{"id":11009,"date":"2011-11-02T04:11:27","date_gmt":"2011-11-02T04:11:27","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2011-11-02T18:11:53","modified_gmt":"2011-11-02T18:11:53","slug":"Is-Bollywood-s-King-Khan-a-Threat-to-Tom-Cruise-","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asiancemagazine.com\/?p=11009","title":{"rendered":"Is Bollywood\u2019s King Khan a Threat to Tom Cruise?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the producers of the latest Mission: Impossible sequel \u2013 \u201cMission: Impossible \u2013 Ghost Protocol\u201d – announced they would release the movie in India a week earlier than in most other places, including the U.S. and the U.K., many couldn\u2019t figure out why, since Hollywood blockbusters rarely make their way abroad earlier than in their home markets. The Tom Cruise starrer, one of the season\u2019s most-anticipated films, is set for worldwide release on Dec. 21. But in India, and in a few other countries in Asia, it will hit theaters on Dec. 16. Some say producers are worried that if the movie is released in India any later than that, it will face tough competition from Shah Rukh Khan\u2019s next big film, the action sequel \u201cDon 2.\u201d The movie, slated to hit the theaters on Dec. 23, is already generating buzz on the subcontinent.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The India distributors of the latest Mission: Impossible, Viacom 18, told India Real Time that the timing of the movie\u2019s release has nothing to do with the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan film. Conrad Martin of Viacom 18 said anticipating the India release was \u201centirely an internal decision.\u201d He declined to comment on whether he thought SRK could prove to be heavy competition for Mr. Cruise. He said Paramount Pictures, the producers of Mission: Impossible, plan to make a statement on the reasons for the early release of the movie later this month. But in India, some say Hollywood has no choice but to adapt. Speaking to India Real Time, Ritesh Sidhwani, the producer of Don 2, said that \u201call Hollywood films need to inevitably adjust their release if a big ticket Hindi movie is scheduled around the same time in India.\u201d He didn\u2019t respond to request for comment on whether he thought Mr. Khan would outshine Mr. Cruise with his next release. Although Tom Cruise is veritable Hollywood aristocracy, in India he is still no match for Bollywood\u2019s King Khan. Just take a look at their box office history: The last time the two locked horns, in 2007, Mr. Khan\u2019s \u201cOm Shanti Om,\u201d which caters mainly to an Indian market, raised $9 million more than Tom Cruise\u2019s \u201cLion For Lambs,\u201d which released in 45 countries.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Experts agreed that, in India, big ticket Hollywood releases seldom match even mediocre Bollywood films. \u201cThough Hollywood blockbusters have huge scope overseas, they can seldom match up to homegrown films, which have a tremendous market across the country,\u201d film critic Rajeev Masand told India Real Time. It comes as no surprise then that global production houses may be adapting their schedule to maximize their visibility in India. Mr. Masand also noted that they often dub and include subtitles in their movies to broaden their reach in the local market. Bollywood expert Anupama Chopra similarly noted that \u201cnarrow markets and language barriers make Hollywood films a niche product for India.\u201d Though Ms. Chopra did not rule out that other factors could have attributed to Mission: Impossible\u2019s early release in India, she said that \u201cIf these rumors are to be believed, I completely love that Shah Rukh Khan could scare away an international superstar like Tom Cruise.\u201d
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Somehow I can’t picture Tom doing this . . .
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Love Mera<\/strong><\/p>\n