Adult films are raking in moolah in Bollywood

"Delhi Belly" has shocked quite a few with its toilet and sex scenes and generous use of expletives, but the A-certified film got a bumper response. With "Haunted" and "Murder 2" also raking in the moolah, these movies have shown how to make money despite having a restricted audience.

"The reason we are seeing A-movies becoming hits is because people are experimenting a lot with the subject. Gone are the days of happy family with Ram Rajya-type subjects. Just to get out of the family drama zone, Bollywood is experimenting with subjects, language and characters," director Rahul Dholakia told.

Dholakia, known for making movies like "Parzania" (2005) and "Lamhaa: The Untold Story of Kashmir" (2010), which were released with A-certificates, is penning down a courtroom drama, "Kanoon", which has a close reference to the 2007 Nandigram incident in West Bengal.

He believes the audience was always ready to accept strong and bold concepts, but producers and directors shied away.

"We always watched such things, but it's just that we never really told such stories through our cinema. There were films by Mahesh Bhatt which had strong and bold concepts like 'Saaransh' (1984) and the movie was well received by the audience.

" 'Nirmaan' (1974), directed by Ravi Tandon, was another example of strong and real subjects. Though the movie received an average business, the plot is revisited now," he added.

In the past few years, things have changed and filmmakers have become bold storytellers and A-movies are setting cash registers ringing.

"Delhi Belly", an adult comedy produced by Aamir Khan, has broken the dry spell at the box office by earning Rs.15.65 crore on its first two days and Mohit Suri's crime thriller "Murder 2" earned Rs.34.9 crore net in the first week.

Earlier this year Raj Kumar Gupta's "No One Killed Jessica", which makes heavy use of abuses, was given an A-certificate, but it created a box-office record.

Anurag Kashyap's "Shaitan", about the dark side of the life of Mumbai youngsters, and Ekta Kapoor's horror flick "Ragini MMS" received critical acclaim and did decent business at the box office.

Gupta said the times have changed and so have viewer perspectives.

"Bollywood films that include reality, violence and the dark side of life have caused a stir. The film industry is also trying hard to shed its traditionally conservative image and develop a new Bollywood which is full of experimentation," said Gupta.

Film critic Taran Adarsh feels a new Bollywood is coming out and said: "Now the whole concept has changed. I am not denying that masala movies have taken a back seat, but other films are also doing very well. 'Delhi Belly' is a shining example. We have a broader outlook towards everything; so we are automatically experimenting."

Mainstream cinema has moved into the 'adult' territory nowadays with acclaimed actors like Aamir Khan and Naseeruddin Shah, who acted in "Ishqiya", jumping into the A bandwagon without any hitch.

Dholakia feels Sharmila Tagore, the ex-chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and Vinayak Azad, the regional director of CBFC, played a big role in changing the trend.

"Full credit should be given to two people for this change in Bollywood - one is Sharmila Tagore and the second is Vinayak Azad. They are the ones who made a revolutionary change in cinema in the last five years. I love the way Bollywood movies are made nowadays," he said.

'Delhi Belly' under attack in Kolhapur

Kolhapur (Maharashtra), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) activists Monday protested outside two cinema halls here exhibiting the latest Aamir Khan production " Delhi Belly" due to its "vulgar and objectionable" content, police said. 

The managements were forced to cancel the afternoon shows. Over 50 angry NCP activists, led by local corporators Anil Pharat and Prakash Gaondi, created ruccus at the Padma and Parvati cinema halls where the afternoon shows had started. 

They shouted slogans, tore off the movie posters and banners and attempted to barge into the theatre premises, demanding cancellation of the show. Their ire was also directed at the censor board, which they said had cleared objectionable dialogues, explicit erotic scenes and the song "DK Bose". 

The protesters demanded deletion of the song, offensive dialogues and explicit scenes on grounds that they corrupted the mind of the youth, especially college students, who have been queuing up to watch the movie. Police said that around 20 NCP activists were detained and additional security has been provided at the two cinema halls. 

An officer from Kolhapur's Laxmipuri police station said that the NCP had told the two theatre managements and the police Sunday that the party members will demonstrate if the shows were not cancelled.

Main Karu Toh Character Dheela Hai: Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan, who declared that his film Delhi Belly is strictly for adults and not for kids, is surprised why he has been questioned about the content of the film. The actor was recently grilled about the language and content of DB at a chat show.

He explained that though he understands his fans don't expect a bold film like this from him, he is an entertainer and loved the script so decided to make it. "I understand that after films like Tare Zameen Par my fans did not expect me to come up with a bold film like DB. But I feel I am an entertainer and I loved the script of DB and thought today's generation will relate to it."

Aamir used lines of Salman's popular song Character Dheela from Ready to explain his situation. He said there are so many bold films being made these days thus there's nothing to get shocked about.

"I don't understand this! It's like Main karu toh saala character dheela hai... I made a special promo to inform my fans that it's an adult film. And it's really hard for a producer to say that publicly as he knows, he is going to miss out half of his audience by that."

Imran Khan, who was also present on the show, defended his uncle and said, "There are several action films which showcase brutal killings and in Delhi Belly, there's just abusive language. If that's allowed then I wonder what is more harmful," he concluded.

 

Amitji loves me too much: Aamir Khan

I have the highest regard for Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan). He is a gentleman and loves me too much. I refuse to believe that he could say anything damaging about my film or me,” says Aamir Khan, on being questioned on a recent post on Bachchan’s blog that supposedly lashes out at Delhi Belly producer’s “immodesty”. 

The actor-producer however admits that there is a section of conservative purists, who have been running down his film. He reasons, “Anyone who’s a youth icon — Elvis Preseley and the Beatles or Madonna and Michael Jackson — has been panned. Saadat Hasan Manto and Ismat Chugtai had criminal cases lodged against them for obscenity. But I refuse to believe that Amitji’s is one of these voices.” 

Pakistan has refused to allow screenings of Delhi Belly. Aamir’s not surprised, as it doesn’t have the “artistic freedom of a democracy”. For him it’s enough that the collections are great in the UK, US, Australia and the Gulf. Back home too, the footfalls have been higher on Monday and Tuesday as compared to Friday. “Going by numbers, Rs 5.65 crore (Monday’s figures) and Rs 5.40 core (Tuesday’s collections) are lower than Rs 7.15 crore (Friday’s gross), but ticket prices drop by 1/3 on weekdays. However, thanks to the strong word-of-mouth, viewers are flocking to theatres even on weekdays, some returning for a repeat. That’s never happened with me in my entire career.” 

Some allege that he’s been manipulating figures. He laughs, “Numbers speak for themselves and you can’t manipulate them. The film is a hit not just in the metros, multiplexes and overseas, but even in single screen theatres in the interiors of Gujarat, Punjab, Bengal, Bihar, CPCI, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. You can’t get more heartland than that,” says a relieved and thrilled Aamir. 

Mahesh Bhatt believes the ‘adult’ certification used as a forbidden carrot is pulling in the crowds. Aamir disagrees, “An ‘A’ certificate is never a guarantee for a hit. If anything, it reduced my audience by half. I lost out on the eight to 18 year segment, that’s my biggest fan base and their parents too. Abusive language doesn’t make a film successful, not does action or item numbers,” he argues. “There’s been talk about our colourful vocabulary, but this is not the first time people have heard such words. That’s why it’s an adult film.”

How much does Delhi Belly owe its success to Aamir’s marketing genius? He says, “I can get people to come for the first or second show through hype, but if they are returning for more, it’s because the film works for them.” Will he now be encouraged to take bigger risks? “All six films from Aamir Khan Productions in 10 years have been risks and we’ve earned on all of them. I don’t make a film because it’s a risk, but because I believe in it,” he argues. Should AB Corp and Viacom 18 have pushed forward the release of Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap by a week or two? Says Aamir, “Two, three even four films coming together don’t affect the success of one or the other. We were never competition for Amitji, he’s too big a star!.” 

DB sequel on? Aamir smiles According to recent news reports, Aamir Khan’s next production, to be directed by wife Kiran Rao, could be a sequel to Delhi Belly. It’s likely to star the film’s comic trio – Imran Khan, Vir Das, Kunal Roy Kapoor – besides Aamir himself as Disco Fighter (his ‘item role’ from the first part). In Delhi Belly itself, if you recall, when Aamir’s character appears at the end, a freeze frame announces his next film titled ‘Disco Fighter’, slated for Christmas, 2011 release. When asked to comment, Aamir says, “I’m not saying this is true or false. I’m only smiling. Kiran’s working on a script, till it's locked, I can’t comment.”

Meet Imran Khan's hot leading lady in Delhi Belly

 It was frustrating to wait. That's how 'Delhi Belly' actress Poorna Jagannathan sums up the year she spent after the film was shot

For a new actress making her debut in Aamir Khan's production didn't exactly mean a dream run.

Los Angeles-based Poorna Jagannathan, who plays Imran Khan's leading lady in Delhi Belly concedes that the waiting period of over a year after finishing the shoot was quite restless and frustrating.

Having started in advertising as a consumer and brand strategist, she attributes the career switch to dislike for her job.

"There came a point when I stopped loving my job and I didn't want my boss's job either, " she recalls, giving up a comfortable job to train acting at the Actor's Studio.

Asked if she was aware of the reported differences between the actor-producer and Abhinay Deo, the film's director, and Poorna denies knowing "the inside politics".

She says, "I was sad about the possibility that the film might not come out."

She further enthuses, "The script is brilliant and the film represents the kind of person I am. But as an actor, I kept trudging away, working hard. That's what kept me going."

At the same time, the actress is also quick to add that she believed that the film would see the light of day. "I love my character of Maneka. And I knew that the movie would be something I'd be proud of, " she says.

Production line

So what factor comforted her that her Bollywood debut would make it to the cinemas? In reply, Poorna likens Aamir Khan Productions to a runway.

"There's a plane ready to take off every time. Peepli [Live], Dhobi Ghat and now Delhi Belly, which is a writer's and editor's film.

When you see it, you'll realise that the editor plays a large role in the film. That determines where it came in the line up, " she explains. Add to that, she also became friends with the writer, Akshat Verma, who is also based in LA.

Point out to her that surfacing for the promotions just a day before the film's release is a risky move for her and she reasons, "I'd have been worried if I had not seen the film. But I have and I'm proud of the work I've done."

The strangest aspect of Poorna's foray into cinema is that her family didn't have a television set at home. So how did her diplomat father react to his daughter's entry in the Bollywood? "It's an Aamir Khan production.

That overshadows all other apprehensions, " she asserts, adding that her parents will be catching the first show in Toronto.

B-town praises Delhi Belly, Bbuddah...

Big B v/s Aamir

Bollywood celebrities have taken to Twitter to pick their favourite from this week's releases -- Aamir Khan's home production Delhi Belly and Amitabh Bachchan's Bbuddah Hoga Tera Baap. Directed by Abhinay Deo, Delhi Belly, an adult comedy, stars Imran Khan, Vir Das and Kunal Roy Kapur in pivotal roles.

"Saw Delhi Belly last night! Its a crazy good film! Laughed so much! Abhinay Deo is super talented! Everything abt d film was awesome!," actress Bipasha Basu said on micro-blogging site Twitter.

"My fav song frm the film is switty switty switty! Ram Sampath's music fr Delhi Belly is so crisp, bold, entertaining n in sync with the film!," the dusky actress added.

"Delhi Belly-- Two Thumbs Up! A film that cannot be missed. And yes, v can make films as good as Hollywood!," actress Minissha Lamba said.

"Wish Imran Khan all the best for D B. All the adults who have seen the film have loved it, so adults go n watch it, I am also gonna watch it," actor Salman Khan had said.

While, there are others who have enjoyed Big B's Bbuddah Hoga Tera Baap. Directed by Puri Jagannath, it stars Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Sonu Sood, Raveena Tandon and Sonal Chauhan.

Filmmaker Shirish Kunder, tweeted, "All the films were good in their own way. But really really impressed by Delhi Belly. And Mr Bachchan's one man show in BHTB."

Noted author and columnist, Shobhaa De, said, "Buddhas and Buddhis over 60, rejoice. Big B is the Sexiest Sam in town. Take that you 6-pack fellas and smoke it. 60+ rocks! Watch 'Buddha' NOW!."

"Entire hall went into frenzy cheering AB doing his spectacular Bbuddah act! Who says AB's appeal doesn't cut across generations?," filmmaker Pritish Nandy said.

Director, Sujoy Ghosh, tweets, "Bbuddah HTB. Go see. pure unabashed fun. I'm a @SrBachchan fan and today I'm that much more proud to be one".