With the global economic meltdown having claimed its first casualties in the last few months, it seems like the coming two years will be the most difficult for Bollywood.
Even if you consider top six stars in the industry, the amount of money riding on them totals to approximately Rs 800 cr. In star-driven industry it translates into a lot of expectations from these actors.
Here's taking a look at the money riding on six major male stars and their films releasing in the next few years.
Akshay Kumar
Approx amount riding on Akshay: Rs 430 crore
The Khiladi Kumar has four films lined up so far. Of them the most ambitious project is Sajid Nadiadwala's Kambakth Ishq said to be made at a budget of Rs 90 crore. Also starring Kareena Kapoor and host of Hollywood actors, Kambakth Ishq will have a lot riding on it. If it works, the film will be Kareena Kapoor's first hit since Tashan, which released in early 2008 (unless you count Golmaal Returns as Kareena's film). It will also be Akshay Kumar's first hit after three stupendous flops – Jumbo, Chandni Chowk To China and 8x10 Tasveer.
Akshay has four other films up for release: Blue, De Dana Dan, Action Replay and House Full. Insiders say that the total budget of these films is no less than Rs 340 crore. That brings the total approximate budget to Rs 430 crore.
The debacle of 8X10 Tasveer has raised a lot of eyebrows in the industry as Akshay Kumar was so far considered as someone who could give your film a decent if not a good opening. If there is someone who will lose the most in the current scenario, it will be a certain daredevil Kumar.
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Salman Khan
Approx amount riding on Salman: Rs 210 crore
If Akshay Kumar is crossing his fingers for Kambakth Ishq, Salman Khan should follow suit during the release of Veer. For starters the movie has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Then again, it's not exactly Jodhaa Akbar – the only historical in the recent times to work at the box office. And finally, Salman Khan hasn't had a hit for god knows how long.
Here's a man who should really be worrying. The approximate budget of Veer is supposedly Rs 85 crore. And if rumours are to be believed, Salman is beginning to get serious. He is keen on emulating the success of Ghajini and so Salman has kept himself free for over a month just to promote Veer. The film is supposed to be Salman's big Diwali release.
London Dreams is the other big Salman Khan film. It's been in the making for quite some time now and is supposed to have been made on a budget of Rs 50 crore. Again in the news for the wrong reasons, London Dreams has also seen a change of director!
It is supposedly a story of some dudes trying to make it as musicians in the London music scene. It remains to be seen how the Indian audiences will take the 40 plus actors as rock stars.
Besides these two films Salman Khan has Wanted and Main Aur Mrs Khanna up for release. The combined budget of these films is said to be anywhere around Rs 75 crore.
That brings the grand total of Salman Khan's films to an approximate Rs 210 crore. Reason enough to worry, you say? Look at Salman and you wouldn't think so...
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Shah Rukh Khan
Approx amount riding on Shah Rukh: Rs 110 crroe
He has been King Khan for the longest time now. But the rules of the game are changing fast. The superstar may have belted out a mega hit in Om Shanti Om. But that was over two years ago. It was in the same year he pulled off a film like Chak De India on his lonesome shoulders. Yet the very man failed to charm his audiences in Billu Barber.
That is not all. For a variety of reasons Shah Rukh Khan has maintained a stony silence. The star who was all over the place has suddenly gone into hiding. So much so he wasn't even in the picture when Aamir Khan took potshots at him. No rebuttals, no counter interviews, nothing. An unlikely move for someone who has been media's best friend.
Here's the thing – Shah Rukh and Karan Johar have about Rs 85 crore riding on My Name is Khan. Much like what he did for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Shah Rukh plans to charge Karan no acting fees. Instead he will take home a certain percentage of the returns.
It's a safe bet considering Karan Johar has never once missed the bulls-eye at the box office. However there are rumours that more than half the film is in English – that will alienate a good part of the Indian audiences.
Says an insider, "Shah Rukh has no reasons to worry. He has made a safe investment in My Name is Khan. The initial buzz around the movie is positive and a lot of people are looking forward to seeing Kajol on the screen with Shah Rukh again."
And then if you really must count it as a Shah Rukh Khan film, there is the much-delayed Dulha Mil Gaya which has been made on an approximate budget of Rs 25 crore. Put the two together and you have about Rs 110 cr riding on Shah Rukh Khan – a paltry amount to recover when you look at Salman and Akshay.
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Aamir Khan
Approx amount riding on Aamir: Rs 45 crore
Technically there is much lesser money riding on Aamir Khan as compared to Shah Rukh. 3 Idiots is supposedly being made on a budget of approximately 45 crore. But after the success of Ghajini, in Aamir's case it's no longer about money. There's a lot that comes by leading a power list in Bollywood.
For one it means running twice as fast to remain in the same place. Shah Rukh Khan is certainly not the one to sit quiet after being toppled over. For Aamir this translates into ensuring that 3 Idiots is as big if not a bigger success than Ghajini.
If reports are to be believed, Aamir is taking some serious steps to get a larger stake in the movie. Insiders suggest that the star would like a bigger chunk of the pie in the film's returns. Effectively this also means that Aamir will go all out to promote the film in his trademark manner.
My Name is Khan is supposed to be Shah Rukh Khan's big Diwali release. But Aamir prefers to stick to his December slot to rake in the moolah. It might also give the star a better breathing space after the hype around Khan has died down.
It remains to be seen however, if Aamir will repeat his Ghajini feat and beat Shah Rukh at his own game, yet again.
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Hrithik Roshan
Approx amount riding on Hrithik: Rs 45 crore
For one, it's been a while since we saw Hrithik Roshan on the big screen. Unless you count his role in Luck By Chance, Hrithik's last release was Jodhaa Akbar, which released in February last year.
Hrithik's been shooting for Kites for quite some time now. And the only place he's been seen in is riding motorbikes in stray commercials here and there.
Kites is a prestigious project and is said to be made on a budget of Rs 45 crore. But the success of the movie becomes critical because it is the first Filmkraft production since the Krazzy 4 debacle. Rakesh Roshan had burnt his fingers not just at the box office with Krazzy 4 but also had to shell out a good sum of money as compensation to Ram Sampat, the composer who sued the Roshans.
Traditionally, Roshan Sr has banked hugely on Hrithik Roshan to save the ship. Think of it, Krazzy 4 was the only film he made without his son in eight years and it flopped. So the responsibility of pulling off Kites will entirely be on Hrithik's shoulders.
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Abhishek Bachchan
Approx amount riding on Abhishek: Rs 40 cr
How relevant is the Ramayana in today's context? Let's just say it will cost Mani Ratnam about Rs 40 cr to find out. In his latest movie Ravana, Mani has cast Abhishek Bachchan in the title role with Ash supposedly playing the damsel-in-distress.
Technically Abhishek has Dostana to his credit. But take a look at his career graph before that – Drona, Lagaa Chunari Mein Daag, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom have all been box-office duds. Sarkar Raj too did average business at the windows.
Ravana in that sense becomes a very important film in Abhishek Bachchan's career. Though the number of flops have never affected Abhishek's career, the producers are bound to get mercenary during trying times like these.
It will be a task for Abhishek to pull of this feat considering it will release around the same time as Aamir Khan's 3 Idiots!
Rs 40 crore definitely seems a small sum when you look at the others. And Abhishek Bachchan has always been industry's favourite brat. The question however is how long will Bollywood tolerate Abhi's flops.
Clearly if there is someone who has to smell the coffee among the stars listed here, it is this man making a funny face in the picture on the top of this page.
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