Sequel Mania Grips Bollywood

Bollywood has one simple mantra that reads ‘Ape success.’ If a film succeeds at the box office, then the formula is  to ‘definitely try to replicate that success.’ In other words, put your mouth where the money is.

Even in drought-ridden 2017, in which just 15-odd films hit the bullseye, the one thing that was evident was the super-success of sequels. Be it the Akshay Kumar-starrer The State Vs Jolly LLB 2, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt’s Badrinath Ki Dulhania, SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus Baahubali 2: The Conclusion or Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal Again, sequels got a standing ovation.

Of course, there were a few disappointments as well such as the soulless Julie 2, Aksar 2 and Sarkar 3 that went unnoticed. But the fact of the matter remains that sequels did set the cash registers ringing through the year. Fukrey Returns opened well last week and the countdown has begun for Salman Khan’s Tiger Zinda Hai that opens 10 days from now.

Trade expert Taran Adarsh says that sequels do well mainly because of the immediate recall value. However, he warns, “They shouldn’t come within short gaps like just within a year of the original’s release because then there might not be enough time for the audience to savour them.’’ He adds, “When a franchise is loved like Dhoom, Golmaal, Housefull and Dabangg, it makes perfect business sense to keep it alive. There is a loyal audience waiting for the films.” 

Filmmaker Rohit Shetty, who has two successful franchises — Golmaal and Singham — under his belt, believes sequels should not be made just to encash on the title. He says, “If you get the story right, then go ahead and tell it.’’ Post the phenomenal success of Golmaal Again, which has completed a 50-day run, the filmmaker’s immediate commitment is Simmba, starring Ranveer Singh, after which he will start work on Singham 3 with Ajay Devgn as Bajirao Singham.

In an earlier conversation, Arshad Warsi, who will reprise his role as Circuit in the next part of the much-loved Munnabhai franchise, had said, “Munnabhai got a sequel because the characters (Sanjay Dutt as Munna and he as Circuit) were loved.’’ Tusshar, who has also been a part of two franchises — Kyaa Kool Hai Hum and Golmaal — is clearly of the view that sequels are the way ahead. “Look what has happened to Golmaal Again,’’ he beams. “The business of this fourth instalment is more than that of the first three parts put together. Clearly, the Golmaal gang of boys are loved,’’ he adds.

Like it is said, the proof of the pudding lies in eating it. Well, Bollywood seems to be sinking its teeth into the sequel pie. In 2018, we will have Shankar’s 2.0 starring Rajinikanth and Akshay, Race 3 with Salman, Baaghi 2 with Tiger Shroff, Salman’s  Dabangg 3, Total Dhamaal with Ajay, Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Riteish Deshmukh and Arshad, Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se featuring Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby Deol, Student of the Year 2 with Tiger Shroff and Ananya Panday and the fourth instalments of 1920 and Hate Story. The early announcement of 2019’s sequel list includes Housefull 4. 

According to trade whispers, two Sunny Deol-starrers, Ziddi and Arjun Pandit, will also have sequels. However, producer NR Pachisia says, “I can’t tell you right now if they will have a sequel or whether I will remake the same films. Just like there was a contemporary version of Amitabh Bachchan’s Agneepath featuring Hrithik Roshan, I may end up remaking Ziddi and Arjun Pandit, too.’’

Well, that be as it may, it is definitely not wrong to say that Bollywood is possessed by the sequel mania. 

SEQUELS IN 2017

​The State vs Jolly LLB 2
Badrinath Ki Dulhania
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
Golmaal Again
Julie 2
Aksar 2
Sarkar 3
Fukrey Returns
Tiger Zinda Hai 

SEQUELS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2018

2.0 
Race 3 
Dabangg 3 
Total Dhamaal 
Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se 
Student of the Year 2 
1921 
Hate Story 4

(Clockwise from top left) 2.0, Baaghi 2, Dabangg 3, Total Dhamaal and Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se