HC issues notice to Salman, Bazmi on 'Ready'

The Allahabad High Court today issued notices to Salman Khan and Anees Bazmi, the hero and director of the recently released film Ready, besides the Central Film Certification Board on a PIL seeking stay on public exhibition of the movie.

A vacation division bench of Lucknow comprising Justices Devi Prasad Singh and Justice Rajiv Sharma also directed them to file reply within three weeks.

The court directed that rejoinder may be filed within two weeks thereafter by the petitioner.

Salman Khan impresses again, ‘Ready’ grosses Rs. 41 crore

Last year it was his rural action-drama “Dabangg” that broke the dry spell at the box office by earning Rs.48.25 crore in the opening weekend, and this year Salman Khan’s comedy “Ready” has brought the much needed respite at the box office by grossing Rs.41 crore over the weekend.

Trade pundits, however, admit that “Ready” is not on par with “Dabangg” in terms of content and appeal and many not enjoy a long innings at the box office, but it is an entertaining film and got a good opening.

“Ready has had a good opening. The occupancy has been 90-95 percent. It is more of a family entertainer. One would not see the kind of action that was in ‘Dabangg’ and ‘Wanted’,” Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (Cinemas) of Wave Cinemas told IANS.

“Salman is perfect in the film he has done full justice to his character. Asin, is also good in the film,” he added.

In contrast to Rs.18 crore “Dabangg”, a small town cop drama shot in Wai in Maharashtra and partly in the UAE, “Ready”, shot entirely in Thailand, is expensive, has an urban setting and is said to have cost Rs.50 crore.

Released on 1,900 screens, ‘Ready’ earned Rs.13.5 crore on the opening day, Rs.12.5 crore on Saturday, and Rs.15 crore on Sunday.

“People are enjoying the film a lot, specially Salman Khan, although the shows have not been back-to-back houseful like ‘Dabangg’ and ‘Wanted’. The audis have witnessed 80 percent occupancy,” said a source in PVR.

Shot in the exotic locales of Thailand, the film is about happy-go-lucky guy Prem (Salman). He mistakenly helps a girl Sanjana (Asin Thottumkal) escape from marriage and later falls for her. Paresh Rawal, Arya Babbar and Mahesh Manjeraker also feature in it.

Just like Salman’s 2008 hit “Wanted”, his “Ready” is performing much better in single screen theatres. Confirming this, Piyush Raizada of Delite Cinemas said their shows are going houseful.

“The response to ‘Ready’ is terrific. Till now, our shows are going housefull. Everyone is appreciating Salman’s acting. It is too early to say whether the film will be as big as ‘Dabangg’ because today, every day counts because of the number of shows being played today,” he said.

At a time when most of the big-budgets, with big names like Akshay Kumar starrer “Patiala House”, Abhishek Bachchan’s “Game” and “Dum Maaro Dum” failed to stir the box office, Salman’s magic worked again as “Ready” has brought smiles on the faces of distributors, cinema hall owners and audiences alike.

“I really enjoyed the film. Salman is really good. The first half is a bit boring but the film picks up after the interval and I couldn’t stop laughing till the end,” said Madhu Verma, a housewife.

College student Priya Chawla liked it so much that she wants to watch it again.

“I found the movie extremely entertaining from the very first scene. Some of the one liners are hilarious and they could become popular pick-up lines. Salman is superb with his comic timing. I plan to watch it again,” she said.

Last year too, when the box office was reeling under flops, Salman bailed it out with “Dabangg” and conquered it not only by earning the maximum profits of reportedly Rs.145 crore, but scooped the maximum awards, including a National Award for the best entertainer of the year.

Ritika Sinha, also a college sudent, said the film lacks focus, but has some really good punch lines.

Trade pundits, however, admitted that “Ready” will not enjoy long stay at the box office like “Dabangg”.

“The film doesn’t seem to sustain for long. We are looking at the occupancy. If it drops down to 50 percent then we will put another film. However, film is doing really well on single screens,” said the source from PVR.

Piyush Raizada said: “Gone are the days when films had to run for many days to be declared a hit. Today, in two to three weeks a film is declared a hit.”

Sonakshi & Zarine congratulate Asin for 'Ready'

For the world out there he may be everyone's 'bhai' but for all his on-screen leading ladies, especially the ones belonging to the newest breed, he is pretty much the man to be adored. No wonder, these girls are so attached to Salman Khan that this virtue has been rubbed on amongst them as well. This was pretty much on display last weekend when Asin, Sonakshi Sinha and Zarine Khan bonded during the special screening of 'Ready'.

"Together they were like a house on fire when Asin, Sonakshi and Zarine came face to face for the screening of 'Ready'. Detractors would have wished for some fireworks or at the least a few cold vibes but to their utter disappointment, the girls interacted and chatted from nineteen to the dozen," informs a fellow actor who was also present for the screen.

Who's Hot Who's Not - Ready Screening

A special screening was held in Mumbai for Salman Khan's latest flick Ready. Salman Khan's sister Arpita was the hostess for the evening. Salman was not present at the screening as he was away shooting for Bodyguard.

Salman may have been away but his friends and family showed support for the actor by attending the special event. Helen, Nitu Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, and Zarine Khan were just some of the stars that turned up for the screening.

Salman Khan and Asin may have been absent from this screening but they did attend another special screening of Ready held just for underprivileged children.

Huge start for 'Ready' ensures another 100 crores grosser for Salman

The film opened huge on Friday and though the media reviews were mixed with most of them falling in the 'below average' category, audience reaction was just the opposite with reports being above average to excellent. Were there murmurs, heart aches, heart burns and negativity? Oh, of course yes. There were a few out there who were 'disappointed', 'appalled', 'peeved' or 'suffering from massive headaches'. Well, let the fact be stated, these were the people who were from 'within the industry' and not 'aam junta'.

As it happens around the release of every big film, negative reactions are spread out in hundreds and an attempt was made to pull down 'Ready' as well. The 'camp' business was pretty much evident and those who weren't too fond of the kind of response that this Anees Bazmee-Salman Khan film was seeing for itself were busy spreading rumours.

However as it happens in case of films which are accepted whole heartedly, 'Ready' too managed to stand like a rock and after consistent collections on Friday and Saturday, it sky rocketed further to see complete domination on Sunday, hence ensuring that most of the negative voices were curbed. With the collections continuing to be excellent on Monday as well, it was death kneel for those who were none too pleased with the film turning out to be hugely successful. Sad for them because 'Ready' is now the biggest success of the year and is all set to cross the 100 crores mark for a Salman starrer after 'Dabangg'.

All of this means that while Salman will now have 'Ready' following the super success of 'Dabangg', even Anees Bazmee can leave the disappointment of 'No Problem' behind and celebrate being the only director in the current times to have two super hits crossing the 70 crores mark (Singh Is Kinng, Welcome) and two films touching the 50 crores mark (No Entry, Thank You).

Salman's 'Ready' grosses Rs.41 crore

Last year it was his rural action-drama Dabangg that broke the dry spell at the box office by earning Rs.48.25 crore in the opening weekend, and this year Salman Khan's comedy Ready has brought the much needed respite at the box office by grossing Rs.41 crore over the weekend.

Trade pundits, however, admit that Ready is not on par with Dabangg in terms of content and appeal and many not enjoy a long innings at the box office, but it is an entertaining film and got a good opening.

"Ready has had a good opening. The occupancy has been 90-95 percent. It is more of a family entertainer. One would not see the kind of action that was in Dabangg and Wanted'," Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (Cinemas) of Wave Cinemas told.

"Salman is perfect in the film he has done full justice to his character. Asin, is also good in the film," he added.

In contrast to Rs.18 crore Dabangg, a small town cop drama shot in Wai in Maharashtra and partly in the UAE, Ready, shot entirely in Thailand, is expensive, has an urban setting and is said to have cost Rs.50 crore.

Released on 1,900 screens, 'Ready' earned Rs.13.5 crore on the opening day, Rs.12.5 crore on Saturday, and Rs.15 crore on Sunday.

"People are enjoying the film a lot, specially Salman Khan, although the shows have not been back-to-back houseful like Dabangg and Wanted'. The audis have witnessed 80 percent occupancy," said a source in PVR.

Shot in the exotic locales of Thailand, the film is about happy-go-lucky guy Prem (Salman). He mistakenly helps a girl Sanjana (Asin Thottumkal) escape from marriage and later falls for her. Paresh Rawal, Arya Babbar and Mahesh Manjeraker also feature in it.

Just like Salman's 2008 hit Wanted, his Ready is performing much better in single screen theatres. Confirming this, Piyush Raizada of Delite Cinemas said their shows are going houseful.

"The response to Ready is terrific. Till now, our shows are going housefull. Everyone is appreciating Salman's acting. It is too early to say whether the film will be as big as Dabangg because today, every day counts because of the number of shows being played today," he said.

Ready has brought smiles on the faces of distributors, cinema hall owners and audiences alike.

"I really enjoyed the film. Salman is really good. The first half is a bit boring but the film picks up after the interval and I couldn't stop laughing till the end," said Madhu Verma, a housewife.

College student Priya Chawla liked it so much that she wants to watch it again.

"I found the movie extremely entertaining from the very first scene. Some of the one liners are hilarious and they could become popular pick-up lines. Salman is superb with his comic timing. I plan to watch it again," she said.

Last year too, when the box office was reeling under flops, Salman bailed it out with "Dabangg" and conquered it not only by earning the maximum profits of reportedly Rs.145 crore, but scooped the maximum awards, including a National Award for the best entertainer of the year.

Ritika Sinha, also a college sudent, said the film lacks focus, but has some really good punch lines.

Trade pundits, however, admitted that "Ready" will not enjoy long stay at the box office like "Dabangg".

"The film doesn't seem to sustain for long. We are looking at the occupancy. If it drops down to 50 percent then we will put another film. However, film is doing really well on single screens," said the source from PVR.

Piyush Raizada said: "Gone are the days when films had to run for many days to be declared a hit. Today, in two to three weeks a film is declared a hit."