran Adarsh. Indian film disappointments seem to be increasingly common in China this year. A few weeks ago, Sony Pictures Entertainment India’s comedy drama 102 Not Out had made $3.56 million (Rs 25.06 crore) in the neighbouring country. India’s blockbuster war epic Baahubali 2: The Conclusion too had only managed about $11.9 million (Rs 80 crore). Some of these may be decent numbers in themselves but unimpressive considering the benchmark traditionally set by Bollywood films in China.

BOLLYWOOD ATTENDS INDIA’S BIG FAT WEDDING The Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal’ wedding was a big starry event that was attended by many prominent personalities of India and the western world also including Hilary Clinton and John Kerry. From B-town many celebrities graced the grand wedding including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Saif Ali Khan, and many others. Apart from the festivities, there was something that became the talk of the town. Bollywood celebrities including newlyweds Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, Janhvi, Khushi and Boney Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Parineeti Chopra also reached the city to celebrate with the couple. Sports stars Sachin Tendulkar with wife Anjali, Zaheer Khan and wife Sagarika Ghatge, MS Dhoni’s wife Sakshi with daughter Ziva have also joined the celebrations. Guests from across the world landed in the city to join the celebrations. Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was seen receiving a warm welcome from Mukesh and Nita Ambani.

KEDARNATH ROCKS THE BOX OFFICE Abhishek Kapoor’s Kedarnath has made more than Rajinikanth’s 2.0 (Hindi Version) this week. Kedarnath earned Rs 45 crore, while 2.0 (Hindi) collected Rs 38.00 crore during this week. Despite failing to make a desired impact among critics, the movie has managed to maintain a steady pace at the box office. However, the viewers are praising the performance of Saif Ali Khan’s daughter Sara Ali Khan in her debut movie. Sushant’s movie narrates a romantic drama of a Muslim boy Mansoor (played by Sushant Singh Rajput), and a Pahadi Pandit’s daughter Mukku (Played by Sara Ali Khan). The film is set against the background of the Uttarakhand floods of 2013.