For the first time ever, a flop is threatening to dismantle the godly status enjoyed by the holier than thou Rajinikanth. Rajini’s last release Linga which did dismal business at the box-office has burnt a deep hole in the pockets of the film’s distributors. Released on 12th December last year, the movie which was mounted on an extremely lavish scale failed to do even average business at the box-office. Both its Tamil as well Hindi version sank without a single trace.
And up in arms are angry distributors, seven of them who have already pressed for a refund. Their estimated loss is being pegged at Rs. 40 crore. The movie is believed to have been made on a budget of 100 crore was reportedly sold to distributors for 180 crore. Unfortunately, despite having Rajinikanth, Anushka Shetty and Bollywood diva Sonakshi Sinha, the movie could only gather a paltry sum of 40 crore thereby incurring huge losses.
A distributor from the Kanyakumari district, M Reuben was quoted saying that he had paid 4 crore for the right to screen the film in 29 theatres, but has only recovered half his investment.
Another distributor Ayyapan was quoted saying, “We all borrowed money at high rates from private financiers to screen Lingaa, all because it’s Rajinikanth's movie. We would worship him if he helped us out now and did something for us.”
Some distributors are threatening to resort to hunger strike to get back their money. Though they have nothing personally against Rajinikanth, the distributors want him to convince the producers to return back their money so as to even out the losses suffered.
The magnanimous Rajini has in the past helped distributors when his mega films flopped. In 2002, when Baba failed to make money, Rajini paid his distributors. He repeated the same in 2008 when Kuselan too tanked. Looks like Rajini will have to step in and empty some funds from his wealthy pockets this time around as well.
Interestingly, in Linga, Rajini’s character is seen selling off his property and palatial bungalow for the poor villagers’ sake. Looks like Rajini will have to repeat his reel life generosity in real as well.
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