Govinda: Experiment or entertain?

Komal Nahta

This is a week for stray thoughts:

Okay so we all heard of Govinda's desire for different kinds of roles.

Trifle hard not to, considering it was splashed over every interview he gave.

And so you have him, in Shikari, playing a killer.

Now, experimentation is fine, but Shikari didn't exactly send the cash registers ticking, when the film released last Friday.

Obviously, the audience still wants Govinda the entertainer, not Govinda the experimenter.

Which leaves Govinda in caught.

Most of his Hindi films have been either hits. Or, at least, successful. His Aaghaaz, which means 'new beginning', has actually proved a new beginning in his career.

No film of his in the past has opened so dismally as Aaghaaz!

Not that her films reflected this as far as the box office is concerned.

Tabu's films have never recorded 100 per cent collection even on the opening day. That's not news.

Last week saw three of Tabu's films releasing simultaneously -- Shikari, Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar and Astitva (Hindi and Marathi versions).

No, no, nobody expected any of the films to record cent per cent collections. But one expected the three films' initial would total 100 per cent.

Sadly, we were wrong!

Need we say more about the Aishwarya-Abhishek starrer, which was sold at Rs 2.5 crore per territory?

Now, are Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan playing a balancing game?

While the big Bachchan is trying to make people crorepatis on the small screen, the junior is, unfortunately, making distributors kangalpatis, on the big screen.

Abhishek's Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa proved a loss-making venture for distributors.

Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke landed its distributors with even heavier losses!

Now, distributors are steering well clear of Prakash Mehra 's Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachao.

Why? Because it has been directed by Harry.

Not that it would have made much of a difference if Prakash Mehra had directed it. Remember the veteran's last film, Bal Bramhachari?

That effectively totalled hero Puru Raajkumar.

Which leaves Harry Baweja crying. For a distributor!