Sequels take Bollywood by storm… in mere letters

The surprise hit of 2015 ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnaama 2 (PKP2)’, which released last week has proved to be an adrenaline shot for Bollywood filmmakers often accused of not having enough creativity in their choice of film subjects. 

‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2’ is a sequel to the successful original ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnaama’ and is directed by Luv Ranjan who directed the original, too. The lead pair of Kartik Aryan and Nushrat Bharucha were also repeated with only minor changes to the rest of the cast.

‘PKP 2’ netted around Rs224 million over the weekend in India and went on to make Rs.271m in four days. The film is still doing decently well as reports last came in. The first instalment ‘Pyar Ka Punchnama’ released in 2011.  
 
Welcome Back

A few days ago, ‘Welcome Back’, a film largely shot in UAE and starring Bollywood stars John Abraham, Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor went on to do just under the magical Rs.100 crore mark in Bollywood in Indian collections, but managed to net over Rs.160 crores worldwide ensuring that producer Firoz Nadiadwala can come back soon to the UAE to shoot another movie. The film directed by veteran filmmaker Anees Bazmee managed Rs.51 crore just over the weekend.

Part 1 of the film – ‘Welcome’, which released eight years ago in 2007 was also majorly filmed in the UAE and starred Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif in the lead.
 
ABCD 2

Choreographer turned director Remo D’Souza helped his directorial venture, the sequel to ‘ABCD’ (2013) called ‘ABCD 2’ starring new Bollywood heart throbs Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor boogie its way to the bank. The film had an overall business of Rs105.74 crore helping Varun get his first Rs.100 crore hit.

‘ABCD’ - with newcomers led by dancing star and director turned actor Prabhudeva - was a moderate success, but the sequel ensured that the film’s potential was not just jazz by the way.

Tanu Weds Manu Returns

But 2015’s most successful sequel happened to be the sequel to the 2011 film ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ called ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns (TWMR)’.

‘Tanu weds Manu’ was a path-breaking film when it released, but the sequel made sure that even the critics and the audiences stood up and clapped in unison thanks to a superb double role by the now highest paid star in Bollywood – Kangna Ranaut whose price sky rocketed after this success. The film was directed by Anand L Rai who had also directed Part 1 and Kollywood (Tamil movie Industry based out of Kodambakkam in Chennai) and Bollywood movie star R Madhavan remained her co-star in the sequel too.

‘TWMR’ made Rs 381 million in the opening weekend and over Rs 1520 million as its lifetime collection. This is the first ever woman oriented film in Bollywood to reach the magical Rs 100 crore mark.

Flops

But then there was a flop sequel too. ‘Ab Tak Chhapan’ directed by ‘Chak De India’ director Shimit Amin has been one of the best encounter films made in Bollywood. But then the sequel which was allegedly ghost directed by Nana Patekar after he slapped the director Ejaz Gulab and threw him out of the sets, did not rake in the shekels and was ‘encountered’ at the box office.

Nana Patekar continued to be the hero in the sequel too in the role of Sadhu Agashe.

The film only managed Rs 4.50 crore in the weekend and fell at Rs 6.65 crore.

And now…

But then there is one more film left. ‘Hate Story 3’ – the third part in the ‘Hate Story’ franchise, had a first look launch and promised to be hotter and raunchier than the first two parts, based on revenge and erotica.

Bollywood stars Sharman Joshi, Karan Singh Grover with actresses Zarine Khan and Daisy Shah play lead roles in the film. Hate Story 3 is being directed by Vishal Pandya who had directed Part 2.

‘Hate Story 3’ releases before end-2015.

2016 also promises many more sequels.

John Abraham will be seen in the sequels to the films ‘Force’ and ‘Hera Pheri 3’. Akshay Kumar will be seen in ‘Housefull 3’. Director turned actor Farhan Akhtar will be seen in ‘Rock On 3’, while he is expected to direct ‘Don 3’, arriving 2017.

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