Reflections: The '100 crore' game begins

Great, so now Hrithik Roshan too has made an entry into the elite '100 crore' club. With Agneepath crossing the milestone and still raking in moolah, Hrithik may well be relieved that he has got the '100 crore' worth monkey off his back and that too at a much younger age. With only the top three Khans and Ajay Devgn managing this feat before Hrithik, the club may have seemed rather exclusive to begin with. Well, not anymore, what with Hrithik stepping in as well. Rest assured, year to come will have quite a few players entering the game and that too without much fuss. Let's explore in this week's 'Reflections'.

Stage is set for veteran actors to fire

Amongst those who have been around for a couple of decades and still doing lead roles (with quite some aplomb), the ones who are all set to take a shot at the Rs. 100 crore mark are Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. Both have enjoyed biggies in the past and it is a matter of time before a big century beckons. Akshay can't be expected to come out in open and stake his claim on the much awaited milestone but his current crop of films is making his fans and followers state in unison that Housefull 2 and Rowdy Rathore are the two films that are all set to fetch big numbers. With 'masala' as the flavour of the season, this could well be the year for Akshay to get a couple of centuries under his belt and then extend his stardom to Joker and Khiladi 786 - Made In Punjab as well.

On the other hand, Saif Ali Khan has to play his cards well over next six weeks to ensure that his Agent Vinod turns out to be even bigger than his biggest solo success till date - Love Aaj Kal. For his multi crore affair, a lot is at stake and the waiting period of two years can be justified only after Agent Vinod marches past the 100 crore mark and allows Saif an entry into the elite zone. For someone who has been in the business for 20 years and is still agile enough to be found dancing to the tune of 'Twist', it is high time that Saif hits the century now. Just like Akshay, he too has a double chance of doing that, what with Race 2 releasing before the end of year. Notwithstanding a rare flop in Players from Abbas-Mustan, the director duo is still the trusted lot when it comes to a brand like Race. It would be rather surprising if this multi starrer doesn't meet the high expectations that one has set for it, both critically as well as commercially.

The younger ones would have to wait though

Okay, so Ranbir Kapoor, Imran Khan and Emraan Hashmi are the flavours of the season and it is pretty much established that the season is going to be an extended one for sure, what with these players all set to enjoy a very long innings. However expecting them to deliver a 100 crore success so early in their career would be a little too much to ask.

After all Rockstar, despite all the appreciation for Ranbir and Rahman's music, could go only as far and came to an end before hitting the 70 crore mark. Similarly Imran too has been playing well consistently though with his score just about crossing the half century mark. He has proven his mettle with Delhi Belly as well as Mere Brother Ki Dulhan crossing the 50 crore mark last year. However, 100 crores in his kitty so soon in his career would be way too demanding for the youngster who would be fine to score consistently instead of dreaming way too high.

This is the reason why one keeps expectations in check from his Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu and Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Man Dola as well as Ranbir's Barfee and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, all of which are set for release before close of year. As long as these four films collect at least 50 crores each, the younger lot can be expected to stay happy and be in news for all the right reasons.

Same is the case with Emraan Hashmi as well who is seeing his stocks soaring, especially after Murder 2. However, even his big ticket films like Jannat 2 and Raaz 3 could well be accused of wishful thinking if someone attempts to tag them as '100 crore worth' blockbusters in the making. Yes, they should do well and there is no reason why both shouldn't enjoy at least 50 crore each in their kitty. However, whatever comes over and above this mark could well be treated as an added bonus and cherished, that's about it.

As for Shahid Kapoor, who seems to be going through a rather rough patch, he would be content enough to see his Teri Meri Kahaani turn into a clean hit and wipe away the deficit borne out of Mausam. The 100 crore milestone can certainly wait!

Club members would continue to call the shots

Meanwhile even with soaring in-house competition, the already felicitated '100 crore' club members are all set to continue their winning streak. Whether it is Aamir, Salman, Shah Rukh or Ajay - each of them has at least a film each releasing this year that would continue to consolidate their place in the Top-5.

Let's begin with the next immediate 100 crore winner in the making. Aamir Khan's Talaash has seen great buzz building for itself over the last one year and if the response to the film's theatrical promo is anything to go by, there is no reason why Rs.100 crore shouldn't be collected in one week flat, leave aside waiting for a lifetime score. Though technically Aamir had a release in the form of Dhobi Ghat last year, for audience at large this is his first commercial biggie since 3 Idiots which means curiosity to check out Talaash (and hence ensuring quick moolah) is a given.

Immediately after Aamir Khan, it would be Ajay Devgn's turn to score big with Bol Bachchan where he returns with Rohit Shetty. With two centuries behind them in the form of Singham and Golmaal 3, a hat trick is pretty much on the cards, more so since it is a remake of much accepted Golmaal (with Amol Palekar). In fact what would be most notable is the fact that with the film, even Abhishek Bachchan could well gain an entry into the club! However if at all Ajay would be content only with a solo century then well, there is Son of Sardar releasing towards the end of the year. Though not much is known about it as yet, who knows that there may well be a pleasant surprise in store!

Ditto is the case with Shah Rukh Khan as well who is reuniting with his Veer Zaara director Yash Chopra. Centuries scored by Ra.One as well as Don 2 have ensured that King Khan continues to smile and this is only expected to break into a wide grin once this yet untitled film eventually hits the screen on Diwali.

Meanwhile one waits to see what his Ra.One co-star Kareena Kapoor accomplishes once her Heroine hits the screen. Okay, so it is too early to pitch the film as a Rs. 100 crore runner but then no one expected even The Dirty Picture to do even half of what it eventually did (Rs. 80 crores plus) at the box office. With Vidya Balan showing the way that a good story if told with conviction can pull audience in dozens. Now with Madhur Bhandarkar at the helm of affairs, the story part has been comfortably dealt with. It is now upon Kareena Kapoor to show how far she can carry Heroine on her shoulders and surprise audience.

It won't be surprising though when Salman extends his winning streak with Eid release Ek Tha Tiger. Just like Talaash, even this Yash Raj film would also be aiming to reach the milestone in a matter of one single week, hence giving Salman his third consecutive century after Bodyguard and Ready. As for his Christmas release Dabangg 2, it is a given that Rs. 100 crore is pretty much on the cards. Do we really need to state a reason why?

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