We are almost halfway through 2022 and the Hindi film industry is still waiting for the big hits of the year.Of the 13 films released this year, only Kashmir Archives and Gangubai Katiyawadi Profit has been successfully registered. Now, this week, with the release of two blockbusters, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 starring Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani and Dhaakad led by Kangana Ranaut, film industry analysts are hoping the Hindi film industry will turn things around.
Film exhibitor Akshaye Rathi believes Hindi moviegoers will return to cinemas this week. “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Dhaakad are two films that complement each other in cinemas as they both cater to different audiences. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is a family entertainer. Dakad, on the other hand, is a mass entertainer.Those two demographics are huge among moviegoers, and I’m sure both movies will pull quite a few people back to theaters at the same time,” he told Indian Express Network.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is an independent sequel to the 2007 hit film Bhool Bhulaiyaa, led by the actor Akshay Kumar and Vidyabaran And with Priyadarshan at the helm. Now, with Anees Bazmee at the helm, it remains to be seen whether Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 can repeat the success of the 2007 film, as Bollywood franchises — with a few exceptions — struggle to pack theaters.
Rathi believes Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 will be judged on its merits, but comparisons with Priyadarshan films are inevitable. He advises, “It’s been almost 15 years since Bhool Bhulaiyaa came out, and since then, moviegoers have gone through generations. There will be a degree of comparison, but people will ultimately judge Bhool Bhulaiyaa on the merits and entertainment quotient of the movie. 2.” He added that Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 has a good record of advance bookings and is expected to see double-digit opening rates at the ticket counters.
Filmmaker and trade analyst Girish Johar believes that family audiences will head to theaters to watch Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 because “it will be a Paisawasur Entertainer”. He said: “It’s an Anees Bazmee movie and audiences already know they’re going to have a good time in the theatre. I’m going to put the film at around 9 to 1 crore rupees. “
Dakad, another version this Friday, is an action thriller with some high-pressure action sequences featuring Kangana Ranaut. According to Girish Johar, the film suits the taste of the season as audiences these days are craving action dramas (KGF 2, Pushpa, RRR). He told indianexpress.com, “Dhaakad is an expensive movie. Action movies are doing pretty well at the box office these days. The popularity of the movie is not bad. If the movie is anywhere above Rs 3 crore I’ll be happy when it’s released.” Dhaakad expects to have around 2,000 screens across the country.
Akshaye Rathi believes that Kangana films will attract more audiences in single-screen theaters. “Dhaakad is a true blue mass entertainer. It’s a single-screen movie that will be released in second- and third-tier cities. Also, audiences in these demographics are more current bookings than advance bookings,” Rathi said. explain.
But with KGF 2 doing well every weekend, the question remains the same as it has been for the past six weeks, will Dhaakad and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 survive the Yash movie craze? Jordaar replied: “It depends on the movies available. People rejected Jayeshbhai Jordaar, so the audience turned to KGF 2 again. Now, if Dhaakad and Bhool Bhulaiyaa2 are both bad, KGF 2 will make money again. But I don’t think it is It will happen. We are in week six and the movie is on OTT, so I think now Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is going to be off to a good start.”
