Diwali rules Bollywood too! 
By IndiaFM News Bureau, October 24, 2003 - 02:06 IST
It's that time of the year when you celebrate at your fullest – Diwali. Fun, joy, merriment at it's very best. Moreover it's that time when you are happy to spend. On crackers, clothes, cosmetics. Cinema too features very next on the agenda.
And for this very fact, Diwali remains to be that season when most producers prefer to release their movies. Also with the school and college holiday period in hands this move almost always proves out to be a safe bet. Flashing back in the recent past, one can notice that every other movie released during Diwali turned out to be a hit. Or going by the other way, one can also comment that almost every other blockbuster was released in the Diwali phase.
Just checking facts in the past decade one can notice that every Diwali had at least one hit. Here's the formal detailing.
1993: Baazigar
1994: Kabhi Haa Kabhi Naa
1995: Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
1996: Raja Hindustani
1997: Dil To Pagal Hai
1999: Hum Saath Saath Hai
And if you thought that we missed out a couple of years on the list that's for the fact that those years gave multiple Diwali hits. Yes, producers have risked clashing their movies with equally strong oppositions in the Diwali week and have still managed to do good business. The best examples here being Yash Chopra's “Mohabbatien” and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's “Mission Kashmir” that released on 27th October 2000 and both these multi-starrers got a fantastic opening at the box-office. Also Karan Johar's “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” and David Dhavan's “Bade Miya Chote Miya” clashed in the Diwali week in 1998 and both survived.
But then there are also some exceptions. The last couple of Diwali's weren't so lucky for Bollywood. On 26th October 2001, Shahrukh Khan's much hyped “Asoka” and Sunny Deol's over-expected “Indian” released simultaneously and both bombed at the box-office. Even last year, the only Diwali release was Vashu Bhagnani's “Jeena Sirf Merre Liye” and about it's fate at the ticket window, well, you know better!
So finally it's no denying that Diwali is a festival of fun, joy, lights, crackers and also films to an extent.
Bollywood Stars on Diwali
Ajay Devgan and Kajol celebrate Diwali with family and friends. They enjoy everything from bursting crackers to lighting the traditional oil lamps (diya). This Diwali is very special for the duo for they have a new light in their lives – their sweet little daughter Nysa who celebrates her first Diwali.
Suniel Shetty will be working even on Diwali. But that doesn't stop him from enjoying the festival. He is taking his family along with him to his out-of-town shooting location where they would enjoy with crackers and gifting small Ganpati idols to friends.
Hrithik Roshan had never been able to blend himself into the festive mood of Diwali since his first film Kaho Naa.. Pyar Hai. Work has always kept him busy. But this time, he plans to take a break from his busy shooting schedules and celebrate Diwali along with the success of “Koi Mil Gaya”. Presently he's shooting for “Lakshya” in Ladakh, but would be soon back with his family in his new home.
Babuji's babe Yana Gupta is going in for a complete residential renovation. She is gonna spend the Diwali eve with her husband in her redecorated home completely lit with candles.
Aftab Shivdasani, though doesn't burst crackers anymore, still remembers his childhood days when he along with his colony friends used to gather money to buy some expensive firecrackers which were the highlight of the Diwali's grand finale.
For Anil Kapoor, Diwali offers that pleasant reason to get along with brothers Boney and Sanjay. The trio's family always gets together at the eve of Laxmi Pooja, which is headed by father Surinder Kapoor.
The current heartthrob Vivek Oberoi, makes a unique attempt to spread across a message to his fans to stop bursting firecrackers in Diwali. Bringing into light the exploitative child labor involved in the manufacture of crackers, he also explains how small children are exposed to innumerable health hazards in the process. Stating the fact that crackers worth over Rs 3,000 crore are blown up each year, he suggests that it would be a more fruitful idea if this money could be used to light lamps in the homes of these poor kids.
Indeed a thought-provoking Diwali message!
Stars on Fire
Diwali even gives you a chance to burn the celebrity you hate the most. Does that sound ridiculous? But it's true.
Off lately, Diwali crackers in the market come with film-star tags on it. So you can now burn Urmila Chakri, Madhuri bomb, Rani Bhabhoo and Shahrukh Saap. Shahrukh Khan fans can also take delight in buying a Hrithik rocket and see him going out of this world. Though the demand is more for Shahrukh & Hrithik in the male category, Kareena and Aishwarya lead the pack in the actress category.
|
Suniel's cuisines come to Delhi!
