Box office Business Talk | BOBBY & BEAUTIES: JINXED?

Flashback 1990s. Manisha Koirala was a strong contender to the No. 1 throne. She had the looks, the best of projects in her kitty and most importantly, several hits to her credit. But, somehow, her success ratio with a Khan-hero was zilch.

When Universal Music announced KHAMOSHI - THE MUSICAL [1996] with Nana Patekar, Salman Khan and Manisha Koirala, the film was one red-hot proposal amongst the distributors' fraternity. But KHAMOSHI met with a sad ending at the box-office.

Besides KHAMOSHI, the Salman - Manisha combo starred in SANGDIL SANAM [1994] and MAJHDHAAR [1996]. Both drew a blank when released.

Similarly, when Mani Ratnam decided to try his hand at Hindi films with DIL SE [1998], his first choice was Kajol. But when the actress didn't budge on her price, Mani signed Manisha for the project, which starred SRK in the lead. Sadly, DIL SE made a big hole in the pockets of its distributors.

Prior to DIL SE, the SRK - Manisha starrer GUDDU [1995] had also met with a sorry fate at the box-office.

After a string of hits with Madhuri Dixit, Indra Kumar decided to try out someone else. Manisha, at her prime then, was signed opposite Aamir Khan for MANN [1999]. Indu was confident of setting the box-office afire. Regrettably, MANN sank without a trace.

Another film with Aamir, AKELE HUM AKELE TUM [1995], directed by the immensely talented Mansoor Khan, also didn't find many takers.

The film trade was quick to label the pairings [Manisha and Aamir, Salman, Shah Rukh Khan] jinxed…

The hot discussion in the film trade is, Bobby Deol seems to be caught in a similar situation. In his case, his pairing with beauty queens has come under a scanner.

At the very start of his career, Bobby and Aishwarya Rai were teamed in the romantic musical AUR PYAR HO GAYA [1997]. Unfortunately, Rahul Rawail couldn't recreate the magic of LOVE STORY or BETAAB this time around.

The former Miss World also starred with Deol Jr. in 23 MARCH 1931 SHAHEED [2002]. The fate of this film is known to all and sundry.

With Priyanka Chopra in KISMAT and now with Lara Dutta in BARDAASHT [both 2004], it has been proved that Bobby and beauty queens don't go hand in hand.

Is it a coincidence? Or will Bobby and the beauty queens become the most successful pair in times to come?

It would be wrong to blame the actors solely for the failure of their films. For, there are so many factors that go for/against a film.

BARDAASHT, which opened last week, may have worked in the late 1990s, when rehashed versions of GHAYAL were finding flavour with viewers. BARDAASHT has its strong points, but perhaps the viewer was just not interested in watching Bobby do what bade bhaiya Sunny did in film after film.

BARDAASHT also suffered because its routine promos failed to create a buzz about the film. Besides, the failure of KISMAT, released not very long ago, also contributed to its dull opening.

Despite the presence of known names, BARDAASHT opened to a lukewarm response everywhere, the opening ranging from 35% to 50% to 75%. That was all the more shocking since its release had been timed during the summer vacations, when the business of movies is on an upswing.

On the other hand, SHAADI KA LADDOO was expected to be an ideal multiplex fare. The makers knew what their target audiences were and had publicized the film accordingly.

I strongly feel that SHAADI KA LADDOO would've met with a slightly better fate had it been aggressively promoted days before its release.

When you are surrounded by 'sharks' [read MAIN HOON NA, YUVA, DEEWAAR, LAKSHYA] in the coming weeks, you've to ensure that your product is noticed by the common man. The pre-release promotion should compel the cinegoer to dig in his pocket and buy the ticket of the multiplex where your movie is playing.