Will Salman ‘Bharat’ be affected by world cup?

Npnews24 online: Cricket and films command a cult following in our country. Next month, the audience will be spoilt for choice as Ali Abbas Zafar’s much-awaited period drama Bharat opens in theatres on June 5, the same day that India plays its first match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

The biggest cricket tournament going to make a dent in the business starring Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Disha Patani.

Director Ali Abbas Zafar is unfazed by the clash. “India will play and win the first match, and our film will enter cinemas. It’s a great time for entertainment in June”.The very first match played by India this World Cup 2019, on June 5, is against South Africa. The match begins at 3pm IST, and is expected to go on till around 11pm.

Considering that the evening shows on the opening day are extremely crucial for the business of any film, Bharat will suffer as a section of the audience will choose to watch the Indian cricket team battle it out on the pitch instead.

In its first week, Bharat will have to hold its ground against three matches played by the Men In Blue – India vs South Africa (June 5, Friday), India vs Australia (June 9, Sunday) and India vs New Zealand (June 13, Thursday). Then, on its second Sunday at the box office, Bharat will face competition from an India vs Pakistan match.

However, ever since Wanted (2009) hit the screens on Eid and became a runaway success, the festival has become synonymous with Salman Khan’s releases. Even the misses which hit the theatres on Eid – Race 3 (2018) and Tubelight (2017) – ensured their entry into the Rs 100-crore club.

Trade analysts feel that if a film is good, it will work wonders at the box office, no matter what. The audience has shown its love for quality cinema in the recent past and if Bharat has to stand tall in the face of strong competition from the World Cup 2019 matches, it must win them over with good content