Empty Screens and Empty Pockets: Bollywood's 2024 Dilemma Without Major Stars
The glitz and glamour of Bollywood in the year 2023 dazzled audiences worldwide, with a plethora of blockbusters gracing the silver screen. The triumphant performances of iconic actors such as Shah Rukh Khan, Sunny Deol, and Ranbir Kapoor elevated movies like 'Jawaan,' 'Pathaan,' 'Gadar 2,' and 'Animal' to the elite club of films grossing over 500 crores domestically.
From #Fighter to #MerryChristmas, here are the most anticipated upcoming Bollywood movies of January 2024.https://t.co/x1WYScX9z0
— Filmfare (@filmfare) January 2, 2024
Individually, the combined efforts of Shah Rukh Khan, Sunny Deol, and Ranbir Kapoor contributed to a staggering sum, surpassing the 2000 crore mark at the box office. Yet, as the curtains drew on 2023, a foreboding shadow loomed over the Bollywood industry for the year ahead. What catalysts might underlie this grim prediction?
A daunting prospect of losses exceeding 1500 crores threatens Bollywood's financial stability. While 2023 saw actors like Kartik Aaryan ('Satyam Prem Ki Katha'), Pankaj Tripathi, Akshay Kumar ('OMG 2'), Ayushmann Khurrana ('Dream Girl 2'), and Pulkit Samrat ('Fukrey 3') reveling in box office success, the absence of movie releases featuring four major stars in 2024 is poised to trigger a substantial setback.
Major Bollywood Stars Skip 2024
Shah Rukh Khan, the colossus of the Bollywood realm, raked in a colossal 1372.03 crores in 2023 through hits like 'Jawaan,' 'Pathaan,' and 'Dunki.' However, the anticipated release of 'Tiger vs. Pathaan' is deferred to 2025, leaving an unsettling void as none of his movies are scheduled for 2024.
Salman Khan's cinematic endeavors, including 'Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan' and 'Tiger 3,' graced screens in 2023 but failed to achieve extraordinary success. Presently, his upcoming projects, 'Tiger vs. Pathaan' and an action film with Vishnu Vardhan, are potentially slated for a 2025 release, exacerbating the star void in 2024.
Ranveer Singh's 2023 outings, despite 'Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani' earning more overseas than domestically, did not leave a significant mark. His forthcoming ventures comprise a cameo in 'Singham Again,' while the highly anticipated 'Don 3' awaits a 2025 release. Speculations abound regarding a potential 2025 release for a Ranveer Singh-starrer remake of 'Baiju Bawra,' directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Ranbir Kapoor, with a box office tally of 683 crores in 2023 through projects like the Lala Amarnath biopic and 'Brahmastra 2,' faces uncertainties in release dates for his other films. Even the much-anticipated 'Ramayan,' helmed by Nitesh Tiwari, might potentially shift its release to 2025.