Hindi
Box Office: ‘Saala Khadoos’ opens weak; ‘Airlift’ collects Rs 82.8 crore in first week
MUMBAI: Saala Khadoos shows once again that sports films don’t usually work with Hindi audience and, if and when they do, they have limited takers. The film had a poor opening considering names like Raju Hirani and R Madhavan are in the credits. It barely collected Rs 1.2 crore on Friday, after which, not managing to improve much on Saturday and Sunday, it collected Rs 5.3 crore for its opening weekend. It’s the very predictable script that took the film down.
On the other hand, Mastizaade fails to sell is senseless, humorless skin show and forced comedy. The film is so void of humor, it depends only on Sunny Leone to salvage it; sadly, that does not happen. The fact is, now box office is mostly about multiplex audience and this film is what would have been called C grade mass film during pre-multiplex days. The film has managed to put together 11.15 crore for its opening weekend and is not expected to sustain through the week.
Airlift has proved to be the only film so far in the year of 2016 to win appreciation as well as box office numbers. The film opened slowly on Friday last but then took wings. It improved on the following Saturday and took a quantum jump on Sunday thereby recording a weekend of Rs 44.24 crore as against the opening day of little over Rs 10 crore which is remarkable.
This is rare that the film, which has almost met its weekend figures over next four days to close its first week with an impressive Rs 82.8 crore.
Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3, a supposed sex comedy, is poor. The film, after an opening weekend of Rs 17.2 crore, manages to add just another Rs 9.1 crore to take its first week total to Rs 26.3 crore.
Wazir survives through its third week but merely. The film collect 1.1 crore and takes its three week tally to 37.95 crore.
Bajirao Mastani comes to the end of its run with collections of RS 1.05 crore in its sixth week. The film collections tot up to Rs 171.45 crore for six weeks.
Hindi
Rajesh Ramaswamy exits The Script Room to focus on filmmaking journey
Ad filmmaker steps away from own venture to pursue direction and storytelling
MUMBAI: In a move that has caught the attention of the advertising and creative community, Rajesh Ramaswamy has announced his exit from The Script Room, the company he co-founded, marking the end of a seven-year stint at the helm.
The decision, which came into effect earlier this month, signals a shift in focus for Ramaswamy, who is now looking to immerse himself fully in filmmaking and direction as an independent creative.
Known for blending sharp advertising insight with storytelling craft, Ramaswamy has been instrumental in shaping The Script Room into a creative hub that delivered campaigns, branded content, and original storytelling formats. Over the years, the company collaborated with agencies, directors, and a wide network of writers, while also experimenting with formats such as short films and web series.
Sharing his thoughts on the transition, Ramaswamy indicated that the move is driven by a desire to focus and explore stories he has been developing over time. While he acknowledged the unconventional nature of stepping away from one’s own venture, he also framed it as a necessary leap toward clarity and creative pursuit.
Importantly, The Script Room will continue its operations with its current team and leadership, with Ramaswamy expressing confidence in the group that helped build the company’s identity. The studio, he noted, remains well-positioned to evolve further with fresh talent and ideas.
His exit also reflects a wider industry trend, where experienced advertising professionals are increasingly transitioning into independent filmmaking, tapping into the growing opportunities across digital and long-form content platforms.
As Ramaswamy steps into this new phase, the move underscores a familiar creative instinct, sometimes, the boldest ideas begin with a clean break.
