Latest news with #MandviwallaEntertainment
India.com
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Sholay was a huge flop when it first released 10 years ago in Pakistan due to...
Sholay was a huge flop when it first released 10 years ago in Pakistan due to... In the ever-evolving world of cinema, many films come and go, but there are a few films that remain etched in the memories of the audience. One such film was Ramesh Sippy's Sholay. Released in the year 1975, this film redefined Indian cinema, and in Pakistan, it enjoyed massive love. However, what happened after it got released in Pakistani theatres in 3D almost four decades after its original release was something that no one ever saw coming. While the film had a history of love and appreciation, its much-anticipated on-screen debut in Pakistan did not live up to the expectations. Veteran exhibitor Nadeem Mandviwalla revealed this. How much did Sholay earn in Pakistan? Mandviwalla said, 'Sholay turning 50 on August 15, 2025, is a big deal not only for India but also for Pakistan. But did you know that this Ramesh Sippy classic, which was originally released in 1975, opened in Pakistani theatres just 10 years ago? What's more is that the film, publicized as 'the greatest cast ever assembled and the greatest story ever told', didn't do well at the Pakistani box office when it was released on April 17, 2025. Sholay barely earned a little over Rs 3 crore during its four-week run in the cinema here.' Bringing Sholay to Pakistan was a prestige project for Mandviwalla Entertainment. 'It was something new to go for,' he said, recalling how he travelled to Mumbai around 2014–15 to personally invite Ramesh Sippy for the premiere. However, 'Ramesh Sahab was not that happy with Sholay being converted into 3D. I wanted him to come over for the premiere of Sholay in Pakistan. But I saw his reaction, so I realised he was not happy with the 3D conversion.' For Mandviwalla, Sholay had a deep cultural value. 'As much as it has a significant role to play in Indian cinema, Sholay has a role to play wherever there is Urdu or the Indian diaspora. We were very young when Sholay came out, and it became a phenomenon at that time. Since then, Sholay has been a landmark after Mughal-E-Azam. For me, it's very special.' Why did Sholay flop in Pakistan? However, the film also came with its own set of challenges. Since the film was made at a high cost, it couldn't be released simultaneously in both countries, and delays dulled audience excitement. 'When it came out in 3D, we could not release it simultaneously because at that time they were asking for so much money that I said it was not possible to pay that kind of cost,' Mandviwalla explained. With home viewership already widespread, he noted, 'You have to be a die-hard fan to come back to watch the same film in cinemas.' By the time Sholay could reach Pakistan, decades had already passed. Therefore, many people had already seen it on VHS, TV, or online.. 'You need to understand that the whole generation had changed… Everybody had already seen the film. It was not that it was a new film (by then). It did okay, not bad.' For him, the value lay more in legacy than box office: 'It was more about the fact that we wanted to bring Sholay under our portfolio… even if it was after 40 years.'
NDTV
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Why Sholay Was A Flop When It First Released In Pakistan 10 Years Ago
Sholay turning 50 on August 15, 2025 is a big deal not only for India but also Pakistan. But did you know that this Ramesh Sippy classic, which was originally released in 1975, opened in Pakistani theatres just 10 years ago? What's more is that the film, publicised as 'the greatest cast ever assembled and the greatest story ever told', didn't do well at the Pakistani box office when it released on April 17, 2025. Sholay barely earned a little over Rs 3 crore during its four-week run in the cinema halls there. Pakistan's top exhibitor Nadeem Mandviwalla in an exclusive interview with NDTV revealed the reasons why Sholay flopped in Pakistan despite the film enjoying a massive fan following. When Sholay Came To Pakistan In 3D It was something new to go for, recalled Nadeem Mandviwalla, who brought Sholay to Pakistan as a prestige project to his company Mandviwalla Entertainment. And this was happening decades after the movie was released everywhere else. In all the years that passed, many Pakistanis, especially those who could afford a VCR in the late 1980s and 1990s, had already watched Sholay. "We got the rights and then it played here... You need to understand that the whole generation had changed and we could not make it as (appealing to them as we would have liked)... Everybody had already seen the film (by then). It was not that it was a new film. But it did okay, not bad. "The collection was under Rs 10 million PKR (Rs 3.22 crore INR). But that was not the real issue for us, that was how much business it would do. It was more about the fact that we wanted to bring Sholay under our portfolio of our company. My company has already done some of the very significant films so this was one of those movies which we wanted to put on our portfolio, that we have distributed this film, even if it was after 40 years," the exhibitor told NDTV. What Went Wrong Whether it was Mughal-e-Azam or Sholay releasing in Pakistan, something was amiss every time. "The coloured version of Mughal-E-Azam was released in India in 2004. By the time I got the film to Pakistan, it was 2006 and the hype had died down. The day I released the coloured version in Pakistan, it was playing on Sony TV channel. "The same thing happened with Sholay. When it came out in 3D, we could not release it simultaneously because at that time they were asking for so much money that I said it was not possible to pay that kind of cost," added Nadeem Mandviwalla. When there is hype, people go and watch the film, especially when it's already available on YouTube and TV, he said. "You have to be a die-hard fan to come back to watch the same film in cinemas. Films are all about excitement and you have to cash in on that. Both the times we were unable to do that. I don't blame the public, it was about the timing and the problems we had." "Ramesh Sippy Was Not Happy About Sholay Coming In 3D" The Pakistani exhibitor said he went to Mumbai around 2014-15 to invite Sholay director Ramesh Sippy for the film's premiere in Karachi, Pakistan. "I came to Bombay and met Ramesh sahab. But Ramesh sahab was not that happy with Sholay being converted into 3D. I wanted him to come over for the premiere of Sholay in Pakistan. But I saw his reaction so I realised he was not happy with the 3D conversion." What Sholay Means For Pakistan According to the veteran distributor, Sholay holds a lot of significance for the Pakistani audience. "As much as it has a significant role to play in Indian cinema, Sholay has a role to play wherever there is Urdu or Indian diaspora. We were very young when Sholay came out and it became a phenomenon at that time. "Since then, Sholay has been a landmark after Mughal-E-Azam. For me, it's very special. When Indian films opened up for release in Pakistan, both the films (Sholay, Mughal-E-Azam) were brought to Pakistan by me. I had that honour," he said. Both India and Pakistan have banned each other's cinema for years now. And yet, classics such as Sholay are like a shared memory between the two neighbours that are a stone's throw away from picking up a fight quite often.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Why Fawad Khan's Maula Jatt Is Called The Sholay Of Pakistan
What Sholay did for India, The Legend of Maula Jatt did for Pakistan, says Nadeem Mandivalla, one of the biggest exhibitors in the neighbouring country. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Nadeem Mandviwalla said when Ramesh Sippy's Sholay released in 1975, its gradual success turned the tide for Indian exhibition business, taking the market valued at Rs 5 crore to Rs 20 crore. With barely 60 cinemas across the country and a declining film industry in Pakistan, it is the Fawad Khan-starrer The Legend of Maula Jatt that is still playing Pakistani cinemas even after almost three years after its release. It's the highest earning Pakistani film of all time with Rs 125 crore in box office earnings, making it an "unbelievable" feat, he added. Sholay had a star-studded cast of Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, Hema Mailini, and Jaya Bachchan. It follows a former police officer Thakur who hires two outlaws called Jai and Veeru to capture the notorious bandit Gabbar Singh who kills his family in cold blood. The Legend of Maula Jatt, based on Pakistani folklore, too featured the who's who of Pakistani film industry. Besides Fawad Khan, the film starred Mahira Khan, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Humaima Malik, Gohar Rasheed, and Ali Azmat, among others. In the movie, Maula Jatt (Fawad Khan) takes on his arch nemesis and the leader of a brutal clan, Noori Natt (Hamza Ali Abbasi). The Legend Of Maula Jatt - Pakistan's Own Sholay Nadeem Mandviwalla told NDTV that The Legend of Maula Jatt is "Pakistani Sholay". "For us, in 75 years, we finally made a Sholay. We had made great films but we hadn't made a Sholay. Now, I can say we have a Sholay of our own. There are two-three films in India that changed the course (of Indian cinema). "The concept of your market being Rs 25 crore and it suddenly becomes a market of Rs 100 crore that was a game changer, which Sholay did in 1975 -- from a Rs 5 crore market to a Rs 20 crore market. After Sholay, Maine Pyar Kiya came in 1989 and then Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! in 1994. India couldn't believe they could have a market of Rs 100 crore, now you're at Rs 500 crore," he said. Pakistan could have never thought about making more than Rs 50 crore in terms of its film market. " Maula Jatt is now playing at Rs 125 crore (PKR) in Pakistan with 60 cinemas. It's unbelievable," added the distributor, who backed the film via Mandviwalla Entertainment. The Shock And Awe Factor That Unites Sholay And The Legend Of Maula Jatt Besides superb box office performances, what also makes one compare Sholay and The Legend of Maula Jatt is the feeling of shock and awe the audiences were washed by after they watched both the movies when they released. According to Nadeem Mandviwalla, when he released The Legend of Maula Jatt in 2022 in his theatres, " Sholay was the reference" he used while talking about the Pakistani movie. "Bilal Lashari has made two films in Pakistan. One was in 2013, it was called Waar and in 2022, we released The Legend Of Maula Jatt. Both the films were distributed by our company in Pakistan. So, when I saw the film with Bilal, I told him that there are different ways of looking into films. "How the public sees them. There are very few films in the world which create an element which is rare. I told him Waar had an awe factor and that was enough for the people to come to the theatres. It's a very, very rare case in the world where pictures create a shock factor and you can just pinpoint those films in the world where the audience has gone into shock..." When the viewer is shocked by a film, they go silent, added the Karachi-based exhibitor. "You don't say anything because you are unable to digest what you have seen. That it has gone beyond your expectations. Sholay was that. In the interviews, Ramesh Sippy said that in the first week, they thought the picture was a flop so they stopped producing the prints. Then suddenly everything changed... "This is what exactly happened with Maula Jatt. The Pakistani public went into shock (after watching the film) that 'How can Pakistan make a picture of this calibre'. We don't have a market to make a picture of this calibre," he recalled. The Legend Of Maula Jatt - The Reimagining Sholay was set in Ramgarh, a fictional village, and was primarily shot in and around the town of Ramanagara, Karnataka. The Legend of Maula Jatt may be an adaptation of the 1979 Lollywood film Maula Jatt, but unlike its predecessor, the film is not set in Punjab, said Nadeem Mandviwalla. "The brilliance of Bilal Lashari in that film was how he presented those characters 30-40 years later... The original film was all real Punjab. Bilal Lashari's film is no Punjab. It's all fictional. You can't say which Punjab or era is this and that became its biggest beauty. He went into Game of Thrones and Gladiator." It may be a film from across the border but The Legend of Maula Jatt has some similarities with Sholay. Nadeem Mandviwalla came close to releasing the Fawad Khan-starrer in India, his last attempt being October 2, 2024. Sholay released for the first time in Pakistan in 2015 after a generation already watched the film on VCR and TV through re-runs. But Indian audiences are yet to watch The Legend of Maula Jatt in Indian cinemas.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pakistani Horror Film ‘Deemak' Set to Haunt Theaters, Trailer Unveiled (EXCLUSIVE)
Pakistani cinema is poised to embrace the horror genre again with 'Deemak' (meaning 'Termite'), a psychological supernatural thriller. The film represents a significant push to elevate local cinema with high production values and compelling storytelling. Directed by Rafay Rashdi ('Badshah Begum,' 'The Java Plum Tree') and written by Ayesha Muzaffar (author of 'Abus Jinns' and 'Jinnistan'), 'Deemak' explores the volatile relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law against a backdrop of escalating paranormal disturbances in a family home. The film is produced under Wah Wah Productions with Syed Murad Ali serving as executive producer. More from Variety 'The Monkey' Trailer: Theo James Faces Deadly Primate in Stephen King Adaptation From 'Longlegs' Director Pakistan Style 'Pride and Prejudice' Film Is English-Language Adaptation of 'Unmarriageable' Bestseller (EXCLUSIVE) 'Terrifier 3' Trailer: Art the Clown Goes on Christmas Murder Spree The film assembles a cast of Pakistani talent including Faysal Quraishi ('Money Back Guarantee'), Sonya Hussyn ('Tich Button'), Samina Peerzada ('Balaa'), Javed Sheikh ('Chand Nagar') and Bushra Ansari ('Tere Bin'). Distribution will be handled by Mandviwalla Entertainment with media partnership from Geo Films. 'Deemak' follows a family whose home becomes the site of increasingly disturbing supernatural phenomena. As paranormal activity intensifies, a psychological battle unfolds between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, with the son caught between the two women he loves most. The synopsis describes a narrative where 'the once-familiar space becomes a maze of dread, where the line between the living and the otherworldly blurs with each passing night.' The filmmakers note the story is inspired by true events. The production aims to blend cultural folklore surrounding Jinns (supernatural beings in Islamic tradition) with psychological horror elements, creating what the team hopes will be a uniquely Pakistani contribution to the genre. Executive producer Ali brings his lifelong passion for horror to the project. 'I've always had a deep fascination with the horror genre — I've watched countless horror films growing up, and the idea of creating one myself has been with me for years,' Ali said. Ali sees the film as more than just entertainment: 'Our film industry has so much untapped talent, but what it needs is support, investment, and high-quality storytelling. I believe 'Deemak' represents exactly that.' Director Rashdi describes the project as the culmination of a long-held ambition. 'I've always been an avid fan of the horror genre. I had attempted a few experimental horror shorts during my early years and had long envisioned working on a horror/supernatural feature,' Rashdi explained. The director revealed that the concept evolved from an earlier project titled 'Yaqeen' ('Belief') that he had announced approximately six years ago. The collaboration with writer Ayesha Muzaffar allowed him to explore the dynamics of family relationships through a supernatural lens. 'We decided to add the emotional anchor of a son caught between the two women, who is also a husband trying to keep peace in a Pakistani household. This layered human drama, when fused with a paranormal twist, opened up exciting possibilities,' Rashdi said. Pakistan's horror cinema has seen sporadic but significant milestones, beginning with the cult classic 'Zinda Laash' (1967), widely regarded as the country's first horror feature and a South Asian take on Dracula. After decades of low-budget productions and TV serials, the genre experienced a modern revival with 'Zibahkhana' (2007), an English-Urdu zombie slasher that became Pakistan's first horror film to screen at several international festivals. This paved the way for titles like 'Maya' (2015) and 'Aksbandh' (2016), both of which explored supernatural horror with local folklore elements. More recently, 'In Flames' (2023), a psychological horror debuting at Cannes' Directors' Fortnight, signaled a shift toward arthouse sensibilities. Though still niche and operating under conservative content constraints, Pakistan's horror genre continues to find footing through hybrid narratives, festival exposure, and indie experimentation. 'Deemak' is due for nationwide release across Pakistan on Eid ul Adha (June 6). Watch the trailer here: Best of Variety What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
