'Love Aaj Kal' is third big hit of the year

Its occupancy has been between 90-100 percent

Love is immortal. Ask Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone whose recently released "Love Aaj Kal" has sent the cash registers ringing, raking in Rs.8 crore (Rs.80 million) on its opening day. And experts say the movie has tremendous box office potential.

"The response to the film has been amazing and we have had jam-packed houses over the weekend. While we had an occupancy of 98 percent on the first day (Friday), the weekend has been house full with 100 percent occupancy. It's an entertaining movie and worth watching once," Amit Awasthi, manager programming and operations of Spice Cinemas, Noida told IANS.

"We are running 25 shows for the movie in a day and have already collected Rs.16,56,000 over the first weekend. In fact, we've already sold 2500 tickets even today. The movie is going strong and is expected to get more business with Rakshabandhan (August 5) coming and is going to stay on until 'Kaminey' releases on August 14," he added.

A source from PVR Cinemas echoed the same sentiment and said: "The reaction to the movie is very good and people have really liked the movie. We are expecting more footfall coming in the way it has been over the weekend."

Directed by Imtiaz Ali, the movie has been co-produced by Saif and his friend Dinesh Vijan along with Sunil A. Lulla under their banners Illuminati Films and Eros International respectively.

Spanning across two different eras - the film is about the essence of love that never changes despite time and space differences.

Made at a budget of around Rs.48 crore (Rs.480 million), it released across 1800 screens worldwide. It is the third A-lister hit of 2009 after "New York" and "Kambakkht Ishq" though the latter was panned by critics in terms of content.

Also starring Rishi Kapoor, Shweta Gulati and Rahul Khanna, the film is the launch vehicle of Brazilian model Giselle Monteiro.

"'Love Aaj Kal' is a super hit movie. The occupancy has been somewhere between 90-100 percent bringing in good collections, which is very impressive. It's a simple and romantic movie and a must watch for a family," said Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (cinemas), Wave cinemas.

"We are running 11-15 shows across different properties and the movie is going to stay anywhere close to two-three weeks. Moreover with the Rakhi holiday coming in, families are surely going to bring in footfalls considering the storyline appeal of the film," he added.

In terms of A-listers, "Love Aaj Kal" has no contender until Shahid Kapur-Priyanka Chopra starrer "Kaminey" hits the screen.

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Junta Talking: Love Aaj Kal

It is not very often that a Hindi movie gets mostly four-star reviews but with Imtiaz Ali and Saif Ali Khan at the helm of affairs, people expected Love Aaj Kal to be a good movie. And that it is. So what the does the aam junta or could I say mango people have to say about it?

Nikhil Lunkad: I enjoyed the movie. It was nice and something different. A good Hindi movie after ages

Anshul Sinha: I liked the movie. The way Imtiaz Ali has narrated the film is totally new and refreshing. Even what happens between the couple (Jai and Meera) is mostly correct and relatable. It was a nice change after the onslaught of dumb Hindi movies

Alka Shah: The movie was fun and the acting was good. The dialogues were funny and unsual. I will use them in my day-to-day life. Love Aaj Kal is a very contemporary love story. Imtiaz Ali has scored a hat-trick of good movies with Love Aaj Kal.

Anjali Shah: It’s a nice movie though it’s nothing like Jab We Met. I really liked the ‘aam junta mango people’ and the ‘mera hi faayda ho jaye’ dialogues. It was very funny and sweet.

Aditya Singh Rajput: The most disappointing film of 2009. So many loop holes; it is not detailed properly. The parallel Punjabi story is not convincing. Saif looks uncomfortable dancing and cannot be Geet from Jab We Met. The movie moves too fast to grab. Attention: Art Director, please put grilles in between the windows of the Punjabi train. It looks really funny. I am still depressed.

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B.O. update: 'Love Aaj Kal' has superb start in India, Pakistan, UAE

The much-hyped LOVE AAJ KAL opened to a stupendous start across all multiplexes. The film is being screened in 20, 23, 25, even 28 shows everyday at prominent multiplexes, which is a record of starts. The first day business was huge across multiplexes, although the single screens weren't as strong [expectedly]. But there's no reason to press the panic button, since 70% to 80% business is generated from multiplexes alone these days.

The reports of LOVE AAJ KAL are good, the audience feedback is positive and the opening weekend is expected to be humungous. In fact, the first weekend numbers of the film should easily find a place amongst the biggest openers ever. Another advantage is the Raksha Bandhan holiday on Wednesday [5th August], which will add that extra revenue to the booty.

LOVE AAJ KAL has cost Rs. 42 crores to its producers [Saif Ali Khan and Dinesh Vijan] and with P & A costs included, the final cost works out to approx. Rs. 48 crores [for Eros]. A major chunk of business is expected to be recovered from the domestic market, while Overseas is expected to be huge as well. In fact, the Thursday night shows in Pakistan were bigger than that of KAMBAKKHT ISHQ. Even UAE was higher than KAMBAKKHT ISHQ, where LOVE AAJ KAL collected approx. 6,50,000 Dirhams on its first day.

One awaits with bated breath for its response in U.K. and U.S.A. 'Bollywood Hungama' will keep you updated with the developments, with official figures.

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Multiplexes update: 'Love Aaj Kal' attracts more footfalls than 'Ghajini'

LOVE AAJ KAL is on a record-smashing spree. The Cinemax chain of multiplexes recorded a record turnout for this Saif-Deepika starrer on Friday. Cinemax, one of the leading multiplex chains of India [74 screens in 24 multiplexes], saw approx. 49,700 footfalls in their properties on Friday.

LOVE AAJ KAL has clearly overtaken the other big openers at this chain:- NEW YORK [34,500 footfalls on Friday], KAMBAKKHT ISHQ [39,800 footfalls] and GHAJINI [39,500 footfalls]. "The response is amazing. Even the 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. shows in Gujarat are running to packed houses," Devang Sampat of Cinemax informs me.

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U.K. update: 'Love Aaj Kal' has a record-breaking start

As predicted by this writer in the review of the film ["internationally, it has the potential to emerge one of the biggest grossers in recent times"], LOVE AAJ KAL has fetched a mind-boggling start in U.K. In fact, it's one of the biggest starts ever. Let's have a comparative study to judge how big the film has opened...

Film / Friday [approx. numbers]
DOSTANA - £ 72,000
JODHAA AKBAR - £ 77,000
KAMBAKKHT ISHQ - £ 83,000
GHAJINI - £ 95,000
RAB NE BANA DI JODI - £ 1,01,000
RACE - £ 1,02,000
SINGH IS KINNG - £ 1,08,000
LOVE AAJ KAL - £ 1,25,000

Note:- This chart doesn't include Thursday numbers, since several films hadn't opened on a Thursday, including LOVE AAJ KAL.

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Saif lends personal Nawabi touch to LAK

Imtiaz Ali, Deepika Padukone, producers Saif Ali Khan and Dinesh Vijan personally greeted members of the press at the screening of Love Aaj Kal, held at PVR Cinemas at Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel yesterday.

Saif walked in at around 12.30, surrounded by security. Dressed in casuals, he looked cool and handsome. All eyes were on him. Imtiaz Ali was already present, talking to the media. A few cameramen were present. Some time after Saif’s arrival, Deepika also arrived. She looked very pretty and absolutely fine in her short dress which she paired with gladiator flats. All three of them interacted with media persons, especially the senior ones.

Saif said, “It has been 18 years since I have been in the industry. Some of you have known since my first day here. I was a silly 20 year old and even you’ll were young journalists then. Now, you all have become feared heads of your departments now. We want to thank you for coming here. We present to you Love Aaj Kal. We hope you like it. I won’t be lurking around after the show like many people do, asking you what you thought of the film. I would rather read it all while I am chilling and relaxing in Delhi.”

Very Nawabi of you Saif, we say. Your first production is set to be a super-hit and we are sure you are very happy with all the good things people have to say about Love Aaj Kal.

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In Pics: Special Screening of Love Aaj Kal at PVR Mumbai

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Love Aaj Kal - Movie Review

Come to think of it, if the film carries the 'burden' of humungous expectations, it's imperative that it goes beyond those expectations. The reaction after watching the film has to be similar to a child who has laid his hands on his fav toy. The joyous smile would say it all. The question is, does LOVE AAJ KAL live up to the hype and hoopla surrounding it? Or does it go beyond that?

LOVE AAJ KAL is not an easy film to write and execute. Sure, it's a love story, but it's not one of those mundane love stories that talks of love and heartache. Here, the two stories, set in different eras, run parallel, but have a similar end.

To be brutally honest, it takes time to grasp the plot, since the past and present run concurrently. If you aren't attentive, chances are you'd lose the plot. Also, if you aren't aware by now that Saif enacts dual roles in the film -- playing his part as also the part of young Rishi Kapoor -- the goings-on would confuse you no end, when the transition occurs.

LOVE AAJ KAL is a director's show entirely. The relationships here are complex because the couple in love lives in complete denial. It is to Imtiaz Ali's credit that he has penned an offbeat story, developed a complex but comprehensive screenplay and extracted sensitive performances from the principal cast. At the same time, the writing isn't the type that would appeal to all sections of movie-going audience. Besides, the execution of the subject and also the pacing in the first hour are deterrents.

Final word? LOVE AAJ KAL makes you fall in love with love all over again. Makes you value your loved ones all the more. This film is special!

Love Aaj
London, San Francisco, Delhi - 2009.
Jai [Saif Ali Khan] and Meera [Deepika Padukone] is a modern-day couple in London. They are very happy together, but do not believe in tying each other down. So when life pulls them in different directions, they decide to call off their relationship, since long-distance relationships, in their opinion, don't work.

Love Kal
Delhi, Calcutta - 1965.
Veer Singh [Rishi Kapoor] is struck by a thunderbolt when he sees Harleen for the first time. He travels a thousand kilometers by train to stand under her balcony, only to have a glimpse of her face. And yet not speak a word with her.

Love Aaj Kal
Veer does not understand how Jai can treat matters of the heart without passion. Jai does not understand how Veer Singh could have been so naive and silly about Harleen in his youth. But as both stories unfold, we realize that the process of relationship might be different in different eras, but the experience of being in love remains the same.

LOVE AAJ KAL travels multiple continents and different eras. The subject matter is novel, never attempted before, but the material, the characters [Saif and Deepika especially] as also its execution is targeted at the youth in big cities mainly. As they say in filmi lingo, this one's a hardcore multiplex movie.

Another area where Imtiaz Ali experiments is by depicting Saif as the young Rishi Kapoor. It's a novel concept, no two opinions on that, but the question is, will it cut ice universally? Will people tend to get confused when the sequences turn sepia?

The film captivates in bits and spurts in the initial portions. Partly because the writing is so different. But the writing breaks new grounds in the second hour. It's in this hour that the film grips you completely, when the fragmented pieces are put together and a mesmeric picture emerges.

The second hour is the soul of the film. Right from the time Deepika decides to marry, till the last reunion, the film touches an emotional high. The sequence of events that lead to the culmination is incredible. Saif's interaction with Deepika at the marriage, or the gradual change in Saif's behaviour in the U.S. in the course of a song, or the realisation that marriage was a big mistake... moments like these take LOVE AAJ KAL to dizzy heights.

Imtiaz Ali is a genius. The film bears the stamp of an accomplished storyteller. This is a forward-thinking film that handles the new-age relationships with complete understanding. The songs compliment the goings-on beautifully. This is amongst Pritam's accomplished works. 'Twist' [already a rage], 'Aahun Aahun' [foot-taping], 'Chor Bazaari' [melodious] and 'Dooriyaan' [melancholic], each song is a gem. N. Natarajan Subramaniam's cinematography is fantastic. Editing [Aarti Bajaj] is wonderful.

Both Saif and Deepika come up with their career-best performances in LOVE AAJ KAL. Saif carries the most difficult parts with remarkable ease. Sure, we've seen him as the cool, urban guy in several films, but this one's the most demanding role and only a seasoned actor could've delivered it with such precision.

Deepika looks ethereal. Most importantly, in LOVE AAJ KAL, she acts very, very well. Matching up to Saif is no mean achievement and she does it in several scenes. This should be the turning point in her career. Rishi Kapoor is top notch. The actress enacting the role of Harleen is pretty. Rahul Khanna does well in a small, but significant role. Watching Neetu Kapoor in the end sequence is truly astonishing. She's so graceful.

On the whole, LOVE AAJ KAL is for the young and romantic at heart. Sure, it's not perfect, but the terrific performances, melodious music and stirring emotional moments [last 35 odd minutes] more than compensate for the hiccups. At the box-office, the film should start with a bang for four factors -- its novel cast, super music, great promotion and yes, Imtiaz Ali, a name that commands respect amongst moviegoers. Released extensively [approx. 1800 screens worldwide], LOVE AAJ KAL will have one of the biggest first weeks in India and also in the international markets. In India, the business will be superb across multiplexes, while single screens might not behave as energetically. But the business at multiplexes will ensure a fantastic recovery of the investment. Internationally, it has the potential to emerge one of the biggest grossers in recent times.

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‘Love Aaj Kal’ riding on a lot of buzz

Film expected to re-boost Saif and Deepika's career after their flops

Its songs have already become a hit and the promos are good, but "Love Aaj Kal" (pictured above) is an acid test for actors Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone as their last couple of films have turned out to be duds at the box office. There are indeed lots of expectations from this romantic comedy that releases on Friday (July 31).

Despite giving 2008's first hit in "Race", Saif's "Tashan", "Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic" and animated venture "Roadside Romeo" (voice-over) fell flat at the box office. So did Deepika's much-hyped "Chandni Chowk To China" opposite Akshay Kumar.

"Love Aaj Kal" is not only Saif's first outing this year, it is also his debut as producer.

"'Love Aaj Kal' is garnering a lot of buzz. In fact it is after long that a proper love story is coming on screen. The concept is novel and will draw a good initial. It is also expected to re-boost Saif and Deepika's career after their flops," Delhi-based distributor Joginder Mahajan told IANS.

"The promotion of the film has been very good and the songs are already a hit. Moreover Saif is in a double role in the movie, which will be something to watch out for," he added.

Directed by Imtiaz Ali, the movie has been co-produced by Saif, Dinesh Vijan and Sunil A. Lulla.

Also starring Rishi Kapoor, Shweta Gulati and Rahul Khanna, the movie is said to be a remake of Taiwanese film "Three Times", which the producers have denied. Neetu Singh also makes her comeback with the film in a cameo.

"'Love Aaj Kal' is one of the most relevant films to come out in a long time...it looks at relationships in a very new light and a very new language," Vijan posted on the movie's official website.

"The film's storyline is such that any common man can relate to it. It's so real and as you watch the film, you would feel that so many instances shown in it have happened to you too in real life," said Deepika.

"The film has a universal appeal. Whether it's the younger or the older generation, all will be able to identify with the proceedings," she added.

Showing love in two different eras - 1965 and 2009 - through Veer Singh and Jai Vardhan Singh respectively, the film is about the essence of love that never changes.

While Jai treats matters of the heart without passion and parts with from his lady love Meera (Deepika) in the name of being practical, Veer is naive about his love for Harleen (Shweta) and travels long distances to catch a glimpse of her, but fails to open his heart in front of her.

As both stories unfold, the broad message it gives is that relationships might be different in different eras, but the experience of being in love remains the same.

The film has got an unprecedented buzz due to its share of controversies too.

First it was in the news for its unabashed kissing scenes and the lead actors mouthing expletives and then the Punjabi Cultural And Heritage Board objected to Saif's bearded look and reasoned that Sikhs do not sport a trimmed beard as sported by him in the film.

All controversies at rest, the director is neither excited nor nervous before the release.

"I'm completely stone-hearted at the moment. I'm still doing 16 hours of work for the film's promotion and don't have time to feel the excitement or the nervousness," Ali said.

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In Pics: Saif Ali Khan Promotes 'Love Aaj Kal' at Shoppers Stop

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In Pics: Special screening of 'Love Aaj Kal' for Sikh Community

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