'Bang Bang' outshines 'Operation 021' in Pakistan

October 9, 2014

Karachi, Oct 9: Bollywood's latest blockbuster 'Bang Bang' has outgunned the much hyped Pakistani film 'Operation 021' during the Eid holidays with exhibitors being forced to take down the local offering from single screen cinemas after adverse reactions from the audience.

Bang Bang'Operation 021', which stars Pakistani superstar Shaan, was expected to emulate the business done by 'Waar' last year at Eid. 'Waar' earned over Rs 200 crores at the Pakistani box office last year.

At the famous Capri and Bambino single screen cinemas, the owners took the film off screen after just one or two shows on Eid as the crowd resorted to throwing objects at the screen, booing and demanding refund of their tickets.

They then decided to salvage the situation by scheduling in extras shows of the Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif starrer and another Pakistani release, comedy 'Na Maloom Afraad' to replace 'Operation 021'.

"It was a bad situation on Eid day as we had kept extra shows of 'Operation 021' but after the crowd rejected the movie we had no option but to pull it off screen," Adeel Siddiqui the owner of Bambino cinema said.

"We always do bonus business on Eid holidays when all shows are housefull. Unfortunately, this time things didn't go as planned. Maybe the film was just too slow paced for the average cinema goer," he said.

Manager Saleem at Capri cinema had a similar story to tell. "The crowds just didn't want to watch the movie and were demanding refunds for their tickets."

An employee at one of the four main cineplexes in Karachi said 'Operation 021' was screened there because of advance bookings for the four-day Eid holiday period.

But in two of the cineplexes of Karachi, the exhibitors brought in extra shows of 'Bang Bang', 'Na Maloom Afraad' and 'Khoobsurat' later on.

'Bang Bang' had till the first day of Eid collected Rs 35 million in ticket sales across Karachi and exhibitor- distributor, Nadeem Manviwalla said the film collected around Rs 8 million on Eid while 'Operation 021' and 'Na Maloom Afraad' each earned Rs 5.5 million primarily due to advance bookings.

Even 'Khoobsurat', starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, which has been running in cinemas since last month, managed to generate another Rs 1.2 million on Eid day.

Pakistan has become an attractive market for Bollywood film distributors since a ban was lifted on screening of Indian films in Pakistan during the tenure of former President, Pervez Musharraf, in 2008.

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Agencies
July 28,2020

Mumbai, Jul 28: Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Manoj Tiwari has urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to look into the case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death and direct the state police to register an FIR in this connection.

Wishing Thackeray on Monday on his birthday, Tiwari, who has acted in Bhojpuri films, pointed out that over 40 days have passed since the death of Rajput, but an FIR is yet to be registered.

"Many happy returns of the Day @CMOMaharashtra Shri Uddhav Ji, on this day I request with folded hands to give justice to Sushant who died 43 days ago, but no FIR has been registered so far. I hope you will help. Please do justice to millions of SSR fans," he tweeted.

Bollywood actor Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, which the police said was a case of suicide. His death had triggered an outcry from several quarters alleging that the late actor, who hailed from Bihar, was a victim of nepotism in the film industry.

The lawmaker from Northeast Delhi's Lok Sabha seat, who visited the deceased actor's family in Patna last month had then said: "Sushant's father and sister requested me to take up the issue and get him justice. It was really a sentimental moment for me".

Previously, Tiwari had demanded a CBI investigation into the matter

According to the police, statements of 40 people including film critic Rajeev Masand, director-producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and filmmaker Aditya Chopra and actor Rhea Chakraborty have been recorded in the investigation so far.

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News Network
March 19,2020

London, Mar 19: "Game of Thrones" star Indira Varma has revealed that she has tested positive for coronavirus.

Her diagnosis comes two days after fellow "Game of Thrones" actor Kristofer Hivju also said that he tested positive for the COVID-19 infection.

Varma, who played the role of Ellaria Sand in the epic HBO series, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share the news.

"I'm in bed with it and it's not nice. Stay safe and healthy and be kind to your fellow people," she wrote.

The 46-year-old actor was starring in the modern take of Anton Chekhov's play "The Seagull" in London's West End, alongside "Game of Thrones" alum Emilia Clarke.

The play is on hold due to the pandemic.

"So sad our and so many other shows around the world have gone dark affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. We hope to be back soon and urge you all (and the govt) to support us when we do. Phoenix/ Seagull rising from the ashes (sic)," Varma wrote in her post with photos from the rehearsals.

Varma and Hivju join Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Idris Elba, Olga Kurylenko, and Rachel Matthews among the Hollywood celebrities who contracted the virus.

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News Network
June 9,2020

New Delhi, Jun 9: Multiplex operator PVR on Monday said it has cut salary across various levels, laid off employees and deferred increments during the lockdown to mitigate adverse impact of COVID-19 on the business.

The company said at present it is not generating any revenue from exhibition business and related activities as cinemas across the country are shut following the directions from the regulatory authorities.

According to the company, closure of screens during the lockdown will have a significant negative impact on profitability and liquidity.

PVR has taken measures to reduce its personnel cost, including salary cuts across various levels in the organisation during the lockdown along with "reduction in headcount by way of layoffs/retrenchment" to mitigate the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the business.

Moreover, the board of the company, in its meeting held on Monday has also approved plan to raise Rs 300 crore through rights issue.

"Since Cinema Exhibition is the only business segment, company is currently not generating any revenue from admissions, food and beverage sales or other revenue and cash flow from operations," said PVR in an update.

Beginning from March 11, PVR started closing its screens in accordance with the order passed by various regulatory authorities and within a few days most of our cinemas across the country were shut down, it added.

The company will continue to incur committed cash outflows, including employee salary pay-outs, other overheads as well as payments for older working capital.

"This has and will have a significant negative impact on profitability and liquidity during lockdown and even thereafter till business comes to normalcy," it added.

Further, once the cinemas are re-opened, we may not be able to run our cinemas at normal capacity utilisation levels on account of social distancing measures that cinemas may be required to follow as well as health concerns that the patrons may have, the multiplex operator said.

"On account of this, our revenue and cash flow generation may be impeded even once we are allowed to restart operations," it added.

The company has also deferred decision on on increments to reduce its cost, it added.

PVR has also written to developers for waiving rental and CAM (Common Area Maintenance) charges for the lockdown period.

It is in discussion with developers for reducing rentals post re-opening and has invoked force majeure clause in its agreements with them.

Besides, the company has raised additional borrowings from existing bankers to shore up liquidity.

"As of March 31, 2020 the company had cash and bank balance of Rs 316 crore. As on June 7, 2020 cash and bank balance is Rs 227 crore (including undrawn bank lines)," it added.

Over reopening of theatres, PVR said that the government has come out with a phase-wise schedule.

In these guidelines cinema halls have been kept in the third phase of re-opening, where dates will be decided based on assessment of the situation.

"We are in continuous engagement with all regulatory authorities and hope to receive the necessary permissions for restarting opening in the near future," it added.

Currently PVR operates 845 screens in 176 properties in 71 cities.

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