Kabir Khan is returning to the big screen after a gap of 3 years with Sajid Nadiadwala-produced Chandu Champion. Kartik Aaryan plays the titular role. The film is inspired by the story of Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medalist, who won an individual gold medal in the 1972 Summer Paralympics, in Heidelberg, Germany. The trailer of Chandu Champion was launched in Gwalior on May 18.
With Chandu Champion, Kabir is back with another biographical-style film. His previous big-screen release was Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone’s 83. Despite the acclaim and positive response from critics, the film fraternity, and the audience, the biopic on the 1983 Cricket World Cup, failed to create magic at the box office. Made on a budget of approximately Rs. 270 crores, the second wave of COVID-19 hampered the commercial verdict of the brilliantly created 83. The estimated lifetime collection of the biopic is Rs. 193.73 crores.
Talking about 83’s performance at the box office, Kabir said in an interview with PTI, “I feel exhilarated to have created this film which has received so much love but at the same time there is a disappointment that not everybody who wants to watch it can see it today because the pandemic is there with historic numbers. We nurtured the film for two years, waited for the correct time so that everybody gets to see it on the big screen. But with this pandemic, despite our best planning, one can never get it right. We did not know that the explosion (of cases) would literally take place on the day of our release. December 24 is when we (the country) hit 6,000 cases and in 10 days we crossed a lakh. It was just sad.”
Kabir has been associated with some of the biggest and most popular films like Kabul Express, New York, Ek Tha Tiger, and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. However, his last films haven’t lived up to the expectations. Phantom starring Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif received mixed reactions. The film took a lukewarm start at the box office. It was made on a budget of reportedly Rs. 72 crores and the lifetime collection was approximately Rs. 84 crores.
His war drama, Tubelight, was impacted due to negative reviews. The lifetime collection was Rs. 211.14 crores. According to a report in Forbes, the distribution rights of Tubelight was reported at Rs. 247 crores. As per boxofficeindia.com, that figure encompassed Rs. 132 crore for theatrical rights in India, Rs. 55 crores for TV rights, Rs. 22 crores for music rights, and Rs. 38 crores for ex-India rights. The production and domestic marketing reportedly cost Rs. 90 crores. Trade publications predicted that Tubelight should have grossed at least Rs. 325 crores to call it a profitable venture. However, that didn’t work out.
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