Akshay Kumar is one of the biggest stars in the country, who commands a huge following amongst the masses. In fact, at one point in his career (Welcome, Singh Is King days), his films used to take record openings.
But the opening day numbers of his latest release ‘Baby’ has shocked the trade. The Akshay Kumar film has taken a ‘below average’ start at the box office, which has led to questions being asked about his stardom and whether he still commands the following that he once did.
Baby was always projected as a sleek, action thriller from its promos. While the trailer was well-received, the decision to release it as early as the first week of December backfired big time. To sustain the buzz after the trailer launch, makers of other films release song and dialogue promos every week. In Baby’s case, there were no newer ‘units’, as the film did not have songs. Sources say, the makers were confident about the content of the film and that word-of-mouth would help it grow into a success at the box office. Adding promotional numbers would have created a disconnect with the content and genre of the film. Even the song that was added at the last moment, featuring Esha Gupta, did not do much for the film.
The other reasons why Baby did not take a good enough start could be because Akshay Kumar over-exposes himself and also the fact that he doesn’t take film marketing too seriously. On an average, he has 3 to 4 releases every year which leads to an overkill for the audience. This could be one of the biggest reasons why Baby, promoted as a film from the makers of Special 26, received tremendous reviews from almost every critic and was also touted to be Akshay’s finest performance to date – but the initial did not do justice to its content.
Akshay could have something to learn from Salman Khan here. The superstar also went through a similar, if not worse, phase in his career not too long ago. There was a time when his films released and the multiplex audience simply did not turn up to watch his films in theatre. The turning point for him was when he decided to be more serious about his career and also changed his PR team. Reshma Shetty, Salman Khan’s celebrity manager, the founder and MD of Matrix India Entertainment Consultants is regarded as one of Bollywood’s new iron ladies. She is best known for transforming Salman Khan into a brand that takes his films and fans very seriously.
Akshay Kumar has a great year ahead. From a commercial entertainer (Gabbar) to an action-emotional drama (Brothers). While we continue to hope that ‘Baby’, already touted as an under-performer by the trade, grows over the next few days and eventually crosses the 100 crore mark, we also hope that Akshay takes his upcoming films more seriously.
@soroop That’s ur thinking that he is’nt a superstar material..akki is and always will be a superstar.He does 3-4 films a year that too without big banners,top heroines and non festive release..still delivers decent grossers every year. And for you baby’s first half was boring like hell..means all the critics who have rated it so highly r idiots..morons like you deserve craps like hny,ce,jthj,con2
In my opinion SALMAN should take his films seriously otherwise I can see the gold run of his career (a short one) will be end soon.
if a film like baby under performs, then costing & economics need to be reworked on…..Baby is not one of the usual silly movies that Akshay may have done……
Think Akshay needs to ensure he has max 3 releases a year……with a good mix of performance oriented and commercial cinema…
Baby is most definitely a step in the right direction and definitely indicates that Akshay has started taking his films seriously……economics though remains a cause of concern!
thats not good from indicine.
let me tell you straight guys. there is nothing to see in salman’s movies.
no story… no new story…all remake…
and other thing is that salman’s muvies going hit and super hit bcoz of his style and may be personality. people just don’t think they just say.. bhaiii rocks.. bhai ne kya punch mara hai.. bhai to bhai hai…. just like this movies giving hit on theatres. people don’t think about story, acting, cinematography, etc. they just go and blindly watch salman’s movies.
and guys just forget about this collections. thats really stupid idea to follow that if movies crosses 100 cr or 150 cr those are only movies are very nice or super hit.
see Dhoom 3, Kick, Entertainment, those are just time pass muvies and people just giving this stupid films 300cr… Lol
Soch badlo desh badlega… !!
Indicine is correct. Akshay should follow Salman rule of doing few films with good content. Salman’s films were good and content also good. Salman is a crowd puller because his films were good and specially family entertainers.
I actually am happy that I don’t have 2 wait a year for my favourite star’s movies.
@Sotoop who are you to ignore aamir khan as superstar. aamir was, is and will remain biggest superstar. and you are saying only due to choice of films then why an average movie like dhoom 3 is still 2nd highest grosser of all time??? do you have any answer? if no then shut your mouth. aamir is biggest superstar. period.
@Soroop, who are you to ignore aamir khan as superstar??? aamir was, is and will remain biggest superstar. and you are saying he only due to choice of films overcame then tell me why an average movie like dhoom 3 is still 2nd highest grosser of all time? do you have any answer? don’t say that brand and all rubbish excuses because I am tired of those lame excuses. the fact is no brand is bigger than aamir’s name. dhoom 3 needed biggest superstar so aamir was casted in the last installment. and YRF has confirmed that they are not gonna make any further installment in dhoom series as the biggest superstar has already been casted. so better shut your mouth before judging aamir’s stardom. aamir is biggest superstar. period.
Baby has not a vast opening it doesn’t underestimate it’s goodness.
Really a good movie choosed by Akki Sir.
But yes on the other hand he has to be serious on promoting the film. He shud think up to it if any lacking. Eventually he will be blamed fr anywhere flop not others.
Baby has not a vast opening it doesn’t underestimate it’s goodness.
Really a good movie choosed by Akki Sir.
But yes on the other hand he has to be serious on promoting the film. He shud think up to it if any lacking. Eventually he will be blamed fr any flop not others.
Ya I do agree
Well, according to me evry star has his own way of working be to khans or Akshay. If Akshay finds happiness in deleviring 4 movies let him do that coz he only said I find happiness in being busy may be that’s the reason why he can act so well relentlessly in 4 movies per yr . Talking about others- they r also gud at what they do u csn never expect SALMAN to be an ACTOR- whether his 10 movies in a yr would do 1000cr bussiness he will remain a star only. May be that’s reason why he can still finds nothing wrong with that image- vry controversial, blah blah- -SHARUKH- bas unke career se YRF nd KJO ki film nikal do to gin ke 4 -5 aachi filmen hi hongi as u can see in last 4 yrs deleviring 1 movie in a yr still he is busy in making crap movies nd all that earth shaterring collections is result of 2 months promotion bfr release nd 3 months aftr release- -aur agar yahi 4 filmen vo 1 saal men karten to hambhi unki nxt yr ka welcome ase hi karten but he knows better how to be play tricks- –AAMIR- inke carrer men to sirf 4 filmen gin kar hongi that either of big banners or brands like YRF (DHOOM3) jiska buzz create karne ke liye KATRINA jisko AKSHAY ne STAR banaya aur trailer nahi release karten ok let him also do the same thing for nxt yrs nd see the opening aur ya to gud directors- agar ye apne dam par TALASH HIT karten ten to janten inke TALASH ka total collection KHILADI 786 ke barabar hai aur actor bhi kis baat ka na romance, na comedy, na real action, na chemistry, na emotion aur pahle to he used be to be known for gud movies now only for club- –so all in all these khans know vry well how to play with the audience nd their aim is to be known as GODS OF BOLLYWOOD thodi si success pa jaten haan to phir apne piche ks carrer ko bhul jaten THEY ALL WANT TO BE KNOW AS BRAND IN BOLLYWOOD AS ALONE THEY CAN NEVER BE KNOW MAY BE THAT’S THE THE WHY NOWDAYS KNOWING THERE TIME IS ENDING THEY ARE SEEING UNITING EVRY NOW AND THEN ON ALL PLATFORMS- –AND MAY BE AT LAST TO MAKE IT MORE MORE MASALA AND FILMY THEY MIGHT BE SEEN IN A MOVIE TOGHTER- –THAT’S ALL IS THE REASON OF THERE CRAPPED EARTH SHATERRING COLLECTIONS AND MOVIES- -AND IN FEW YRS SOON THEY MIGHT BE REPLACED WITH NEW COMMERS LIKE RANBIR, RANVEER, VARUN ect WHO R WALKING ON THEIR PATHS- —-talkig about AKSHAY HE IS A ONE MAN SHOW HE NVR EVER HAD ANY BREAKS FRM BIG BANEERS OR DIRECTORS EVEN THE NAMES OF DIRECTORS ND BANNERS R FORGOTEN AFTR 2 YRS OF RELEASE PRIYA DARSHAN**(known to make his carrer) VIPUL (for giving gud movies still ACTION REPLAY ) SAJID KHAN (no comments ) nd now even PRABHU DEVA **. The prouders I even don’t know nd actress to leabe it vo sirf SHARUKH ko kaam aatin hongi not for AKSHAY- – He always had the struggling time not only now but still many more ahead but still I salute the man for the reinventions he keeps on doing nd aftr this BABY respect had been tripled .intially he was star not actor like SALMAN but he might have seen his future nd changed the path welldone! He has the guts to accept the fact that he made movies for money still I challenge these 3 khans to act in those movies nd call the audience in theatre- -now as he is trying a bit hard to do some gud works still many problems like opening then collection ect ect wud be coming but I know he will never loose like these khans just for 5 yrs of fame his 24 yr of carreer does matters for him who has made him so I think we sud leave him at his own risk …. Aur public ka kya hai if they r so movie lover to release hone ke pahle to pata chal hi jata ki kon acchi hogi vo dusi baat hai ki u want to wacth HNY knowing the fact! !! aur AKSHAY ke FANS to itne crazy hasn ki filmon ko ghar se hi promote karten aur cinema halls me baad men jate since they know he will be there for whole yr still these r ppl who watch his crap movies still waits for nxt at last to all in let AKSHAY BEAR ALL THIS TOUGH SITUATIONS WHICH MAKE HIM MORE STONGER MAY BE MORE TIME TAKING AT LAST HIS LEGACY WUD BE BIGGEST NOT LIKE KHANS OF 5 OR 25 YRS BUT OF NXT 25 YRS MORE- —-KHANS ARE RABBITS KNOW ONLY HOW TO BE POPULAR AKKI IS TOTOISE KNOW HOW TO BE LOVABLE- —again 1 day when the opening will come u ppl might be busy in critising him for something more! !!! but he is a player belevies in playing no matters how many falls or rises! !!!! PROUD TO BE HIS FAN AND WILL FOREVER …..HE NEEDS NOT TO LRN FRM SOMEONE BUT TO DO WHAT HE FEELS GUD FOR HIM! !!!!!
@Megha – you have not watched the movie and you are mdget PaiKhan fan! Do not dump figures from BOI site as none trusts it! The actual figure for Sunday is 15.6 crores as per many a site. Total from 3 days – 37 crores nearly. Will cross 50 by Monday. Shut you trap and fukk off!
Some idiots does not make sense n understand whst is acting n being Natural. Second thing, those who are bashing Salman should know that he named Akshay Kumar when he was asked who is the most grown actor in terms of career since his debut on CWK.Both Akshay n Salman have immensed respect n admiration against each other. Even Akki has praised Salman for his helping nature !!!!!!!!!!
sss.so according to u london dreams is akshay movie and its a classic in the league of omg, baby , spl 26.aur kitna duffer apne aap ko prove kroge.srk shd b proud on u.dumb actor ka mahadumb fan
Baby is akshays’s first worst movie of this year i dont konw why critics are appreciating the film despite having nonsense scripting unusual plots ,and disturbing 2:30 hrs start to end chasing scenes which makes us bored in the theater. its better to watch holiday instead of ghatiya baby…
I saw Gabbar. Its a fantastic movie with a message for the masses. Event I agree to the fact that Akki must do either 2 or 3 movies in a year, like OMG, SPECIAL 26, BABY, GABBAR and so on. This will definately help him to achieve his stardom back.