The start of 2024 marked another year of uncertainty for the Hindi film industry, even as box office collections hit a record Rs 12,200 crore in 2023. This is likely due to the fact that theater attendance numbers were and are significantly below pre-pandemic levels. In the first half of this year, three high-budget films were screened that were anticipated by cinema operators across the country: "Mubarz", "Bade Mian Chote Mian" and "Midan". While Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone starrer Mubaraaz started the year with a bang, Akshay Kumar starrer BMCM and Ajay Devgns Maidan underperformed at the box office with Rs 155 crore and Rs 7 crore respectively. These were bittersweet results for a film that was produced on a grand scale and featured a top-notch cast. Unlike last year's blockbusters like Pathaan, Jawan, Gadar 2 and Animal, the big-budget films of 2024 (so far) have not been as successful as expected. However, several mid-range films like 'Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Uljha Jiya', 'Crew', 'Shaitaan', 'Munjya' and 'Article 370' created a big surprise at the box office. The unexpected success of these films is due to positive word of mouth on social media, marketing strategies and interesting content.
However, everyone is applauding the creatively triumphant return of southern films that have once again dominated the Indian box office. Nag Ashwin's Telugu film 2898 AD starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan has hugely boosted the spirits of theater owners with a record-breaking opening of Rs 191.5 million worldwide. Let's take a look at Bollywood's biggest hits and misses. Fast forward to 2024. 2898 A.D. was originally a Telugu film but the Hindi version also did well at the box office. The Hindi version of Kalki 2898 AD, released on June 27, fetched Rs 2.25 crore on the first day, Rs 230 crore on the second day, Rs 26 crore on the third day and Rs 26 crore on the fourth day 40 billion rupees, i.e. 16.5 billion rupees per year. In Year 5, the Indian total exceeded 128 million rupees. As far as Bollywood is concerned, The Fighter started the year for the industry with an impressive collection of 199.45 crores in India. The film starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone is expected to be a hit. Bollywood had to wait for a few weeks to taste another hit with 'Teri Burton Mein Aisa Urja Jiya'. According to a report in Bollywood Hungama, Teri Burton Mein Aisa Urja Jiya starring Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon has collected Rs 80.88 crore from the Lifetime business. Other hits include Munjya, Shaitaan, Article 370, Crew and Madgaon Express.
The biggest flop of the year was Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff starrer Bade Miyan Chod Miyan. Budgeted at 350 crores, Bade Miyan Chod Miyan flopped at the box office and collected only 59.17 crores. Another flop at the box office was Maidanam which collected 52.29 crores. Some big films are expected to create magic at the box office. These include Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkumar Rao's highly anticipated film Stre 2 and Ajay Devgn's multi-starrer Singam Again. Meanwhile, Rohit Shetty's Singam Again sees Arjun Kapoor back in the villain avatars of Deepika Padukone's Lady Singha and Ranveer Singh's cop avatars opposite Akshay Kumar.
Another film that will help revive the Bollywood box office was Aamir Khan's Sitare Zameen Par. The film marks Lal Singh's return to the silver screen after the Chatta debacle. In India, Allu Arjun is playing the role of Pushpa Raj in Pushpa 2: Rule. Kangana Ranaut's Emergency, Kartik Aryan's Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Varun Dhawan's Baby John, Shahid Kapoor's Deva, Alia Bhatt's Jigra and Vicky Kaushal-Tripti's Dimri Bad Newz will be at the box office. .
