New Delhi, Dec 26 (IANS) Action, drama, comedy or romance - you name it and Bollywood had it this year. Be it small-budget content-driven films or typical potboilers, the industry saw a great mix of movies throughout 2012.
IANS picks the best of the lot that rocked the box office:
"Ek Tha Tiger": The very fact that former real-life couple Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan were the lead pair for this film was enough to draw audiences to the theatres. Its songs, picturisation and power-packed action kept the cash registers ringing, and helping this film garner approximately Rs.190 crore. Salman played an Indian spy named Tiger, who falls head over heels in love with a female spy from Pakistan, essayed by Katrina. Their chemistry, of course, worked.
"Rowdy Rathore": The return of 'khiladi' Akshay Kumar - that's what this film was awaited for. Akshay's action, mixed with Prabhudheva's distinct taste of dance and exaggerated jumps, gave Hindi movie buffs a perfect masala affair. The Bollywood remake of Telugu movie "Vikramarkudu", it also stared Sonakshi Sinha. The movie earned Rs.140 crore.
"Agneepath": A remake yet again. The success ratio of remakes of past hits has been low, but"Agneepath" was a dream debut for Karan Malhotra. He added a contemporary touch to the eponymous 1990 movie. With Hrithik Roshan reprising the role of Vijay Dinanath Chauhan and Sanjay Dutt playing the villain Kaancha Cheena, "Agneepath" turned out to be 2012's first blockbuster and managed to mint around Rs.120 crore.
"Housefull 2": One would hardly think of enjoying a movie with 12 known actors playing key roles. But this one managed to entertain viewers. A sequel to hit 2010 movie "Housefull", this Sajid Khan film, with its classic comic sequences, but slightly crowded cast, made over Rs.110 crore at the box office.
"Barfi!": The simple story line, sensitive treatment and excellent performances helped Anurag Basu's "Barfi!" establish an emotional connect with the audience. The love story of a deaf and mute boy, played deftly by Ranbir Kapoor, with an autistic girl, essayed by National award-winning actress Priyanka Chopra, left many teary eyed. India's official entry for the foreign film category Oscar this year, the movie, which is now out of the Oscar race, made collections of Rs.110 crore.
"Jab Tak Hai Jaan": Love was redefined in typical Yash Chopra way with "Jab Tak Hai Jaan". The late filmmaker, who bid adieu to the world just a few days before the movie's release, gave his final work with the king of romance Shah Rukh Khan in the lead. The movie, also featuring Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, captured the scenic beauty of London and Kashmir very well - garnering collections of over Rs.120 crore.
"Bol Bachchan": It was hard to think of a modern day version of the 1979 comedy "Gol Maal". But Rohit Shetty made it happen - and how! This Abhishek Bachchan and Ajay Devgn-starrer turned out to be truly 'paisa vasool'. Ajay's one-liner English dialogues and Abhishek's double dhamaal paved the way for crossing the Rs.100-crore mark for this film.
"Son Of Sardaar": Remember Ajay Devgn and his "Phool Aur Kaante" stunt on two bikes? He took it to the next level by riding together on two horses in "Son of Sardaar". A turban-clad Ajay managed to tickle the viewers' funny bone, along with Sanjay Dutt and Sonakshi Sinha, and helped this movie make around Rs.105 crore.
"Talaash": Aamir Khan's Midas touch rarely fails. "Talaash" was just another case in point. This suspense thriller by Reema Kagti narrated the story of a Mumbai cop trying to put a puzzle in place and it kept the audience on the edges of their seats. The film, also starring Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukerji, made around Rs.90 crore at the Indian box office.
"OMG: Oh My God!": Comedy, sadness, anger and greed. Paresh Rawal carried out all emotions in one character flawlessly. Akshay Kumar played god in the Umesh Shukla-directorial, which questioned the existence of god. Complete with humour and a message, the movie minted over Rs.70 crore at the box office.
(Yashika Mathur can be contacted at yashika.m@ians.in)
