Latest news with #Housefull5
India Today
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Bollywood 2025 mid-year box office: Chhaava won, Sikandar lost - any lessons learnt?
The year 2025 began on a mild note for Bollywood at the box office. January didn't see any exceptional performances from a Hindi film, and it was only when 'Chhaava' arrived in February that the industry began to take a sigh of half-yearly box office report is not exceptional, despite big titles taking over the ticket window in the first half of the year. This has to do more with the amount of choices available to the audience via OTT platforms, and their direct rejection of watching anything running in theatres which is mediocre, redundant and sometimes, plain spoke to various industry experts, including directors, producers and trade analysts, to gauge how the Hindi film industry really performed from January-June, with the current week marking the end of the first year.'Chhaava' all the way! 'Chhaava' is the clear winner, it seems, when it comes to discussing the flagbearer of Bollywood in 2025 so far. The Vicky Kaushal film wasn't just historically relevant - it also resonated with the audience emotionally and provided dramatic relief to them - something a big-screen entertainer is supposed to Laxman Utekar directorial collected around Rs 601.54 crore nett in India, and grossed over Rs 800 crore worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025 so far. 'Sitaare Zameen Par', starring Aamir Khan, is another clear winner - a film still running in theatres - further cementing the fact that emotions are still the best way to connect to the that box-office response in the first half can clearly be summed up as 'unpredictable', film producer and trade analyst Girish Johar told "If we analyse the first six months of last year vis a vis this year, we have done a little better. We are around 8 to 10 per cent higher, because films like 'Chhaava' did well and other films, even 'Housefull 5', have done good business."He underscored the importance of mid-budget films not finding their audience at the box office. "By and large, the first six months are a little better but, what is worrisome is the medium and the small films are not doing exceptionally well. These are the critical ones which are not working at the box office. We have a stronger second half of the year which we really hope does well and adds value to the box office," Johar explained.A 'mixed-bag' of a year so far!For Anand Pandit, one of the leading film producers, it was all what he called a "mixed bag". While speaking to us, he elaborated, "The first half of 2025 was a mixed bag for Bollywood. While a few tentpole films performed well, many others struggled to make an impact. It's becoming increasingly clear that audiences are getting more selective. They're looking for fresh narratives, emotional depth, and a sense that their time and money are well spent. A star-studded cast alone no longer guarantees success. Even big-budget films can fall short if the content and execution aren't strong."advertisementPandit also focussed on 'Chhaava' leading from the front. "That said, there were standouts like 'Chhaava,' which delivered grounded storytelling with detailed production design, and 'Raid 2,' which successfully expanded on an existing franchise. These films did well at the box office, showing that when there's a unique element and genuine interest is sparked, audiences respond," he said."The first six months can be seen as a period of recalibration for the industry," he does this mean that the industry has now understood what has worked for the audience? The answer is not there - nothing specific or cumulative, at least. The industry still seems to be struggling with identifying the taste of the audience.A clear sense of what worked and what didn't'Oh My God' producer Hemal A Thakkar seems to have a bit of an answer, though. In a conversation with he said the audiences demand sincerity. He had a three-point list to explain what worked for the audience in the first-half of the rooted in emotion and purpose — where the story felt personal, not manufactured.""Relatable drama and family-centric narratives with a clear voice.""Content that respects audience intelligence, especially the youth."Thakkar, who is also a writer and a director, and the co-founder of Funder of Playtime Creations with actor Paresh Rawal, also clarified that the audience is not looking out for unnecessarily stretched grand spectacles on the big screen. So, what needs to be rejected then? Thakkar has a three-point list:Over-produced spectacles with thin are designed around star images rather than human to force nostalgia or recreate past magic without the soul.'Sikandar' remains the biggest disappointmentOne of the biggest tentpole movies of the year, and visibly the biggest Bollywood disappointment so far, was 'Sikandar'. The Salman Khan-starrer happened to be the big Eid box office release this year, but was rejected by the audience left, right and centre.A grand spectacle, directed by AR Murugadoss, collected only Rs 110.1 crore nett in India - a figure that doesn't really match the mammoth screen presence of Salman looked at the failure of grand releases at the box office and analysed, "We are still making films for a 50+ sensibility, while India's true box office audience today is between 18 and 30 - and we're failing to write for them with honesty or urgency."The only film that created some ripples at the box office after 'Chhaava's release in February was 'Sanam Teri Kasam', which was a re-release. The Harshvardhan Rane-starrer performed like a winner from the word go. It was almost like a surprising letter full of love and poetry left at the industry's film ended up collecting Rs 42.2 crore nett in its lifetime run, making more than most of the fresh Bollywood releases this year. What was this phenomenon? Does this mean re-releases have got a future at the box office this year?'Sanam Teri Kasam' - a mystery winnerAnand Pandit said the success of 'Sanam Teri Kasam' re-release doesn't guarantee a confirmed trend. "That was fascinating. Sometimes, a film that doesn't perform well during its initial release may receive a better response later during a re-release. In this case, it is a romantic story with drama, tragedy, and sacrifice. It shows that if a film connects emotionally, it can still find its audience years later," he filmmaker behind films like 'Sarkar 3', 'Total Dhamaal' and 'Chehra', among others, added, "Nostalgia plays a big role for those revisiting the film in theatres, while for younger audiences, it offers a chance to experience what they missed during the original run. However, whether it's a film that went unnoticed or a blockbuster returning to screens, I wouldn't call it a guaranteed trend. It needs careful curation, proper timing, and promotion that makes it feel like a shared event worth revisiting."Mansi Bagla, the producer of Vikrant Massey and Shanaya Kapoor's upcoming film 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan', credited 'Sanam Teri Kasam's' sheer luck behind its box office elaborated, "There is a good line-up of releases in the second half. So, I don't think re-releases will work. 'Sanam Teri Kasam' was lucky that it got released in February. If it had been released around the Pahalgam attack, it would never have worked. Post the dreadful event, it would not have seen the light of re-release. So, sometimes it's about luck."What is also clear is that stardom is fading. Having a star in a film might get you a few initial eyeballs, but it doesn't guarantee a longer and more sustainable traction at the box Johar agreed when he said, "We should want the film industry as a whole to flourish. The theatrical window has to do well - that is a foregone conclusion. Yes, makers need to ensure that their content is more lapped up by the audiences. Stars are important at the box office, but they are no longer a critical element."Audience has got the game rightAnother lesson that has to be taken from the first half of Bollywood is how the audience has got wider access. "Even regional lines have blurred. We see a lot of southern languages and other language films doing well at the box office. That needs to be said because the audiences are now also even watching those kinds of films. We need to learn, we need to pull up our socks accordingly," Johar said, while explaining the corrective measures that the industry can take to expect a better audience response.'Jaat', 'Kesari Chapter 2', 'Sky Force', 'Raid 2', and 'Bhool Chuk Maaf' were a few Hindi films that kept the ship from sinking entirely. These films kept the industry's hopes up for a strong second half. Things might not have looked absolutely sparkly for Bollywood in the first half, but the second half seems to be shinier and brighter than an interview with us, Anand Pandit shared a few titles that can be trusted to help Bollywood recover what was lost in the first half."We can see a wide range of films across genres lined up for the second half of the year, with 'Alpha,' 'War 2,' 'Thama,' 'Haunted 3D: Ghosts of the Past', 'Param Sundari,' and 'Jolly LLB 3' being some among the ones to watch out for. What I want to say is that in Bollywood, there's space for everyone if the story and narration are compelling. As an industry, we should remain cautiously optimistic," he shared on a positive talked about her own film, which is releasing on July 11. She said, "Right now, 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' is to be looked forward to. It's a musical love story. It's unique and has the freshness, a superb pairing, and an old-school base with modern sentiments. Nothing can beat a love story. It's a universal topic. Moviegoers will always love cinema, so I'm sure good work will come back."The way ahead? Honesty, authenticity and a good heartIt all comes down to finding an honest soul at the end of the day - in your work, stories, what you are trying to offer to the audience, and what you are asking them to spend their hard-earned money put it in a brilliant way when he said that the need of the hour is to realise that "authentic stories always find a way."He summed up the way ahead for the industry and shared, "We are not just in a phase of change — we're in a moment that demands reinvention. The audience is ahead of us. It's time we stopped playing poker and started building a business based on vision, craft, and respect for the viewer - especially the viewer who will shape the next 20 years: Young India."The need for fresh stories - not remakes, not recycled narratives - but original, creative and bold ideas. "We need stories that speak to their aspirations, fears, humour, and emotional complexity. Not just recycled ideas with updated costumes," he though, a better strategy is definitely needed. One of the best things that Pandit emphasised included investing in better said, "We also need to invest more in writing. This includes script development, revisions, and having a solid shooting script as the foundation of the project. At the same time, collaboration between producers, exhibitors, and digital platforms can help design the right release strategy for both theatres and streaming platforms."There is hope. The second half looks promising for Bollywood - but only if we are staying honest - in pushing the right kind of story, by not cheating the audience, and by not selling absolute boredom and fallen creativity to them in the name of a big Bollywood knows the drill already. It will be interesting to see if we rise or go further downhill by the end of the year. See you again then!- Ends IN THIS STORY#Vicky Kaushal#Akshay Kumar#Aamir Khan#Kajol Devgan#Ajay Devgn
Pink Villa
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Decoding the budget & revenue of Housefull 5: Akshay Kumar's comic caper breaks even for Sajid Nadiadwala
Tarun Mansukhani's Housefull 5 starring Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri and others is nearing the end of its theatrical run. With a strong flow of new releases every week, there's not much hold that we can expect for the comic-caper. An India net of around Rs 165 crore and an overseas gross of approximately USD 7.5-8 million is what we expect for the 5th installment of Housefull. Housefull 5 Opened Well But Saw Collections Dwindling After The Weekend Housefull 5 has performed averagely at the box office. However, given that it is part of one of the most successful comedy franchises in India with a 100 percent hit track record, it should have done better. After a good weekend, the movie could not hold strong over the weekdays. Despite no stiff competition from new releases, the week 2 of Housefull 5 was under par. After that, Sitaare Zameen Par brought the film down to single digits in week 3. All said and done, the movie's costs have been recovered. The Economics Of Housefull 5 Are As Under Particulars The budget of Housefull 5 includes a part remuneration of Akshay Kumar. Akshay Kumar works on a part upfront and part profit-share basis. For this movie, since there are not much overflows outside the Rs 15-20 crore that will come to the producers in the form of subsidy, the actor won't be making his desired amount. Jolly LLB 3 Is Expected To Unleash Akshay Kumar's Box Office Potential Post Pandemic Housefull 5 is just another stepping stone for Akshay Kumar. He is regaining the trust of the audience with every film and that can be seen in the growing trajectory of his films. It is expected that Jolly LLB 3 will unleash the true potential of Akshay Kumar; that has not been seen since the start of the pandemic. Housefull 5 In Theatres
News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Tarun Mansukhani Reveals Why He Took A Break After Dostana: 'My Divorce Changed...'
Last Updated: Tarun Mansukhani opens up about taking a break from films after Dostana, revealing his divorce was "expensive" and left him unable to focus on directing. Tarun Mansukhani made a memorable Bollywood debut with Dostana in 2008—a vibrant, genre-bending hit that starred Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, and Priyanka Chopra. With its success at the box office and pop culture impact, expectations were high for his next directorial venture. But instead of riding the wave, Tarun stepped away from the spotlight, vanishing from the director's chair for over a decade. It wasn't until 2019 that he returned to helm Drive, a Netflix release starring Sushant Singh Rajput and Jacqueline Fernandez. The gap between his first and second films raised eyebrows—but now, Tarun is speaking candidly about what kept him away from filmmaking. In a recent interview with Just Too Filmy, the director revealed that the hiatus was due to a deeply personal and financially draining chapter in his life: a difficult divorce. 'A lot happened in life," Tarun shared. 'I went through a divorce. It wasn't a pleasant one. It was an expensive one for me, and life just took its own turns. I was not in a bandwidth or headspace to make a film." Tarun explained that he didn't want to approach his work from a place of desperation. 'I knew I was in debt, and I needed to sort that out. I didn't want to make a film just because I needed the money. The moment I do that, I know everything I do will be tainted by that. I'd be making a film out of fear. I wouldn't be fun to work with on set either. So, what's the point?" Instead, he focused on rebuilding. 'I did everything else I could to pay off that debt. Once I had cleared everything, only then did I start developing a new film." Tarun was previously married to Karuna, and the couple parted ways in 2014 after nine years of marriage. Now back in action, Mansukhani's latest directorial effort, Housefull 5, has hit theatres and is showing decent traction at the box office. In just 10 days, the comedy has raked in ₹154.25 crore. However, with a reported budget of ₹225 crore, the film still has ground to cover before it can be officially declared a hit. First Published: June 16, 2025, 18:55 IST
News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Housefull 5 Sees Sharp Drop In Third Week, Collects Just Rs 12.50 Crore
Last Updated: With the release of Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par, Housefull 5 saw a noticeable dip, earning just Rs 12.57 crore in its third week. Akshay Kumar's latest comedy flick Housefull 5 is nearing the end of its theatrical run. Despite getting mixed reviews, the comedy extravaganza has managed to hold steady at the box office since its release. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, the fifth instalment in the Housefull franchise crossed the coveted Rs 100 crore in its first week. The film has maintained a good streak even in its second week; however, it has witnessed a dip in the third week. The film opened strong, raking in Rs 127.25 crore in its first week. It continued its momentum into the second week, collecting an additional Rs 40.85 crore. With the release of Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par, Housefull 5 saw a noticeable dip, earning just Rs 12.57 crore in its third week. Now, the domestic net collection of the film has reached approximately Rs 180.68 crore, according to industry tracker Sacnilk. While Housefull 5 continues to maintain pace at the box office, it is believed that the movie will lose more screen count and collections with this weekend's movie releases, MAA, F1 and Kannappa. Housefull 5, helmed by Tarun Mansukhani, boasts one of Bollywood's largest ensemble casts in recent years. The comedy-thriller, which was released in cinemas on June 6, brought together some of the heavyweights of Bollywood. The film featured franchise regulars Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh and Abhishek Bachchan, along with new additions Sanjay Dutt, Shreyas Talpade, Fardeen Khan, Dino Morea, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, Sonam Bajwa, Chitrangada Singh, Chunky Pandey, Soundarya Sharma, Nargis Fakhri and Johnny Lever. Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under his banner Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, the fifth instalment takes audiences on a luxurious cruise and centres on a murder mystery. Shortly after a billionaire announces that his fortune will be left to his successor, Jolly, he is found dead. But here's the catch: there are not one but three Jollys on board and each of their girlfriends is a prime suspect in the crime. Apart from having a star-studded cast and being one of the biggest comedy films of the year, Housefull 5 has piqued audiences' interest with an unexpected twist – two different endings. Depending on the show's time and location, viewers had the option to watch either Housefull 5A or Housefull 5B, with each offering a unique ending to the storyline. First Published:
Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Abhishek Bachchan feels he wants to get back into commercial space now: ‘Last out-and-out entertainer I did before Housefull 5 was Housefull 3 10 years ago'
Abhishek Bachchan admits he's not in the creative frame of mind that he was in five years ago. Back then, he wanted to do roles which were more intimate and low-key. That resulted in him headlining Shoojit Sircar's I Want To Talk last year, based on the real-life story of a cancer survivor. He also starred in Remo D'Souza's slice-of-life film Be Happy, in which he plays the father of a girl who wants to be a dancer. But now, Abhishek admits in an interview with SCREEN that he's gearing up to embrace vanity yet again by returning to the commercial space. His recent whodunit comedy Housefull 5 emerged as a hit at the box office, and he's now gearing up for even more projects in the mainstream space, after the release of his next, Madhmita's Kaalidas Laapata, which drops on ZEE5 on July 4. When you started out in the early 2000s, vanity was a big thing. How have you distanced yourself from it now? It wasn't a big thing, it was one of the main things. Your body, how you looked, your makeup, your clothes, it was very, very important. But that's still the case. It's an audio-visual medium. With time and experience, you start empowering yourself and becoming more confident to do without that armour. It's basically crutches and armour. You're also then able to attempt different kinds of stuff. Weirdly, I shot Kaalidar Laapata before I Want To Talk. All these films came to me at a very interesting phase in my life when I wanted to delve into something far more creative, personal, which had depth of character. I was in that mood. I wanted to do stuff that's quieter and more intimate. So I did a couple of films like that and I thoroughly enjoyed them. With experience, you learn to say, 'Okay, I don't need to look like this to be a protagonist.' We expect so much from our actors today that we forget they're also artistes. They may or may not want to do something at a point of time. Currently, I'm in a different mindset altogether. Right now, I'm looking forward to getting back in the commercial space and doing the song and dance and the action. Yes, you recently delivered a hit in Housefull 5. And you are also doing Riteish Deshmukh's period drama Raja Shivaji. What has caused this return to commercial cinema? Creative people go through cycles. Just around 2020, as Covid happened and soon after that, everybody was in a particular frame of mind. Things were a lot slower because we were just sitting around at home for months. So the pace of life also became that. I also felt a lot more settled so I thought this is the kind of zone I want to be in. Now, I'm satiated and saturated. In fact, the last out-and-out commercial film I did before Housefull 5 was actually Housefull 3 in 2015, 10 years ago. Also Read — Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B ending explained: Who are the killers in this Akshay Kumar-starrer? Finally, you've been working a lot with child actors, from Inayat Verma in Ludo (2020) and Be Happy (2025) to most recently, Daivik Baghela in Kaalidhar Laapata. Is there something you learn as an actor working with them? Daivik was brilliant! He's from Bhopal, so we had that connect. My nanihal is in Bhopal. He does a lot of theatre with his father. He was very well-prepared. At that age, you don't expect them to be prepared. You expect to handle them. But he knew the scenes and dialogues. He was also very open to direction by Madhumita. She's a very particular director. Her attention to emotional detail is wonderful. She knows exactly the emotion she wants. For a young actor like Daivik to remember and execute that was brilliant. I hope you get to meet him. He's a firecracker and a lot of fun to be around.
