Salman Khan’s Jai Ho has opened well at the domestic box office, but the start was way below trade expectations. After Dhoom 3’s record-breaking opening in December, most in the trade were expecting a 25 crore+ opening as the film released on a record number of screens in India. However, the official figures for Friday is 17.55 crore on a total capacity of more than 40 crore.
When every Salman Khan film since Dabangg (2010) has opened well, why hasn’t Jai Ho – with good reviews and reports – taken a flying start? Below are a few reasons why we think the film disappointed on day 1.
Salman Khan with Sajid Ali and Wajid Ali
1. Unexciting Promos: There is a saying in the industry that the audience decides whether to watch a film or not, depending on how they like the first trailer. Jai Ho was expected to be different from other Salman films, but the trailer gave the audience an impression that it is a typical run-of-the-mill action-masala film. Also there were way too many mass-pleasing action scenes, due to which the family audience probably decided to give the film a skip.
2. Music: Sajid-Wajid failed big time with the music of Jai Ho. While the album had a couple of good songs, none of those went on to top charts. In the recent past, every Salman Khan film has had a hugely popular song or two - Dabangg (Munni Badnaam, Chori Kiya Re Jiya.. others), Ready (Character Dheela, Dhinka Chika), Bodyguard (Teri Meri, I love you), Ek Tha Tiger (Mashallah, Saiyaara), Dabangg 2 (Fevicol Se).
3. Excess of action masala films: It’s a catch-22 situation for Salman. If he does ‘classy’ films, his hardcore fan-base in the interiors of India might walk out of the theatre disappointed. At the same time, he is well aware of the fact that the ‘masala entertainer’ genre has been done to death. Just before the release of Akshay Kumar’s Boss, Salman had said “This space (masala films) will die totally. I think this was a beautiful format when we had films like Wanted, Dabangg etc. Now everybody has overdone it so much that it might die away. These kinds of films are popular but the creativity is becoming less… It seems the same stuff is happening. I don’t know which genre will click now”. However, what has come as a shocker is the opening of Jai Ho in Salman strongholds like Rajasthan, C.P, C.I and UP. The film was expected to shatter records in these circuits, but failed to do so on Friday. Its time to mix it up a bit and signing films with directors like Shimit Amin is a step in the right direction for Salman.
4. Mediocre Production values: Multiplex tickets cost a bomb. Unless a film has high-production values and has that big-film feel like Dhoom 3 or Krrish 3 or Ek Tha Tiger, the audience will think twice before spending Rs 2,000 for a movie outing with family. The release of Dhoom 3 a month before Jai Ho could also have had an impact on business.
5. Leading lady: Both the media and the audience have been way too harsh on Daisy Shah. Having said that, she doesn’t really belong to that group of quintessential Bollywood leading ladies.
6. Release Date: Each of Salman’s last 5 blockbusters have released during the holiday season (Eid / Christmas) or just after the conclusion of IPL (Ready). Jai Ho didn’t get a perfect release date. In fact, with Republic Day falling on January 26th, it was a normal release for the film.
7. Over-dependence on Salman: “The audience only come to watch Salman” – both the trade and probably Salman himself took this statement way too seriously. You can’t blame them either as each of his last 5 films have not only been hits, but major blockbusters. That, however, might have back-fired big time with Jai Ho – the film was a south Indian remake, directed by his brother (just like his last film Dabangg 2), music composed by Sajid-Wajid, new leading lady – the film had absolutely nothing to excite the audience apart from the presence of Salman. When the superstar is over-exposed on television and provides enough and more entertainment with his antics on the small screen.. the audience need a little more incentive to pay those hard-earned bucks on his movies.
All lungiwalas, never seen double standards n hypocrites like you. If salman does ordinary movies then you blame him and now he did a movie like Jai Ho with a noble message you are still blaming him. Cant you accept the fact that you hate him?? stop hypocrisy you hypocrites !!!!!
I believe there is negative vibe about Salman from certain section of politicians. His partcipation in Saifai event n meeting with Modi has gone against some people which is impacting Jai Ho. Still proud to be a Salman fan, he wont regret anything irrespective of whatever the outcome of it. Salman, I have been your fan since Saajaan n will remain loyal n support you forever !!!! Jai Ho !!!!!
Number 6 is the only valid reason. These khans are over hyped and no better than your kumar, kapoor, devgans and roshan. They only rely on main holidays and boast about star power. Example talaaah an aamir khan that couldn’t reach 100cr why? because it came out on a standard date. At least akshay kumar and ajay devgn have had bigger hits on a non holiday release.
@subham What a sense of humour!!!
everybody saw promos , trailer , music , leading lady & maslaa action had worked very well before before the release so its not an excuse now as early trand after watchingall this were saying it can be 200 or atleat 170cr with 25cr+ 1st day. main reason is ticket prices which effects the movie. rest everything it was ok .
Jai ho is an awesome movie, it will gain stream by it’s word of mouth which is extremely positive
dint watch JAI HO but I m sure it a gud movie…Already watched in telugu….ONLY PROBLM is street beggars SAJID WAJID Crap music…they remind me of DilipSen -SamirSen of 90,s…JUST NOISE NO MUSIC….
ppl are compairing salman with akki… height ..
i know i know there are nothing is left to compare
There is nothing to do with the release date since 2 year before at same date Agneepath released and collected 124Cr with half screen numbers and with lesser ticket price.
My estimate of Jai Ho’s lifetime would be 105-110 cr. The media is abuzz that the ticket price has been reduced as a good gesture. But in cinema business, commerce comes first. That’s the rule, otherwise all the so called art movies would have been certified hits. Secondly, I think the ticket price is the matter of demand & supply. If D3 demanded 750+ price, the makers saw the demand for it. If the film didn’t carry the brand of Dhoom & AK, such high price would have backfired. All said & done, a film earns what it is destined to. Concludingly, I think Jai Ho would be the smallest grosser of Salman Khan in the 100Cr club.
Its just a good movie
when you copy pay it forward..you have to be clear whether our Indians would believe in the theory!!! we Indians are not natural good Samaritans.. the concept filed bad time.. the childs acting and the ensemble of forgotten old stars was aslso no gainer.. the production values are rock bottom.. music is zilch..songs frequent.. heroine again over the top.. and lastly south indian based idli dosa doesn’t work with us .. time and again ive written this .. we don’t like south indian sambar dosa.. yet these people go on serving.. chalo with this flop all south indian rasam pao will come to an end… and please go see PAY IT FORWARD to realize how badly the concept has been mutated!!!
I hope that this is the end of mindless action comedy remakes! Glad to see fellow Indians didn’t not get fooled this time around and gave away free money to these pretentious money minting machines.
And whats up with the excuse about ticket prices? A reduced price should have had people flocking to the theaters with 100% occupancy, which wasn’t even witnessed on the very first day
my issue is not why jai ho did not get the start it should hv ….but comparing jai ho to talaash..what a stupid way to reason out why khan movies don’t work on non holiday…
talaash cannot be be compared to ce,oso,dhoom3,dabanng.jai ho etc…simply because its a slow suspense drama movie and not a typical commercial masala movie like the others..and talaash was a hit movie when you consider the the cost….see boxofficeindia..even if it did 93 crores its still a massive hit considering its content.
talash was semi-hit you moron and big shit movie,lol.