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When people think of actors (again, emphasizing the "acting" part here), two of the prominent names that are said are Farhan Akhtar and Vidya Balan.
Farhan Akhtar caused a rage amongst the audience for him with his Filmfare award-winning act in BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG. Vidya Balan did the same by winning the Filmfare award for Best Actress two years in a row, first for THE DIRTY PICTURE and then for KAHAANI.
So, with the two actors teaming up together in a film, the expectations are bound to be huge, if not from a box office standpoint, then at least from quality standpoint (for those that enjoy their acting/films).
SHAADI KE SIDE EFFECTS is apparently the sequel to PYAR KE SIDE EFFECTS, which did below average business in 2006. SHAADI KE SIDE EFFECTS is being directing by Saket Chaudhary, who directed the previous 2006 film, and was also assistant director of Shah Rukh Khan starrer PHIR BHI DIL HAI HINDUSTANI.
Despite having stars like Vidya and Farhan in the film, the buzz for SHAADI KE SIDE EFFECTS is just about okay. Not bad, but not too big either. The film's songs haven't really caught on.
Although the theatrical trailer of the film has been liked by many people, there are other factors to consider...
One thing is that the film's appeal is that it's a rom-com that is limited to the audience that visit big city multiplexes. The film has nothing for the masses/single screen audience and the audience in the interiors. It is a multiplex film that will have rely on multiplexes to become a success. Also, I feel that the film doesn't have too much youth appeal, and because it is the youth that mainly comes to watch films on weekdays, the weekday collections of SHAADI KE SIDE EFFECTS will be on the lower side. Also, it has been seen in the past that collections of multiplex films tend to be on the lower side on the weekdays.
However, if the film manages to find appreciation from the family audience (which I think is possible), then the film has a chance of doing solid performance on weekends, as the family audience mainly come on weekends. But again, then there is problem of competition, as there are three films releasing next week (QUEEN, GULAAB GANG, TOTAL SIYAPAA). Therefore, in terms of weekends, SHAADI KE SIDE EFFECTS would have to mainly rely on it's opening weekend when it comes to the family audience.
There is another obstacle the film faces: the ongoing Asian Cup cricket matches. India has a match this Friday against Sri Lanka, a bigger match on Sunday against Pakistan, and a match against Afghanistan on Wednesday, and perhaps more. Given the fact that SHAADI KE SIDE EFFECTS mainly has a one week clear run at the box office (three films releasing next week which will reduce screen space for SKSE), the cricket matches could be a problem for the film and for it's lifetime business.
The morning shows at multiplexes on opening day Friday will likely take a slow start (due to not-so-big buzz and genre) but should gather momentum during afternoon/night shows with positive word of mouth. How much momentum it can build on the day depends though on how much the cricket game will affect the film. Opening for the film at single screens/mass-dominated areas will be disastrous.
The film's collections can pick up momentum through the weekend at multiplexes with positive word of mouth, but the Sunday cricket match is an obstacle. After that, as explained farther above, I think the collections of the film will remain on the lower side during the weekdays, and even lower when three new films release next week and take up screen space of SKSE.
My Box Office Predictions for SHAADI KE SIDE EFFECTS:
Opening Day: 5 crores net
Opening Weekend: 20 crores net
Lifetime Collections: 35+ crores net
Overall Box Office Verdict: Below Average
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