During 2011, five movies crossed the Rs100 crore collection mark and also established Salman Khan and Kareen Kapoor as toppers in Bollywood
Shukti Sarma
For Bollywood, 2011 proved to be a beneficial year, after having witnessed a large number of flops in 2010. Unlike other years, where we see only a couple of big hits and some cult successes, 2011 saw five movies that crossed the Rs100 crore collection mark; and even saw a path breaking niche film become one of the top grosser of the year. But on top of it all, 2011 marked the revival of the small screen.
Till 2010, filmmakers counted on the multiplexes. Lot of experiments happened, but apart for Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots, none of them paid off. However, taking a cue from the success of Dabaang, some decided to return to the ‘masala’ roots and emerged with flying colours.
The first was Singham, which saw Ajay Devgan back in his action avatar, the genre which had launched and sustained him during the early 1990s before he made a fabulous U-turn with Zakhm. With Singham, he revived his career and that of Reliance Entertainment, which had suffered a massive blow with big-budget flops like Kites and Raavan in 2010. Apart from a huge box office collection of Rs139 crore, Singham’s national television premier was one of the most successful ones, with a TRP of 8.4. It also marked a grand entry of typical ‘south-Indian’ masala blockbusters in Bollywood.
Ajay Devgan in Singham
Next came Ready, which marked the beginning of Salman Khan’s triumph in 2011. Riding high on the success of Wanted and Dabaang, Salman’s movies like Ready and Bodyguard broke all records at the box office. Especially, Bodyguard, which was produced on a budget of Rs60 crore, became the biggest opening day grosser, then highest opening week grosser and with a collection of Rs229 crore, so far became the biggest Hindi box office hit in India. It also beat Singham’s TVR ratings with a TRP of 10.0 to become the most watched over film on Indian television.
Salman Khan with Asin in Ready
Salman Khan became the highest paid actor in Bollywood, rumoured to be now naming Rs50 crore as fees. Bodyguard belle Kareena Kapoor too, became the highest paid actress. She also replaced Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Madhur Bhandarkar’s upcoming movie Heroine for which she will get a share in its profits, a first for an actress in the Hindi film industry.
Post-Bodyguard, Kareena went on to taste more success with Ra.One, the home production of Shahrukh Khan, which was produced at a cost of over Rs125 crore. The film was released in multiple languages and in 3D and all its formats collected Rs240 crore worldwide. Shahrukh also called as ‘King Khan’ in the industry is now looking forward to Christmas release of his Don2 to reclaim the top spot.
Shahrukh Khan and Kareen Kapoor in Ra.One
The other big winners during 2011, include Farhan Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Rockstar through and through multiplex fares. But it was Aamir Khan’s production Delhi Belly that broke down the barrier between cult and ‘junta’ cinema with a Rs92 crore haul against the production cost of Rs24 crore including filmmaking, distribution and publicity. Delhi Belly was the 7th top grosser of 2011. Apart from that, niche movies like Dhobi Ghat, Shor in the City, The Dirty Picture and Shaitaan also made a mark.
Hritik Roshan and Katrina Kaif in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
However, 2011 also saw several unexpected flop movies even from acclaimed filmmakers like Vishal Bhardwaj and Prakash Jha. Veteran actor Pankaj Kapoor’s directorial debut Mausam sank without a trace. Sanjay Dutt starrers like Chatur Singh 2 Stars and Rascals were both critical and commercial embarrassments. Sharukh Khan’s other home production, Always Kabhi Kabhi also made it to the list of flops in 2011.
Sanjay Dutt in Chatur Singh two star
Yet there seems to be one actor who remains unfazed by flops. Akshay Kumar added more to his list of duds with Thank You and Patiala House in 2011, but he has paid an advance income tax of Rs6 crore, the highest in Bollywood for 2012. Katrina Kaif, who starred in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Mere Brother Ki Dulhan apart from her item numbers, has paid Rs3 crore as advance tax, beating the leading lady Kareena, who paid Rs2 crore.
In coming year there are some big releases lined up. The most talked about film Agneepath, will mark the return of Hritik Roshan and Sanjay Dutt. Salman Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger, Aamir’s Dhoom3 and tentatively titled The Act of Murder, Priyanka Chopra-Ranbir Kapoor starrer Barfee and sequels to Krrish, Housefull and Ready are slated for release in 2012.