The big guns arrive!

Starting this first week of November big movies are arriving. Frankly, in the last decade or so, given that Bollywood’s bigger makers and superstars have started believing in screen count more than content and holiday weekends more than the editing table, most of the big movies arrive starting Diwali weekend.

This year is no different in that sense. There is, however, a very interesting battle unfolding now from the first week of November. The old warriors are being challenged and very, very impressively by the new contenders. Two of this years’ biggest hits, which have rewritten domestic box office numbers neither belong to a Khan or a Karan Johar or a YRF films movie. They belong to names like Ranvir Singh and Ranbir Kapoor. How many of you would have given Ranvir Singh that chance five years ago?

There is another interesting scene unfolding. Barring Aamir, the other two Khans are fighting a battle of kingdom going downhill. SRK has had a lean patch after a long time in his career. Salman’s reputation took a severe hit with movies like ‘Jai Ho’, ‘Tubelight’ and ‘Race 3’. The last one still has jokes popping up on social media. Sure, Salman has had equal big hits too like ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ but call it unfairness, somehow you are remembered for your last movie and that makes Salman a bit down right now. Does this mean by January we will have new superstars? We don’t know because the old warhorses are coming in full blast and it might so happen that by January ‘Padmavat’ and Sanju’s success might look like faded memories.

The first one that hits us is ‘Thugs Of Hindostan’ and if the information of screen count and numbers of show is correct and the movie does hit the right numbers it is looking at 125 crore plus opening. Yes, those are the numbers which are very likely because the audience on the ground is excited about watching Aamir and Amitabh together. Should the movie work then Aamir will go up on the ladder yet again through the six-footer never-stopping-machine will take some credit for that? He has already hogged trailer credit. You could be looking at 2018’s biggest hit in this one.

Then comes ‘2.0’ the coming together of Akshay and Rajnikant. This one could surprise us with the numbers. It will be interesting to note though how much credit Akshay will be able to take from the shadows of Rajinikanth. Either way, Akshay will probably extend his purple patch with this one.

The other biggie this year is ‘Zero’. SRK’s fans for sure are waiting for this one with some excitement and this could be that movie which will mark the return of the “Baadshah”, in some ways this one has the same anticipation that ‘Thugs Of Hindostan’ has because this is the first coming together of our longest running superstar and a master storyteller called Aanand L Rai. This one could rewrite some box office numbers.

Then there is this underrated dark horse called ‘Simmba’. Rohit Shetty will direct Ranvir Singh in what seems to be an out and out masala action entertainer. Rohit Shetty is probably the quietest big hits maker and probably this movie has got the least of the limelight from the other three and we know at times the least talked about does the best. Should 'Simmba' work it will be very difficult for anyone to take away the fact that 2018 belonged to Ranvir Singh.

There is a lot riding on these movies more than producer’s money. Long-term star reputation is one for sure. Should any of these movies fail, you will see rankings being adjusted and Bollywood for sure will have a new power hierarchy! You will probably see bitter fan wars too on social media. This winter is one of the most exciting winters in a long time for Bollywood. There is actually a game of thrones unfolding in front of us starting the first week of December.

May the best warriors win. We the audiences for sure are not complaining. Bring it on.

- cinemawaalebaba.blogspot.com