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It’s very social in Mumbai right now and will be until the New Year sets in; here’s who celebrated Christmas and how, and more about the latest disappointment at the box office…
By Rodrigues C
HOWDIE London, hope you are enjoying the festive season like many of your Bollywood stars are doing in Mumbai right now. Many have celebrated Christmas in their homes in a big way and have posted pictures on social media. Thanks for this media, fans and the general public got a glimpse into these exclusive festivities.
Sonam Kapoor shared a picture of a Christmas cake with the words ‘Vayu’s 1st Christmas’. She also posted pictures of her Christmas Tree along with a cake and other savouries.
Alia Bhatt shared a bunch of festive pictures from her Christmas dinner and lunch. In one image, she is seen with sister Shaheen, while mother-in-law Neetu Kapoor, mother Soni Razdan and Pooja Bhatt share space with her in another. The next features her with hubby Ranbir Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Babita, Neetu, Rima Jain and Karisma Kapoor at their annual Christmas lunch. A photo where Ranbir Kapoor is kissing and hugging Alia Bhatt next to a Christmas Tree trended in India.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan posted a picture of her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan, holding decorations, with a Christmas Tree in the backdrop.
and Jehangir at Christmas in the UK
Preity Zinta shared a video, which showed the actress celebrating with her family in a decorated room with a Christmas Tree surrounded by gifts and a dancing Santa Claus.
Kareena Kapoor Khan shared a video where husband Saif Ali Khan and sons Taimur and Jehangir are spending time with friends around a Christmas Tree while in the UK.
In a short clip, Kareena Kapoor is heard singing, “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”. Other photos show Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan dressed up in black and red for dinner, and enjoying Christmas lights in the winter outside, and Saif playing a guitar and reading a book.
and Vicky Kaushal
Karisma Kapoor posted a photo in red pyjamas and a Santa hat holding her pet dog. Shraddha Kapoor’s pictures were all about binging on Christmas cakes.
Katrina Kaif and husband Vicky Kaushal hosted a party for close friends and family at their home. Guests at the do included the latter’s parents Sham Kaushal and Veena Kaushal and his brother Sunny, Katrina Kaif’s sister Isabelle Kaif, filmmaker Kabir Khan with wife Mini Mathur, Neha Dhupia and hubby Angad Bedi.
Anushka Sharma, decked up in a red crop top with denims, a loose white shirt complemented by hoop earrings and a reindeer horn-styled hairband, posted a series of photos displaying her décor; in one picture she is seen with a Santa Claus.
Shilpa Shetty, who is in London, posted a video of her Christmas celebrations with husband Raj Kundra, kids Viaan and Samisha, mother Sunanda and sister Shamita Shetty. Among other things, the reel shows the family feeding reindeer, the kids opening their presents as well as a Christmas brunch spread comprising buns, breads, cold cuts, pies, puddings and cakes.
Kajol celebrated Christmas with her sister Tanishaa Mukerji and screenwriter Niranjan Iyengar. Kajol’s daughter Nysa Devgan, who’s a regular feature these days in India due to her partying lifestyle, attended a Christmas bash with Arjun Rampal’s daughter Mahikaa Rampal and Saif Ali Khan’s son ( from his first marriage to Amrita Singh) Ibrahim Ali Khan in Mumbai.
Moving away, it’s come as a surprise that Rohit Shetty’s big ticket release ‘Cirkus’, which was expected to bring in huge returns, has tanked at the box office.
Released on December 23 and made on a budget of £11.5 million, the Ranveer Singh comedy has collected just about £4.5m worldwide so far.
Based on William Shakespeare’s classic ‘The Comedy of Errors’, the movie had received poor reviews.
In fact, running far ahed of ‘Cirkus’ is James Cameron’s ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’, which has collected £28m so far and is on target to becoming India’s highest Hollywood grosser behind the £37m of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ in 2019. The film is doing well in all markets and is estimated to have crossed the $1bn mark since its release.
The sci-fi fantasy action drama has also become the only Hollywood film to collect £10m in its second week in India; just about six Indian films have achieved this feat earlier.
On the other hand, Ajay Devgn’s ‘Drishyam 2’, which was released way back on November 18, is still raking it in. With a collection of about £21m, the film has become the third highest grosser of the year behind ‘Brahmastra: Part 1 Shiva’ (£25.4m) and ‘The Kashmir Files’ (£24.7m).
To sum it up, it’s been a dismal year for traditional Bollywood.
Movies from the South Indian film industry ruled the roost. Even its most recent hit, ‘Drishyam 2’ is a remake of its Malayalam namesake starring iconic veteran Mallu actor Mohanlal.
Still in this Christmas week, the industry is in a party mode right now. The jamborees will continue for some more time, at least until the New Year.
There are great expectations from Shah Rukh Khan’s big budget thriller ‘Pathaan’, which hits theatres on January 25. Hopefully, the movie will set the stage for 2023…on a positive note.
Wishing you all a Very Happy New Year!
*We will be looking at the big Bollywood films coming out in 2023 shortly…
