My Box Office Predictions for Singh is Bling

In 2015, Akshay Kumar is back with another Singh film! This time, it's SINGH IS BLING. However, the setting is much different now. Akshay Kumar, although still a huge star today, is not anywhere near his superstardom levels during his peak time of 2007-2008. As a matter of fact, SINGH IS KINNG back in 2008 had grossed 60+ crore range lifetime collections, and at the time, it was a very strong number given the fact that the highest lifetime grosser at the time, DHOOM 2, had grossed in the 80+ crore range for lifetime collections. However, in today's time, the lifetime collections of Akshay Kumar films are just around the 80+ crore range, which is not much higher than what SIK did back in 2008, and also the fact that his films are recording very low lifetime figures when compared to the biggest grossers of now, PK and BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN, both of which did 300+ crores lifetime collections!

Here's another trend I noticed about Akshay's films this year. Take a look!

Opening Day collections of Akshay's films in 2015:

Baby: 9.3 crores

Gabbar Is Back: 13.05 crores

Brothers: 15.20 crores

Notice that his opening day collection got bigger which each film? But then take a look at this...

Lifetime Collections of Akshay's films in 2015:

Baby: 95.56 crores

Gabbar Is Back: 87.55 crores

Brothers: 82.47 crores

Even though the opening day collections of his films have gotten higher which each film of his, the lifetime collections have gotten lower with each film. This is a worrying trend!

Unfortunately, it seems like this trend will likely continue with SINGH IS BLING. The opening will be higher than his last release BROTHERS (which is also his highest opener as of now), but the lifetime collections may not even reach the collections of BROTHERS!

SINGH IS BLING has the return of Akshay Kumar in a Singh avatar, similar to SINGH IS KINNG, has the masala/comedy genre, has a national holiday, and has some songs that would appeal to the audience (mainly the audience in North India, and that can be said about the whole film as well actually). All of these factors will contribute to it being Akshay's highest opener ever, especially a thunderous opening in North India. There is already a report that multiplexes have seen better advance booking than single screens, a rarity for masala films (Joginder Tuteja had reported this). But the fact that this is Akshay's fourth release in the year and with not as huge appeal outside of North India means that the film will probably not touch the 20 crore mark on it's opening day.

But but but, the upcoming fate of the film became quite apparent with the lacklustre theatrical trailer of the film. Neither is there any major villain or major heroine to accompany Akshay in the film (SINGH IS KINNG, in comparison, had huge star female lead Katrina Kaif). Lara Dutta, in a side role apparently in SINGH IS BLING, is not even considered relevant amongst the public anymore. Director Prabhu Deva has been on a slippery slope for quite some time as a director, and the damage was finally done when his last directorial venture ACTION JACKSON bombed at the box office. SINGH IS BLING looks a bit outdated (the old Aaja Mahi song being rehashed could be another reason for that) and the distributors, Pen India Pvt. Ltd is known for being associated with some flop films such as SINGH SAAB THE GREAT (which also gave an outdated vibe). Akshay Kumar is basically carrying this film on his own, and that won't be enough. Honestly, SINGH IS BLING feels like it will be a below average film, in terms of quality.

The budget of the film, from what I've read, is around 90 crores, which will make it difficult for the film to recover...

My Box Office Predictions for SINGH IS BLING:

Opening Day: 17.5 crores

Opening Weekend: 50+ crores

Lifetime Collections: 70+ crores

Overall Box Office Verdict: Flop

At best, SINGH IS BLING will be appreciated by some audience in North India (especially Punjab) and some mass circuits, but it will receive negativity from some audience in places outside of North India (especially multiplex audience outside of North India). I feel that the collections will drop badly from Monday onwards, mainly in the multiplex dominated areas outside of North India.

Critic reviews usually don't matter for the public when it comes to these films that are designed as entertainers, but I have been seeing some negative reviews for the film so far nonetheless.

Oh, and one more thing: who thought of the idea of having a South Indian director (Prabhu Deva) direct a North Indian style film?