Dhurandhar: A Box Office Triumph Amid Controversy

Hold onto your popcorn, folks! “Dhurandhar,” the latest cinematic escapade featuring the ever-charismatic Ranveer Singh, is styling its way to box office glory-not just on desi shores but also across international screens. In a mere four days, this action-packed thriller has raked in a staggering ₹44.08 crores overseas. However, let’s add a pinch of drama to that number; the earnings could have soared even higher if the film enjoyed a release in the GCC belt.

But here’s where the plot thickens: “Dhurandhar” has been banned in all Gulf countries due to its contentious themes. A source spills the tea to Bollywood Hungama, revealing, “Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE opted out of releasing the film. There were concerns regarding its ‘anti-Pakistan’ narrative, and given the history of similar films, it was almost a given.” The filmmakers tried to negotiate a release, but, alas, the Gulf nations were not on board with the storyline.

The film, directed by Aditya Datt, is a high-octane tale of an Indian officer who ventures deep into Pakistan, stirring chaos within its underbelly and political structures. Also starring heavyweights like Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal, “Dhurandhar” promises an edge-of-your-seat experience for its audiences in territories that dare to embrace its themes.

A P cheeky History with Releases

Diving into the archives of Bollywood controversy, “Dhurandhar” shares the stage with others that have faced the ruthless censors of the Gulf. Remember “Fighter,” featuring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone? Initially hitting a wall in all Gulf countries-save for the UAE-over its portrayal of the Pulwama attack, its tale evolves into a drama of its own. The UAE, too, yanked its release after initial enthusiasm following public uproar.

Notably, titles like Akshay Kumar’s “Sky Force” and John Abraham’s “The Diplomat” took a hit over Pakistan-centric narratives, raising red flags across the Middle East. And don’t even get me started on “Article 370,” which tackled the controversial revocation of a significant article in Kashmir and was swiftly denied certification. It’s a veritable minefield of sensitive themes and cinematic fallout!

The domino effect continues with “Tiger 3” facing bans in Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar, while “The Kashmir Files” took a rollercoaster ride through ban and release, finally finding its way back with an adults-only rating.

The Glittering Oversight

Despite its hurdles, “Dhurandhar” shines brightly in the Indian box office, captivating audiences with its zesty narrative and action sequences. Akshay Kumar, known for his discernment, didn’t hold back in his praise, calling it a “gripping tale” that dazzles on multiple levels. The film’s adrenaline-soaked storytelling might just be the jab of excitement fans are craving, even if it remains a no-show in critical Middle Eastern markets.

So, as the dust settles on another week, the question lingers-will “Dhurandhar” cruise smoothly ahead despite its international hiccups? While some may balk at the film’s themes, the audience’s enthusiasm is an undeniable testament to the glittering allure of cinematic escapism.

In this tumultuous intersection of art, politics, and cinematic bravado, one thing is for certain: “Dhurandhar” has ignited fiery debates and has solidified its place in the annals of Bollywood drama. One can only hope its box office journey continues to be as gripping as its storyline. Keep your eyes glued to the screen; the saga is just beginning!

Karan Johar has been captivating his fans with a series of intriguing quotes on his social media platforms. The celebrated Bollywood filmmaker has developed quite the knack for sharing mysterious and humorous snippets that offer glimpses into both his personal and professional life. Recently, Karan posted a witty take on the classic Cinderella story, stating, “Life is not a fairytale. If you lose your shoe at midnight, you are drunk.” This quirky humor has become a hallmark of his online presence.

Continuing his penchant for sharing life lessons wrapped in humor, Karan shared another amusing post on Monday morning, saying, “If you fall, I will always be there… Much love, Floor.” However, it’s not all about jokes; some of his posts also convey deeper messages. One such post encouraged resilience in the face of adversity: “When life shuts a door, open it again. It’s a door. That’s how they work”.

Karan isn’t one to shy away from a playful jab at his detractors either. He wittily remarked, “I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me,” showcasing his unique way of handling criticism. Furthermore, Karan humorously described his single status with another post: “I’m so single right now that I stood on a cliff and shouted I love you and my echo replied I just want to be friends.”

While the purpose behind Karan Johar’s cryptic posts remains uncertain, they certainly have succeeded in keeping his fans intrigued and entertained.

On the professional front, Karan is gearing up for his OTT directorial debut with a big-budget web series for Netflix. He is also set to produce “Aap Jaisa Koi,” a new project under Dharmatic Entertainment featuring R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh. This film will mark Fatima’s second collaboration with the production company following “Ajeeb Dastaans” and will see R. Madhavan returning to his romantic roots.

In a trending video on social media, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan recently opened up about his perspective on true stardom during a conversation with Hollywood Reporter. Aamir articulated that real stardom is determined by the ability of a star to fill theater seats. “The real measure of stardom is the number of seats you fill. If you can draw audiences to cinemas, you’re a star. I might love an actor but may not necessarily watch their films,” he explained.

Aamir further clarified that even those who may struggle to fill seats hold stardom, yet from a producer’s viewpoint, signing a star translates to expecting them to attract audiences. He emphasized that the essence of casting a star in a big-budget film lies in their ability to draw in crowds. Reflecting on his 2009 blockbuster “3 Idiots,” Aamir mentioned that he doesn’t claim sole responsibility for its success despite his star power. The film, directed by Rajkumar Hirani and loosely based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel “Five Point Someone,” prominently featured actors like R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, and Kareena Kapoor alongside Aamir.

He highlighted that the film’s triumph was a collective effort involving the director, producer, writers, and the entire crew who created a connection with audiences. Aamir also made a key point regarding a star’s influence on a film’s opening. “I can only take credit for drawing crowds in the initial three days. The opening reflects a star’s capability,” he noted, adding that even without a strong start, some films subsequently achieve great success based on their overall appeal rather than the star’s draw alone.

In essence, while an actor’s magnetic pull can give a film an impressive start, sustainability and long-term success rely on the movie’s inherent connection with audiences.

The movie ‘3 Idiots’ which was released in the year 2009 was a blockbuster hit. The movie has made a special corner in everyone’s heart as the fans have been watching the movie as many times as they can, and never get bored of it.

Now, amidst this coronavirus pandemic when the world is under a lockdown, the movie, ‘3 Idiots’ has set a record of being the most watched movie in the United States.

Director Rajkumar Hirani said, “I’m really very happy to see that a movie that we made a decade ago with so much of love and affection, is still ruling the hearts of the people.” The movie has Bollywood’s A-listed star casts, from Aamir Khan to Kareena Kapoor Khan, Boman Irani, Sharman Joshi and R. Madhavan.

3 Idiots is the only Bollywood movie that has been watched frequently world-wide among other Hollywood movies. The movie is among the top list along with The Dark Knight, Avengers: Infinity War, Inception, The Shawshank Redemption, Marriage Story, The Platform, amongst other few.

“দাহী-চিনী” শীৰ্ষক ছবিখনত এগৰাকী উকীলৰ চৰিত্ৰত অভিনয় কৰিব খুশালীয়ে। ছবিখনৰ বাবে কৰা প্ৰস্তুতিক উদ্দেশ্যি তেওঁ কয় যে, “এগৰাকী উকীলৰ নিজ কৰ্মৰ প্ৰতি থকা নৈতিকতা, কৰ্মস্পৰ্দ্ধা আৰু লগতে আইনৰ কাৰ্যবাহী বোৰ বুজিবলৈ মই কেইগৰাকীমান প্ৰসিদ্ধ উকীলৰ সৈতে কথা-বতৰা পাতিবলৈ আৰম্ভ কৰিছো।” লগতে, এগৰাকী মহিলা উকীলে কৰ্টত কেনেধৰণৰে উঠা-বহা কৰে; কেনেধৰণৰে কথা কয় এই সকলোবোৰ বুজিবলৈ চেষ্টা কৰিছে বুলিও খুশালীয়ে মন্তব্য কৰে।

অশ্বিন নীলে মণিয়ে এই “দহী-চিনী” ছবিখন পৰিচালনা কৰিব।