SRK: King of foreign shores

If Shah Rukh Khan and his My Name Is Khan (MNIK) co-producer Karan Johar are surprisingly maintaining a cool attitude despite the Shiv Sena uproar, it's probably because the trade economics have already been worked out in the favour of the much-hyped film.

Essentially, it means that MNIK could still be a blockbuster even if it doesn't release in Maharashtra, including the all-important Mumbai circuit.

SRK could bank on the overseas territory--his strongest domain--to rescue his flick even if the Sena plays spoilsport in Mumbai.

Undoubtedly, Mumbai is very important for a Hindi film's fate because it accounts for over 25 per cent of a film's box-office earnings at an average.

Although the Maharashtra Police has assured full security to theatres once the movie releases, MNIK might still lose at least 10-15 per cent business.

"People might not be comfortable watching a film with the constant fear of a demonstration or an attack on cinema halls," says a trade analyst, not wishing to be named.

SRK, however, need not be worried. It's a wellknown fact that he is the biggest Hindi filmstar in the overseas circuit. Experts feel MNIK is set to see 65-70 box office collections from abroad, especially the US and UK markets. And given the theme of the film, the response is bound to be strong in the Muslim countries where SRK already enjoys a huge fan base. "Probably that's why Shah Rukh doesn't seem too worried about the Sena threat," says trade analyst Vinod Mirani.

That's not all. MNIK makers are more positive about the film because it has a broader international appeal. The trade feels it can easily expect 70 per cent collections from abroad as compared to SRK's last film with Karan Johar, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (KANK), which raked in around 50 per cent of its gross money from the overseas market.

"MNIK glorifies Muslims with the line that not all Khans can be called terrorists. The film, which had already generated a huge buzz in Muslim nations, is now more eagerly awaited in these parts after the Shiv Sena outburst. It could be a reason why SRK spoke in favour of the Pakistani players while addressing the IPL controversy," says a veteran producer, on conditions of anonymity.

Indeed trade experts feel that post the SRK-Sena controversy, the actor can expect a more warm response to his film in Muslim-dominated countries because of a sympathy wave the issue has generated. So MNIK's box office collections are expected to go up by about 25 per cent in such countries.

In effect, a total ban in Mumbai could mean little when the film's overall prospect is considered.

For those who came in late, the Shiv Sena has sent letters to exhibitors in and around Mumbai to ban the movie, saying that the party "vehemently objects to Shah Rukh Khan's new movie being screened unless he publicly apologises to the country for inviting Pakistani cricketers to play in the IPL". Bollywood insiders feel that SRK and Johar have chosen Abu Dhabi for the world premiere of MNIK because to the film's Muslim connect. The Muslim fan base in Dubai and other Islamic nations, especially in Asia, could account for a collection that would be at least twice of what the film could earn in Mumbai.

Reports have come in that ever since SRK's pro-Pakistani cricketer stance was aired, pirated copies of MNIK have already done business to the tune of Rs 100 crore in Pakistan. It's believed that though Pakistani authorities have banned Indian films, SRK's comments have turned the tide in his favour.

Come to think of it, SRK could be the only one to negate such an effect with his overseas clout. After all, the other Khans and Hrithik Roshan only enjoy around 35-40 per cent box office collections in the overseas market. Trade sources feel it's not easy for other Bollywood stars to catch up with SRK. Well, statistics sure support this stand of the trade. Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna made over Rs 45 crore in the international market, in the process becoming the highest grossing Indian film of its time and beating the record set by Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (K3G), another film starring SRK and directed by Johar. In the overseas territory, K3G grossed around Rs 37 crore.

Naturally, given the track record of the SRK-Johar team, the film's global distributor, Fox-Star Studio, are standing behind the film and its hero. They seem to be confident about the film is bound to do better doing good business in the overseas markets.

The buzz is that this is the reason why SRK and the film's heroine Kajol have been more extensively promoting the film in the US and the UK rather than in India.

"Insiders say Fox-Star... are asking him (SRK) not to prostrate before the Sena and beg for forgiveness," writes filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt on his Twitter page. For the uninitiated, MNIK's budget is around Rs 45 crore but its distribution rights have already been sold for over Rs 100 crore.

Technically, therefore, the film is already a hit for its producers SRK and Johar.

So even as SRK proclaims in the movie that his name a Khan but he is not a terrorist, the actor can afford not to be terrorised by the Sena in real life.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/82701/Cinema/SRK:+King+of+foreign+shores.html