Can Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 collectively earn Rs. 1000 crores worldwide gross? Trade experts share their views

Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 are all set to arrive on the same day during Diwali and the expectations are huge. While Singham Again stars Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Arjun Kapoor and Tiger Shroff, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is a horror comedy, featuring Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri. There’ll be some cannibalization in numbers due to the clash but can these films collectively earn Rs. 1000 crores worldwide gross at the box office?Trade veteran Taran Adarsh said, “I genuinely hope so. It's festival time and both are big brands. Coincidentally, it’s the third part of both films and massive names are also involved in them. These films need to deliver. The trailers have really worked for both the films.”Vishek Chauhan, owner of Roopbani Cinema in Purnia, Bihar stated, “It is possible but the major chunk of the collections will come from the domestic market. I don’t see extraordinary business coming from Overseas. 60-70% of the business will be done in domestic and the balance from foreign territories.”Amit Sharma, Managing Director, Miraj Entertainment Limited, however, remarked, “Looking at the way Stree 2, Gadar 2, Pathaan, Jawan and Animal have performed, both films have the potential of Rs. 500 crores each that too only in India. If I talk about worldwide, the number can be higher. How much the films do will be decided by their content. In case one of the films has poor content, it’ll prove detrimental to its box office collections and the other film will have an advantage.”He also agreed that both films have a lot of plus points, adding that Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 has big names and brand value that would aid the film in getting high collections. As for Singham Again, he said, “When was the last time we had such a huge multi-starrer? The last film probably was Sooryavanshi (2021), from the same cop universe. It came after the second wave and despite the 50% occupancy rule, it went on to do almost Rs. 200 crores of business. In these three years, ticket prices have increased, new cinemas have opened and Covid factor is no longer in play. Also, there’s an addition to the star cast this time. Keeping these factors in mind, the film can easily collect Rs. 350-400 crores at least.”Clash factorAmit Sharma agreed that the clash will affect both the films, “They will eat into each other’s business for sure.”Raj Bansal explained, “If these films don’t come together, both can do 15 to 20% more business without a doubt. And the film with weaker content stands to lose the most.”He added, “Both films seem to be potential blockbusters as Singham Again has a huge star cast while Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is a horror comedy, which is the flavour of 2024. How big they become at the box office depends on their content.”Vishek Chauhan explained the challenges that will be faced by the films, “Singham Again trailer is good and not extraordinary. Sooryavanshi’s trailer was better. Even Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 trailer can be called good. Hence, as trade people, we need to keep our expectations in check. Of course, if they deliver, then nothing like it. But expecting them to do numbers like Jawan or Gadar 2, at this point in time, will be too much. Moreover, the clash will divide collections.”He also noted, “OMG 2 (2023) survived as it catered to a different audience than Gadar 2. Here, both films cater to the masses, youth and families. Also, the rates will be sky high on Diwali and most people might afford to see only one film.”When asked how a multiplex chain handles the clash, Amit Sharma said, “Jagde hote hai (laughs). Until the last moment, we are busy sorting out the show sharing. It becomes a clash of the ego. I guess it’s a part and parcel of the business and also, it’s a good problem to have.”He also complained that off late, films clash and then there’s a period of no major Hindi release, “Two big films released on Eid. Whether or not it worked is secondary. Then two months later, we got a major Hindi film. On Independence Day, we saw three films clashing and after that, we saw the release of major Hindi films only two months later, on Dussehra, that is, Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video and Jigra. This will be followed by a clash on Diwali leading to no major release in November.”Raj Bansal suggested, “One of the films should move by two weeks. Then, that film would get all screens and also an open run until Pushpa 2’s release on December 6.” He signed off by saying, “I’ll see both films for sure.”Taran Adarsh had the last word as he advised the makers to focus on getting the box office numbers, “There were claims that the trailer has amassed a record number of views. Certain trade critics also hyped it up. But the trailer is available for free. Your film needs to get the audience to cinemas and achieve big numbers at the box office. That’s what matters at the end of the day and nothing else.”Also Read: Singham Again: Rohit Shetty reveals the unique point in the Ajay Devgn starrer