Bollywood 100 crore club

BOLLYWOOD’S 100 CRORE CLUB:

The latest trend of Bollywood measurement of success is earning 100crore or more at the box office. The 100crore club is not an actual organisation but a term used by the film industry to segregate the more successful stars from the rest, only those actors whose films net profit is worth Rs.100crore or more are members of this club.

The trend of 100crores business at box office was started by Aamir khan, the first member of the club who crossed the barrier of 100crores with his movie “Ghajini” and his return in “3 Idiots” not only crossed 100crore but hit a double century.

The next Khan of Bollywood who entered the club was Salman Khan who smashed a century with “Ek Tha Tiger” in just 5-6 days; “Bodyguard” crossed 100crores in just 7 days and the recent hit “Dabaang 2” made a mark of Rs.143crores.

The next 3 entrants into the coveted club was Shah Rukh Khan with hits like “My Name Is Khan” and “Ra.One”. Ajay Devgan’s movie “Golmaal 3” in 2010 just managed to cross the threshold figure of Rs.108crores and Hrithik Roshan’s movie “Agneepath” managed to earn 122crores.

The membership in the club comes automatically if the film does a 100crore business or more. The membership is not counted on the strength of a film overseas success. These films are based on net collections not gross. Net collection is total box office collection that is – gross collection minus the entertainment tax.

The film which touches 100crore mark, the star of the film gets the membership not the director or others. In a way these stars become famous and are worshipped by the industry. Gone are the days of silver jubilees and golden jubilees which measured the success or failure of a film. Today, the fate of a film is sealed on the opening day itself or at best, on the first week. The biggest of films have a run of only three to four weeks at the theatres as more and more new releases knock at the door and eventually push the incumbent out. At this rate, 2013 should have many more films and many more actors inhabiting this club which is fast losing its exclusivity.

In an increasingly competitive film business, it is left to be seen how many films truly qualify as “100-crore” successes in the years to come Since, most big budget films today easily make 100crores; it’s time to break records set by Aamir khan in his 3 Idiots which crossed 200crores. It would be interesting to see the new members of the club in the years to come and set a benchmark in the industry. 

SWETHA BHANSALI(edited by Shradha Jain)