Latest news with #MuktaArts
Mint
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Getting d(r)ubbed: Recent southern films fall out of favour in Hindi-speaking belt, struggle for a hit
Dubbed versions of southern films, especially Tamil and Telugu movies, appear to be losing their fizz in the Hindi-speaking belt. Recent titles including Kamal Haasan-starrer Thug Life (Tamil) and Game Changer (Telugu) have performed below par, raking in less than a 10th of earlier blockbusters from the south. With the exception of Pushpa 2 and Kalki 2898 AD, there haven't been any major dubbed hits in the past year. Experts said there is unnecessary hype over the dubbing trend and too many films have jumped on to the bandwagon without adequate content or marketing efforts. The Hindi version of Mani Ratnam's Thug Life, released in June, made ₹1.56 crore. Kannappa, a Telugu-language Hindu epic starring Vishnu Manchu in the title role and an ensemble cast of Mohanlal, Prabhas and Akshay Kumar earned Rs. 2.75 crore, according to data from Bollywood Hungama, a trade website. L2: Empuraan, starring Mohanlal and released in March, made ₹2.22 crore in the Hindi belt. Game Changer, with Ram Charan in the lead, did better than the others, clocking in ₹26.6 crore after its release in January. However, all these earnings pale in comparison to dubbed southern hits such as Pushpa 2: The Rule ( ₹830 crore), KGF: Chapter 2 ( ₹434.7 crore), RRR (274.3 crore) and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion ( ₹511 crore). 'The trend (of dubbed versions of southern films breaking out in the Hindi belt) has died down a little bit," admitted Rahul Puri, managing director of Mukta Arts and Mukta A2 Cinemas. While a few films managed to click with Hindi-speaking audiences, Puri said they were followed by several others that wanted to cash in on the hype but didn't do well even in their home markets. Half-hearted dubs Independent trade analyst Sreedhar Pillai said not all names from the south command equal draw in the Hindi belt. Only the likes of filmmaker SS Rajamouli, who first broke out with the Baahubali franchise and then followed it up with RRR, are known – even in tier-two and three north Indian towns – and people flock to the cinemas for their movies. 'If you look at films like Pushpa, the characters appeared real and relatable across the board. In the case of a lot of recent Tamil or Telugu films, the tone and style were entirely south Indian, and it didn't appear to be anything other than a simple dub," Pillai pointed out. Experts said the recent dubbed southern films have been half-hearted attempts to reach out to Hindi-speaking audiences. On the other hand, Kantara (2022), originally filmed in Kannada, had the right flavour, writing and marketing strategy to make it seem like a universal film and releasing in the Hindi market didn't look like an afterthought. Still, trade experts are hopeful about the prospects of Rajinikanth's Coolie, which also features Aamir Khan, Prabhas' next The Raja Saab, Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1, a prequel to Kantara, and Allu Arjun's untitled film starring Deepika Padukone to be directed by Atlee of Jawan fame. 'Not too many big-ticket films featuring names familiar in the Hindi belt have been released since Pushpa. But it's only a matter of time before one does well," film distributor and exhibitor Akshaye Rathi said.
Mint
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Hollywood strikes back in Indian cinemas, but the real test lies ahead
Hollywood appears to be staging a comeback in India after two lacklustre years, with recent titles like Superman, Jurassic World: Rebirth, F1: The Movie, and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning seeing robust box office returns. In several cases, they've even outperformed Indian films. This uptick follows a period of slowdown caused by Hollywood's writers' and actors' strikes and the underperformance of major superhero films, particularly from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Yet, trade experts warn that the revival is mostly limited to urban audiences, and even blockbuster titles are not achieving the pre-pandemic box office highs. Mission: Impossible earned over ₹110 crore in India since its May release, while Jurassic World has crossed the ₹82 crore mark. The biggest surprise, however, has been Brad Pitt's sports drama F1, which collected over ₹72 crore—despite limited dubbed releases and minimal promotion. Market share still low Hollywood's share in Indian theatrical revenues had peaked at ₹1,595 crore in 2019, per media consulting firm Ormax. But the pandemic years took a toll, and box office collections dropped to ₹941 crore in 2024, shrinking its market share from 15% to just 8%. Footfalls too halved—from 9.8 crore in 2019 to just 3.8 crore last year. Despite recent momentum, Hollywood remains 15–25% below pre-covid levels, analysts say. Urban pull, rural lag 'While some of the recent films have done well and proven Hollywood box office is still alive in India, business hasn't gone back to where it was pre-covid," said Rahul Puri, managing director of Mukta Arts and Mukta A2 Cinemas. Puri pointed out that Hollywood films are largely thriving in major cities, particularly through premium formats like IMAX. But audiences in tier-two and three towns haven't returned in similar strength. One major roadblock is inflexible pricing that doesn't cater to smaller town sensitivities. The real test, Puri said, will come next year with Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday, which promises a convergence of multiple MCU timelines. That film will be a benchmark to determine if Hollywood can truly regain its former dominance in Indian cinemas. Franchise vs fresh fare Vishek Chauhan, an independent exhibitor, agreed the recovery isn't complete: While films are flirting with the ₹100 crore mark, business hasn't gone through the roof or hit the same numbers as say, Avengers: Endgame, which crossed ₹370 crore in 2019. Devang Sampat, managing director of Cinepolis India, noted 2024 lacked major impact. '2024 was not an impactful year for Hollywood in India. 2025 has started strong with a great balance of non-franchise films such as F1 and Sinners and franchise titles like Mission: Impossible and Superman doing well. However, there is still some way to go for full recovery as we are yet to see a movie in the post pandemic era, which touches the Avengers: Endgame status," said Sampat. Sustainable efforts through marketing are required to drive customers to experience lesser known genres. Usually, good movies from Hollywood disappear without a trace at the Indian box office due to lack of marketing, he added. Streaming fatigue Still, some experts see opportunity in upcoming line-ups and a growing fatigue with home streaming. 'Hollywood films are no longer just competing; many weekends, they're leading the box office conversions", said Bhuvanesh Mendiratta, managing director of Miraj Entertainment Ltd that operates multiplex theatres. Kamal Gianchandani, CEO of PVR Pictures and chief of strategy at PVR Ltd, echoed that optimism: While in specific months, Hollywood has also outperformed Indian titles, audiences are experiencing a fatigue with streaming content at home which doesn't match theatrical quality.
Mint
21-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Subhash Ghai's Mumbai property to earn ₹2.24 crore rental over 5 years: Report
Veteran Bollywood filmmaker Subhash Ghai, in partnership with Crest Ventures Limited and Mukta Arts, has leased out a commercial property in Mumbai's Andheri West. According to a report by property portal Square Yards, the lease is projected to generate ₹ 2.24 crore in rental income over a five-year period. The property, situated within the Crest Mukta development, spans approximately 7,500 square feet (697 square metres) of built-up area. The lease was formally registered in July 2025, as per documents accessed via the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) portal. Under the agreement, the initial monthly rent is set at ₹ 3.38 lakh, with scheduled annual increments bringing it to ₹ 4.11 lakh by the fifth year. Square Yards' analysis estimates a rental escalation rate of nearly 5% per annum. The lease tenure covers a total of 60 months. Registration charges for the transaction amounted to ₹ 1,000, with an additional ₹ 57,500 paid in stamp duty. A security deposit of ₹ 24.66 lakh has also been secured as part of the agreement. Andheri West is among Mumbai's most desirable commercial and residential areas, known for its blend of premium housing, heritage properties, and boutique offices. Its strong connectivity to the international airport, Western Express Highway, Andheri railway station and the metro network further enhances its investment appeal. Earlier in 2025, Subhash Ghai and his wife Mukta Ghai also purchased a luxury apartment valued at ₹ 24 crore in the upscale suburb of Bandra West. Subhash Ghai, a key figure in Hindi cinema during the 1980s and 1990s, is celebrated for films such as 'Kalicharan' (1976), 'Karz' (1980), and 'Hero' (1983). Beyond filmmaking, he founded Whistling Woods International, a prominent film and media institute based in Mumbai, in 2006.
News18
21-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Subhash Ghai Rents Out Mumbai Office Space For A Whopping Rs 2.24 Crore For 5 Years
Subhash Ghai has leased out a commercial space in Andheri West for Rs 3.38 lakh a month. Filmmaker Subhash Ghai has quietly expanded his presence in Mumbai's real estate scene. The veteran filmmaker has just leased out a commercial property in Andheri West, locking in a five-year deal with a starting monthly rent of Rs 3.38 lakh. The space is located in the Crest Mukta development and covers a built-up area of around 7,500 sq ft. The agreement, signed in July 2025, involves Mukta Arts, Ghai's production banner, and Crest Ventures Limited. According to property records accessed by real estate portal Square Yards through the IGR (Inspector General of Registration) site, the lease comes with a security deposit of Rs 24.66 lakh. Stamp duty for the deal was Rs 57,500, with an additional Rs 1,000 paid in registration charges. The lease has a built-in rent escalation clause. As per Square Yards' review, the monthly rent will increase by nearly 5 per cent each year – reaching Rs 4.11 lakh in the fifth year. Across the full 60-month term, the total rent is expected to add up to roughly Rs 2.24 crore. This deal follows Ghai's big residential purchase earlier this year. Back in February 2025, he and wife Mukta Ghai picked up a luxury apartment in Bandra West for Rs 24 crore. The home is in 81 Aureate – a premium development by MJ Shah Group – which spans 4.48 acres and mostly features 4BHK flats. The building is known for its high-end finishes and prime location near the sea-facing stretch of Bandra. With both commercial and residential deals locked in within a few months, Ghai seems to be actively strengthening his real estate portfolio in key pockets of Mumbai. Subhash Ghai is one of Bollywood's most well-known filmmakers, with a career spanning decades and a long list of popular films to his name. Known for directing blockbusters like Karz, Ram Lakhan, Saudagar, Taal, and Pardes, Ghai made his mark with big, dramatic storytelling and memorable music. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry and is also the founder of Whistling Woods International, a well-known film and media institute in Mumbai. First Published: July 21, 2025, 12:59 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Ronit Roy gave up alcohol after being compared to Amitabh Bachchan: ‘People said that I was finished'
News, rumours and speculations all travel fast in the realm of Bollywood, and whether a piece of information is true or not, it can affect one's chances in the industry. Actor Ronit Roy, who has often talked about all that he endured during his early years in Bollywood, recently opened up about what all was going wrong for him on the personal front, including a battle with alcoholism. He shared how his habits proved to be a liability and what all transpired before he decided to get clean and focus on his health. While making an appearance on the Hindi Rush podcast, Ronit talked about how people in the industry talk and gossip and how it didn't take long before everyone was discussing his addiction. He said, 'I was doing TV in the late 90s and 2000s, and I was somehow getting by. When I did my first show with Balaji, several people were already talking about my alcoholism, and it was common knowledge in the industry. When something like that happens, people are very quick to say, 'He's finished.'' ALSO READ: Ronit Roy opens up about daughter studying in USA, says son Agasthya is 'too bhola' for Bollywood Ronit Roy also talked about starting his career with the production house Mukti Arts and how he missed out on a chance of working with Shah Rukh Khan in the Subhash Ghai film Pardes. While he lost the role to Apurva Agnihotri, Ronit doesn't believe that it happened because of his personal habits. 'Mukta Arts was like my home, and I had started my career as an assistant over there. When they started making Pardes, I heard through several people that I was going to get the role. Everyone there was aware of the fact that I wanted to be an actor, and when you tell an aspiring actor that he has landed a role, he will believe it. But Subhash ji had never confirmed anything regarding my casting. So when the announcement happened, I asked him about the role, and he told me that he had already promised Apurva's father that he would launch him.' Ronit added that he doesn't have any qualms about losing that role and how it was Apurva's destiny that led him to that role. Ronit then talked about the times when he started making a name for himself in the television space and how people had started calling him the 'Amitabh Bachchan of television.' He admitted that the title came with 'immense pressure', but that helped him to kick his habits, as he did not want Big B to be associated with someone who isn't doing their work with 100% integrity. 'It was a huge thing for me to be compared with Amitabh Bachchan, and the positive pressure of that title forces you to adapt and change quickly. If you are following him, then you can't make mistakes that might reflect on him. I didn't want to give people the chance to write scathing headlines about the 'Amitabh Bachchan of television.'' Ronit Roy went on to say that even though he had done 'everything except drugs', the comparison with Bachchan was the turning point of his life, and he came out a much better and sorted individual on the other side.
