Salman Khan’s ‘Sultan’ Storms Bollywood, Offshore Box Office; Sets Multiple Records – Update

 Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s every film seems to become an even bigger event than the last in a market that is 90% skewed to local fare. In India this week, folks are referring to “Salmania” as Khan’s latest, Sultan, has been embraced by critics and is throwing off unprecedented numbers. I reported below on initial numbers coming out of India and overseas, and Yash Raj Films now has come through with confirmed figures and even more records set

Sultan began its international rollout on Wednesday in India and some 50 day-and-date markets. The India total stands (as below) at 180.36 crore net ($27.1M). While box office generally is reported in gross numbers, India takes a different tack, with the standard being a net sum which is tallied after an entertainment tax. The scores reported earlier below are net. If we look at Sultan in gross terms, the Indian total rises to 252.2 crore or $37.7M.

Offshore, the updated numbers from producer-distributor Yash Raj show a total $13.7M. In gross box office that becomes a $51.4M weekend, which would makeSultan far and away the No. 1 movie in international markets this frame, besting China’s Cold War II, which had a $44M start. Taking the net number from India (which is the one that Deadline typically uses), the total is $40.8M for the No. 2 slot internationally.

Khan continued to break records in India this weekend. Added to those I cited below, Yash Raj has provided a staggering list of all-time milestones. To wit: Sultan has the highest advance booking ever, the biggest pre-Eid opening day box office, is the fastest to cross 150 and 175 net crore (five days), boasts the biggest opening in Yash Raj history and is first movie to gross 345 crore worldwide on an opening weekend.

Outside India, Sultan set the biggest opening day and weekend ever for Bollywood in the UAE-GCC and the fastest to $5M (five days). Pakistan likewise saw the biggest opening day and weekend ever and a speed record to $1M (three days). The UK and Ireland had the top opening day and weekend ever, and Australia and New Zealand also set debut weekend records.

The film will enter the Top 10 ever among Bollywood net titles today, and as Salmania continues, is expected to have a strong ongoing run.

source-deadline.com

Salman Khan: Bollywood actor cleared over hit-and-run

• 10 December 2015
 
• From the sectionIndia

Image copyrightAFP

Image captionThursday's ruling is a huge relief for Salman Khan

The high court in the Indian city of Mumbai has overturned Bollywood star Salman Khan's conviction for a 2002 hit-and-run case.

In May, a lower court convicted him of culpable homicide and sentenced him to five years in jail for driving over and killing a man sleeping on a pavement.

But the appeals judge ruled there was not enough evidence.

Khan is one of Bollywood's biggest stars, appearing in more than 80 Hindi films, and has a huge fan following.

It was only when the judge insisted that Salman Khan must be present before the verdict was read out, that the actor hurried to the court in south Mumbai on Thursday, the BBC's Yogita Limaye reports from Mumbai.

"The appeal is allowed and the decision of the trial court is quashed and set aside. Salman Khan is acquitted of all charges," news agency AFP quoted the Bombay high court judge Anil Ramchandra Joshi as saying.

The prosecution "failed to establish [the charges] beyond reasonable doubt", the judge added.

The actor, surrounded by his family members, broke down after hearing the verdict, the Press Trust of India reported.

He tweeted his thanks to his supporters:

Image copyrightTwitter

Case timeline

September 2002: Salman Khan's car runs over five people sleeping on a Mumbai street, killing a homeless man and injuring four others

October 2002: Khan charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder - arrested but granted bail

May 2003: Court rejects his plea to drop culpable homicide charge

June 2003: Bombay high court drops culpable homicide charge; Khan is then tried for rash and negligent driving

October 2007: Prime witness, a constable who served in his security detail, dies

March 2015: Khan tells the court he was not drunk and his driver was behind the wheel

May 2015: Khan found guilty, given a five-year jail sentence

• The superstar who lives dangerously
• Why Bollywood's 'bad boy' will stay popular
• Salman Khan: Victims' families want 'compensation'

Thursday's verdict is the latest twist in a case that began 13 years ago when Khan's Toyota Land Cruiser car veered off the road, killing one man and seriously injuring four others.

During his trial in the lower court, Khan had argued that his driver had been behind the wheel, but the judge said it was the actor who had been driving under the influence of alcohol.

Now the high court has said that key evidence - including testimony from a policeman who has since died - was not reliable.

The prosecution is likely to challenge the verdict, reports say.

Khan's clothes stylist, Ashley Robello, met him hours after the Bollywood star was cleared by the high court.

Speaking to the BBC's World Have Your Say programme, Mr Robello said there was a "sense of relief for him [Khan], his family, his sister" who fought with him for 13 years.

'Respect the judiciary'

Meanwhile, #SalmanVerdict has been a top trending topic on Twitter as thousands have expressed their opinion on the ruling.

Some have supported the actor, saying the court's order should be respected:

Image copyrightTwitter

source-bbc news

This is how fab Sonakshi Sinha is going to look in Action Jackson!

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So you thought that Sonakshi Sinha could look good only in sarees? Look at her ditch the desi look to look absolutely fabulous in Action Jackson…! For, this is how the girl is supposedly going to look in the movie.

To think of it, maybe this is what fits the belle better than the desi avatar. Although she can pull off the saree-clad look with grace and elan, it is this that she can look her best in as it was already proven quite a few times with the song in Oh My God and then in Desi Kalakaar.

It is with Prabhudeva that Sonakshi Sinha will be working with (once again) in Action Jackson and Ajay Devgan will be the leading man of this film. If there’s one reason for us to wait for the release of Action Jackson, that would be this utterly beautiful Sonakshi Sinha that’s going to take over the screens!Written by: Anila for bollywood.celebden.com/

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Watch : The insane Nonsense ki nights of Happy New Year!

Yet another number from Happy New Year gets released and no, this one doesn’t have Shah Rukh Khan’s eight pack abs all over it, sorry to disappoint you. This new song Nonsense ki nights, is a wacky number featuring all of the cast where in they look kind of funny dressed up like someone 50′s or 60′s guy trying to be cool.

And then there are the lyrics, the lyrics, you must know were written by Farah Khan herself and were like that (nonsensical) on purpose. She was trying to make the song one of those wacky ones (but did she really suceed? because they don’t really sound funny or wacky at all). Although she says that this song was a tribute to Michael Jackson, we really can’t fathom why and how that is…

But nonsense ki nights is one really fun thing to watch what with so many stars all acting funny and then with all the funny dance moves.

Take a look at nonsense ki nights right here and tell us what you think..Written by: Anila for bollywood.celebden.com/

Ranbir and Katrina finally ready to move in together?

After working on their home for a very long time and making it as beautiful as they could, Ranbir and Katrina are finally ready to move into their new house. Apparently they’re also going to throw a huge house warming party inviting all the industry biggies before they move in sometime before the end of this year.

So if there’s one thing that is keeping Ranbir and Katrina busy these days, it is listing out the guests for this party while on they are on this short break from their careers after Ranbir’s surgery.

This is what a source close to them had to say about the whole thing, “Their housewarming has been pending for a very long time. It was Ranbir’s idea to keep it private and low key and his parents Rishi and Neetu Kapoor have been supportive throughout. The date of the party will be decided soon as the shooting dates of their film Jagga Jasoos have been finally locked in.”

Despite all this news leaking out Ranbir and Katrina don’t look like they will admit to a thing happening in their personal lives ever!Written by: Anila for bollywood celbden.com

Box office report : Bang Bang and Haider still rule!

Just as it was predicted by trade pundits last week, two big banners, star-driven films – Bang Bang and Haider adversely affect the box office collections of the relatively small budget releases of this week – Tamanchey, Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami, Jigariyaa and Spark! Not one of the films released last week garnered decent box office collections.

Among all the films that released last Friday, the comedy satire Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami was the one film that won the appreciation of the audience, critics and industry veterans alike. The film that released last weekend impressed everyone with its unique story and good performances. While the Nikhil Dwivedi-Richa Chadda starrer Tamanchey and Jigariyaa featuring two newcomers – Harshvardhan and Cherry Mardia also failed to impress the audience and registered earnings in mere lakhs.

Distributor-exhibitor Akshaye Rathi speaks on this all saying, “It was expected to be a lull week considering the pre-election fever and Bang Bang and Haider already doing well in its second week. Last week releases are mostly an assortment of genres – a political satire, a love story, an on-the-run rom-com but all these films didn’t work. It’s certainly not a good time releasing films in states like Maharashtra and Haryana.”

Rathi, however is hopeful of next week of which he had to say, “The horror film, Mumbai 125 kms could work well for the masses as horror is quite liked by people. If you remember, Vikram Bhatt’s 1920 Evil Returns released before two major films Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Son Of Sardaar did fairly well before. So there are expectations from Mumbai 125 kms..

Written by: Dhiren J Trivedi

Paris Hilton wants to play Hrithik’s love interest in a Bollywood film.

Paris Hilton

After meeting Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan at the launch of Cle Restaurant in Dubai a few days ago and tweeting about it, she was quizzed by friend Sheeraz Hasan (founder of Hollywood.TV) about doing a film with Hrithik and playing his love interest. Paris responded with, "Yes! He's Hot RT @sheerazhasan: Hey @ParisHilton do u want to be @iHrithik love interest in his next Bollywood movie?"

Speaking about her meeting with the actor, Paris told Sheeraz, "Hrithik's a gentleman, very sweet and charming, and we hung out all night. I have heard so much about Bollywood and Hrithik represented India in the most elegant and romantic way! I can't wait to go back to India. I love the culture, the people and the fashion...India rocks."

Paris has been approached by various Bollywood producers in the past to star in a Bollywood movie as well as record her next single with an Indian artiste. Says Sheeraz, "I have already started receiving messages from some of the biggest players in Bollywood after Paris sent out the tweet... We will make this happen.