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Over the years, filmmakers have often made it a point to use the name of a superstar to attract the audience for their respective film. At times, it leaves the viewers confused about how long the length of role will be of that particular star. At other times, the audience can see right through the deception and decide not to visit the theatre as they know they won't be seeing enough of the star in the film.
DEAR ZINDAGI is a film which brings such confusion!
When the film was first announced by Karan Johar on Twitter, he wrote it in a way that definitely made it appear as if Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt are the two main leads in the film. However, news then started to spread that the film actually revolves around Alia and her stories with 3 other male characters in the film, while SRK has more of a supporting role. However, the promos of the film seem to really highlight the role of SRK.
In such cases, the audience can be confused. However, I feel that SRK has been shown a lot in the promos to the extent that the urban audience (whom this film is aimed for) will come out to see SRK in the film. It won't be a huge audience that one normally associates with an SRK release, because the audience will have it in their mind that SRK isn't technically the lead in the film (or so we can assume) and also because this is more of a niche, multiplex film which has no appeal for the masses across the country of India. The actual big, commercial, SRK entertainer that would hold appeal across the country will be RAEES releasing in January, not this film! Nonetheless, DEAR ZINDAGI will still manage to find itself a sizeable chunk of viewers coming to see the film for SRK and Alia. I expect the opening day collection to be in the range of other big multiplex releases over the years in November such as ROCKSTAR and TAMASHA (approx. 10 crores each), similar to Alia's last film UDTA PUNJAB (approx 10 crores), and about half of SRK's last film (FAN, which collected approx. 19 crores) where he actually had the full-fledged main lead role, unlike this film. Basically, I feel the opening will be in the 9.5-10 crore range.
The opening will be there. The question revolves around how the film will fare after the opening weekend. November is typically a cold month (not just for weather, but at the box office too) and films usually flop one by one, as we have seen in recent weeks with ROCK ON 2 becoming a huge box office disaster and FORCE 2 not faring well either despite a decent opening. In fact, there have disasters of shocking results over the years in November, with films that would normally be expected to open well (such as GORI TERE PYAAR MEIN and HAPPY ENDING) taking disastrous openings that weren't even face-saving, in the region of 3 crores! Truly, November is usually a poor month for film business, with the exceptions being any Diwali releases or any other rare exception (RAM LEELA).
Naturally, one would expect DEAR ZINDAGI releasing in November to not do too well, but the film does have a major benefit: director Gauri Shinde, who directed the much-appreciated English Vinglish. The promos of DEAR ZINDAGI depict a slice-of-life type film from her that could easily connect with the urban youth, and it seems that the SRK-Alia combo will be appreciated (including the Kabaddi scene shown in first promo). Basically, I feel that this film will carry a strong WOM (Word of Mouth) amongst the multiplex audience, the urban youth!
Performance-wise, Alia Bhatt could be earning herself another nomination at the award ceremonies for the Best Actress award after her much-appreciated performance in UDTA PUNJAB. The reason why I feel this is because Sridevi received a Filmfare nomination for her performance in ENGLISH VINGLISH, which makes it very likely that Gauri Shinde will extract a similar level performance from Alia. Also, Alia seems to have a role that can really connect with the youth.
SRK's act here doesn't seem to be anything new: he has been playing the bearded-man with the deep voice in many films recently such as JAB TAK HAI JAAN, HAPPY NEW YEAR, and DILWALE. Nonetheless, he will perform well as usual and elevate scenes through his star power. As I wrote in previous articles (http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4549646) (http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4616112), the time of SRK as a box office superstar ended after the debacle of DILWALE, and much like Amitabh Bachchan started to do around the year 2000, SRK now is also in a similar transition phase where he will be doing character-based roles in films that are not meant to be box office blockbusters. DEAR ZINGAGI will continue this trend of his that started with FAN.
My Box Office Predictions for DEAR ZINDAGI:
Opening Day: 10 crores net
Opening Weekend: Approx. 35 crores net
Lifetime Collections: 68 crores net
Overall Box Office Verdict: Semi-Hit
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