Bollywood maange more!
If 2011 belonged to remakes, then 2012 is most likely to belong to sequels. From comedies to action flicks, every film worth its money in Bollywood seems to have been bitten by the sequel bug as the year will have as many as 22 sequels either ready to release or on the floor. And while some of these are installments of recent flicks, there are others whose original films had hit the marquee a few years back.
But this surge hardly comes as a surprise to industrywallahs, who explain the reasons behind it. "Creating a franchisee for a hit film is the best bet in these times. Right now there's a lot of flutter in the industry with the high money in circulation. So, the moment you know you have the financial backing secured, instead of waiting for a fresh new concept, it's best to work on a sequel.
Besides, sequels of films like Dhoom, Golmaal... all have done well in the past, so it's encouraging for other filmmakers too," says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta however feels that some films genuinely lend themselves to being followed up as a sequel. "It does help when the basic premise is set already. So it's taking off from where you'd left the last time instead of ground zero again," says Gupta. But filmmaker Milan Luthria is quick to point out that it should not be mistaken as the filmmakers having it easy though.
"It may seem like the easier way out, but the fact is that since the expectations are high if you make a sequel to a hit, the pressure is high too on the filmmaker to deliver," adds Luthria.
Actor Tusshar Kapoor, who's been a part of the hit Golmaal series, says that as far as actors are concerned, it definitely works in their favour. "The audience loves the character so much that they want to see more of them, which is definitely a compliment, but also encouraging for the actor to keep doing better and equally challenging," he says.
Taran highlights that it's easier to make sequels of comedies and action flicks as compared to the other genre. "They are both quite a favourite when it comes to making sequels as they are easy to take up from where they left. That's why it's now not uncommon for film endings to already announce the next installment coming up, while in some films it's easy to see that a sequel can easily be made," says Taran.
Sequels in waiting
Kya Supercool Hain Hum
Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai 2
Dedh Ishqiya
Tanu Weds Manu 2
Shootout At Wadala
Dhoom 3
Munnabhai 3
Houseful 2
Gyarah Chalis Ki Last Metro
Raaz 3
Jannat 2
Jism 2
Dabangg 2
Shabri 2
Ghayal 2
Krrish 2
Dostana 2
Rock On 2
1920 - Evil Returns
No Entry 2
Race 2
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Yesteryear Bollywood queens ready with for a comeback this year
Age no bar, marital status no bar and kids no bar either. Seems like this is what senior B-Town actresses are set to prove in the coming year, as the once reigning queens of the 80s and 90s are all set to romance the big screens once again. The coming year will witness a deluge of these actresses make a comeback to the silver screen. And even the ones who've attempted a comeback of sorts earlier are readying for another shot at films. And it's not the mother-sister kind of roles that these ladies are settling for, instead it's nothing less than the lead roles for these actresses.
Sridevi is currently shooting for English Vinglish, while Karisma Kapoor is busy with Dangerous Ishq. Buzz is that Madhuri Dixit-Nene is being wooed for the sequel of Ishqiya. Shilpa Shirodkar too is said to be knocking on Bollywood doors. Raveena Tandon who made a comeback of sorts early this year, is readying for another round of films more suited to her new svelte figure.
While industrywallahs give them a thumbs up, they admit that the reception to their comebacks by the audience will depend on the kind of roles they come back with. "There's no doubt that they are a super-talented bunch and there's a high curiosity and interest in their comebacks, but ultimately how they fare at the BO will depend on the roles and the film in totatilty," says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
Trade analyst Bharti Pradhan agrees. "They are all some of the best performers of their times, and they are looking in their best forms too, so why not?" she quips. "It's not aping the Hollywood here, but a natural and gradual progression, and a good performance is what matters, not the marital status or age of the actor," she adds.
A senior distributor adds that the actresses have all known to be complete performers, but they will have to be careful in the roles they select. "They were high on glam, were good dancers, but were known for their acting prowess too and by the time they called it quits, temporarily, they had gravitated towards more serious kind of roles. So, in those kind of performance-oriented roles, I'm sure they would be loved and accepted. If they can pull off hot numbers then that's an added," says the veteran insider.
Raveena however feels that it's unfair to call it a comeback.
"Where had we gone to call it a comeback. We had only taken a small break," she insists. Comeback or not, talking about what lures them back to Tinsel Town, Madhuri says that it all depends on getting a role that would make you want to sign on the dotted line. "Acting has always been a passion, so it's only about prioritising things," explains Madhuri.
Optimistic about the response they will garner at the BO, actor Kareena Kapoor feels that the fans will definitely be excited about seeing their favourites on screen again. "We have grown up watching and loving their movies. So, of course, it's exciting to see them set the screen on fire again," says the current Bollywood hottie.
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
Current Affairs
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