The Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani impact on Yamla Pagla Deewana 2

No one expected Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani to become the biggest blockbuster of the year so far. And now the biggest casualty of past Friday’s windfall would be this Friday’s big-ticket release for the Deol parivar’s collective effort Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 (YPD2). Both the Deol brothers Sunny and Bobby desperately need a success, and papa Dharmendra has gone out of his way to promote the film. Says a source very close to Dharamji, “Left to himself Dharamji wouldn’t have done this much promotion for the film. But YPD2 is critical to Sunny and Bobby’s careers. Neither has seen a success in years. Dharamji has been seen doing things he has never done for his own career, like doing a jig at a press conference. It’s unbecoming and graceful for an iconic actor like him. But what to do? Anything for the sons.” Adding to the 70-plus superstar’s woes is the unexpectedly aggravated success quotient of YJHD—on Wednesday the film had collected Rs 4 million dollars in the overseas market and the all-India collections till Wednesday were Rs 87 crores. The staggering collections of YJHD are expected to have a snowballing effect on YPD2. Apparently many of the multiplexes that were committed to screen the Deols’ parivaarik project would prefer to continue screening YJHD. Suman Sinha a major exhibitor in Patna says, “I am aware of how much of a stronghold the Deols have on the North Indian boxoffice. But YJHD is a much bigger success than we expected. All my shows are going houseful. I will continue with YJHD.” Trade analyst Komal Nahata admits YPD2 might not get the number of screens and screenings that were expected. “YPD2 might get lesser shows in multiplexes than it would have got had YJHD not become the huge hit that it is. But the Deols’ film has a lot of single-screen strength. Also, both films are very different from one another.There is room for two films to do well simultaneously. Remember Lagaan and Gadar Ek Prem Kahani? While YJHD will continue to shine in the 2nd week, the other ‘Y’ film YPD2 could also rock. Don’t ask ‘y’.” Adds distributor-exhibitor Anil Thadani, “A good film doesn’t get affected. Last year in July there was a successful release every Friday.” However another trade analyst Amod Mehra thinks YPD2 has reason for concern. “Though the two films are in different genres the collections (for YPD2) would get affected by 30 percent.”