Chandni Chowk to China is this year’s first big budget release. And the production house, Warner Brothers, as well as the cast – Akshay and Deepika – have gone all out to promote the film. Premieres in California,New York, Toronto and London have brought in the crowds and the big wigs.
But the big question is will it also bring in the moolah at the box office? The initial reports suggest the deal is not yet in the bag for Khiladi Kumar who has had a stupendous 2008.
A journalist in the UK says that fans braved the freezing weather to attend the red carpet premiere and media – not just Asian – attended the grand screening. “It was fantastic! The film belongs to Akshay Kumar and he has shined through and through. The audiences here loved the film. Nikhil Advani was being congratulated for the film all through the evening,” says a British journalist.
“In fact no one wanted to leave the conference as there were so many questions that were being asked. We had Asian journalists and mainstream British media going ga ga over the cast and crew. And having both Gordon Liu and Amitabh Bachchan present was a big coup for Nikhil,” adds the journalist.
In fact figures coming up show that the film is already expected to enjoy a bumper opening and the first weekend should rake in big money for Warner Brothers worldwide.
But things aren’t all rosy for Chandni Chowk to China. The film isn’t looking as promising in the US.
A noted distributor who attended the premiere in California says that most guests were squirming in their seats to get out even before the interval drew close.
“See the pull of Bollywood in UK and Middle East is very different to that in the US. Barring say New York and parts of Washington, Bollywood is still not mainstream. And so it will take a very different.. hatkefilm to pull in people. When Hollywood heard of Warner Brothers and Gordon Liu in the film, they came. But they were disappointed because nothing that they hadn’t already seen earlier.
“If it hadn’t been for Akshay Kumar and the Warner Brothers executives’ presence in the room most people would have left,” says one guest from the night.
And it looks like this sentiment is reflecting on the box office as well. Initial estimates from the US reveal that advanced bookings are not getting as strong a response as the paid previews in say India or even the opening days in the Middle East and UK.
However, with the release date not too far, the real fate of CC2C will soon be revealed.
Will it be able to turn the tide in the US for Bollywood or will it sink like Saawariya did for Sony Pictures in 2007?
A journalist in the UK says that fans braved the freezing weather to attend the red carpet premiere and media – not just Asian – attended the grand screening. “It was fantastic! The film belongs to Akshay Kumar and he has shined through and through. The audiences here loved the film. Nikhil Advani was being congratulated for the film all through the evening,” says a British journalist.
“In fact no one wanted to leave the conference as there were so many questions that were being asked. We had Asian journalists and mainstream British media going ga ga over the cast and crew. And having both Gordon Liu and Amitabh Bachchan present was a big coup for Nikhil,” adds the journalist.
In fact figures coming up show that the film is already expected to enjoy a bumper opening and the first weekend should rake in big money for Warner Brothers worldwide.
But things aren’t all rosy for Chandni Chowk to China. The film isn’t looking as promising in the US.
A noted distributor who attended the premiere in California says that most guests were squirming in their seats to get out even before the interval drew close.
“See the pull of Bollywood in UK and Middle East is very different to that in the US. Barring say New York and parts of Washington, Bollywood is still not mainstream. And so it will take a very different.. hatkefilm to pull in people. When Hollywood heard of Warner Brothers and Gordon Liu in the film, they came. But they were disappointed because nothing that they hadn’t already seen earlier.
“If it hadn’t been for Akshay Kumar and the Warner Brothers executives’ presence in the room most people would have left,” says one guest from the night.
And it looks like this sentiment is reflecting on the box office as well. Initial estimates from the US reveal that advanced bookings are not getting as strong a response as the paid previews in say India or even the opening days in the Middle East and UK.
However, with the release date not too far, the real fate of CC2C will soon be revealed.
Will it be able to turn the tide in the US for Bollywood or will it sink like Saawariya did for Sony Pictures in 2007?
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