The after-effect of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’s massive success on new releases in H2 2024

As expected, sci-fi mythological futuristic film ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ has been breaking box office earnings records and has already entered the Rs 500-crore club. The Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and Deepika Padukone starrer hit the big screen on June 27 in different languages in India. While it is welcome news for the entire movie industry, some films are also likely to face the brunt of it. Adgully spoke to some distributors to know the after-effects of Nag Ashwin’s mega budget film.

As per industry reports so far, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ has collected Rs 431 crore approximately in India till July 5 and Rs 774 crore worldwide. On the opening day itself the film garnered Rs 95 crore approximately. Meanwhile, the makers are already talking about a sequel and have, in fact, hinted that 60% of the shoot for the second part has already been completed.

Distributor Rajesh Thadani remarked, “Basically, it is happy news for the cinema industry as after a long time there is something to look forward to. There is a positive hope amongst everyone – if the content is good, it tends to work.”

Meanwhile, the release date for Ajay Devgn and Tabu’s upcoming film ‘Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha’, directed by Neeraj Pandey, which was supposed to release on July 5, will now release on August 2. In an official statement, the makers stated, “Dear friends, on the request of exhibitors and distribution, we have collectively decided to shift the release date of our film, ‘Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha’.”

Commenting on this, Thadani said, “Whenever something big like this (‘Kalki 2898 AD’) comes up, it tends to have its effect on other centres and movies like ‘Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha’, whose release has been postponed. But this month and the second half of the year have some good films lined up for release and we are very positive about it. As far as rest of the films of this month are concerned, I feel ‘Kalki’ will do good business for next week as well, but if other films have some good content to offer, then it will subside, or else it will continue its great run at the box office.”

Amid the strong ‘Kalki’ run, Karan Johar and Guneet Monga went ahead with the release of their film, ‘Kill’, last week, which has been touted as the “most violent film”. Other big films that set to release in July include Kamal Haasan-starrer ‘Indian 2’, which is releasing in various languages worldwide on July 12; along with Akshay Kumar and Radhika Madan’s ‘Sarfira’, a remake of Tamil hit film ‘Soorarai Pottru’; Karan Johar’s ‘Bad Newz’, featuring Vicky Kaushal, Tripti Dimri, and Ammy Virk on July 19; on July 26 the much anticipated ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, featuring Huge Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, is releasing in India.