THE BAAZ IGAR
Outlook Business|December 2023
After lacklustre years, the overwhelming success of Pathaan and Jawan this year has given hope to other Bollywood movies waiting in the aisles of benefitting from a rub-off effect of King Khan's Midas touch
Vinita Bhatia
THE BAAZ IGAR

BEHIND BOLLYWOOD'S RESURRECTION

SHAH RUKH KHAN

A s Pathaan opened to packed theatres, the scene where Salman Khan makes a surprise cameo appearance was the one that got the maximum claps, whistles and cheers in theatres. Shah Rukh Khan, playing a RAW agent, asks Salman, "Main bhi kabhi kabhi sochta hoon, 30 saal ho gaye hai. Ab humein chhod dena chahiye. (Sometimes I feel it has been 30 years, now we should retire')." "Par humari jagah lega kaun? ('But who will take our place?")," replies Salman, to which they sagely conclude, "Humein hi karna padega. Baccho pe nahi chhod sakte ('We will have to do it. We cannot leave it on these kids")." While Salman's other outings before Tiger 3 were duds at the box office, Pathaan's dialogue succinctly sums up why King Khan makes it to our list of changemakers.

The galaxy of Bollywood stars could not do what this 50-something star managed to: draw cine-goers back to the theatre. And, Bollywood cannot thank him enough.

While Pathaan is as masala-driven as any Bollywood potboiler can be, Jawan stands out with its strong anti-establishment storyline. It is a deeply political film packaged inside an over-the-top song-and-dance and action veneer. It is a storyline that Bollywood has safely stayed away from since 2014.

It took the King to lead the charge.

Bollywood's Second

Coming Ormax Media's Sizing The Cinema: 2023 report states that India's once-vibrant film industry lost around 2.4 crore audience to the pandemic when theatres were mostly closed throughout 2020 and parts of 2021. Around 12.2 crore people watched at least one film in a theatre between January and December 2022, while forthe same period in 2019, the figure stood at 14.6 crore.

Denne historien er fra December 2023-utgaven av Outlook Business.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra December 2023-utgaven av Outlook Business.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA OUTLOOK BUSINESSSe alt
'Automation is Redefining Efficiency and Precision in Jewellery Manufacturing'
Outlook Business

'Automation is Redefining Efficiency and Precision in Jewellery Manufacturing'

Increasing brand consciousness and awareness among consumers is helping expand the organised jewellery retail industry. MP Ahammed, chairman of Malabar Group, discusses prominent trends in the jewellery industry

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024
BATTLE TO WIN THE AI RACE
Outlook Business

BATTLE TO WIN THE AI RACE

In Supremacy, Parmy Olson tells the astonishing and behind-the-scenes story of the battle between the world’s two leading artificial intelligence firms, OpenAl and DeepMind and the continuing rivalry of its founders Sam Altman and Demis Hassabis respectively

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
A LEADER WHO EMPOWERS
Outlook Business

A LEADER WHO EMPOWERS

Anshul Arzare, MD and CEO of YES SECURITIES, wants to ensure a workplace where employees not only contribute to the company's vision but also feel content

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
EV Unplugged
Outlook Business

EV Unplugged

Electric vehicles are crucial to India’s climate change plan. But reliance on China for imports and technology constraints remain hurdles the sector needs to overcome

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
Every Lamborghini Owner is a Brand Ambassador
Outlook Business

Every Lamborghini Owner is a Brand Ambassador

Regional director of Automobili Lamborghini, Francesco Scardaoni, talks to Prachi Khanna about the brand’s approach to fostering a sense of community among its vehicle owners. Edited excerpts

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
NO ZEST FOR ZED
Outlook Business

NO ZEST FOR ZED

A government initiative to green MSMEs is not finding enough takers

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
SMALL PLANTS, BIG TROUBLE
Outlook Business

SMALL PLANTS, BIG TROUBLE

Climate-triggered stress is placing an unprecedented burden on small businesses. But a lack of access to climate aid hinders the sector's ability to adopt greener methods

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
'We Think About the Rider More Than Any Other Company
Outlook Business

'We Think About the Rider More Than Any Other Company

Rapido co-founder Aravind Sanka talks to Neeraj Thakur and Deepsekhar Choudhury about how flexibility and fair pay helped his company disrupt the Ola-Uber duopoly. Edited excerpts

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
LABOUR PANGS
Outlook Business

LABOUR PANGS

Rising cost of living in a fast-growing economy is making workers restless

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
'Hustle is No Virtue'
Outlook Business

'Hustle is No Virtue'

It has become fashionable to talk about the verb “hustle” these days, especially in professional settings.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024