NEWS: 'Race 2' collects Rs.79.6 crore in first week

'Race 2' collects Rs.79.6 crore in first week

Abbas-Mustan's action thriller "Race 2" has raked in Rs.79.6 crore net in its opening week at the domestic box-office. The film is also minting money in the overseas market.

Co-produced by UTV Motion Pictures and Ramesh Taurani of Tips Films, "Race 2" had earned Rs.51.35 crore over first weekend. In the following days, film earned Rs.7.5 crore Monday, Rs.6.5 crore Tuesday, Rs.5.75 crore Wednesday, Rs.5 crore Thursday and Rs.3.5 crore Friday.

The first-week total on the domestic box office sums up to Rs.79.6 crore, while in the international market, "Race 2" grossed over $4.25 million in its opening week.

Made for Rs.60 crore, the film features an ensemble cast of Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Jacqeline Fernandez, Anil Kapoor and Ameesha Patel

Movie Review: RACE 2

Movie Review: RACE 2

‘Race 2’ has every ingredient of an Abbas Mustan flick. It’s got oodles of glamour, scorching style, sleek Bond-ish heroes, gorgeous ladies, characters with more than fifty shades of grey, some enjoyable background music, talks of yachts, and oh boy - some cars, and overshadowing every other thing – money! 

The story involves casinos, generous numbers of Audis – which at times make you wonder whether or not the film is a giant commercial for the car brand. There’s actually a cleverly-put-in sentence promoting a model of the car too. 

People in this film speak of money in millions and billions of Euros – to a point where you stop working out the zeroes in the figures. The style quotient is so much in the film that even in the pouring rain, and sobbing in front of a grave, Saif cannot take his glares off. 

There are twists and turns, some extra-longwinding chase scenes which could definitely have been shortened, and action. The film – apart from the amount of money put in constructing it bit by bit, and its action sequences – is actually nothing. It is very glittery, making it blinding at times. And yes, betrayal is survival – every bit so.

Saif gets to mouth some of the best dialogues in the two and a half hours of blasts and twists and turns. Sample a few: Ranvir saying, “Revenge is a dish best served cold”, “Race humesha meri hi thi aur meri hi rahegi… (The race was always mine, and will always be mine…)”, and the like. 

When it comes to acting, barring Ameesha Patel, most have lived up to their roles. Saif, reprising Ranveer’s role from the original, does a great job this time too. John Abraham’s character is painted in the darker shades of grey, and Action Abraham plays the cold-blooded Arman Malik well. He tries hard to provide his character with the required depth and succeeds mostly. Deepika’s acting skills are going up with every single film of hers. If in ‘Cocktail’ she played the carefree Veronica to the hilt, here she ups her performance with the shrewd Eleana. Jaqueline Fernandez has some really stylish fencing and archery scenes in the film – only that their purpose evades the senses. Anil Kapoor in his fruit-loving Robert D’Costa avatar justifies the role completely. 

An almost blink-and-miss cameo by Bipasha Basu is the basic premise of the film, and the lady doesn’t disappoint. The supporting cast of Aditya Pancholi and Rajesh Khattar play along well. As for Ameesha Patel, enough said already.

Salim-Sulaiman’s background score matches the high-octane action scenes completely and is a huge advantage for the story – without it, the film might have been a pretty damp affair. Music director Pritam has a song for every drop of a hat. 

The most famous song of the film, ‘Allah duhai hai’, ironically, comes across as unintentionally funny – and placed at a moment which makes it so. ‘Be intehaa’ in Atif Aslam and Sunidhi Chauhan’s voice is an enjoyable one. The music of the film is mostly for moments when you have a party on your mind – literally. 

The film is defined by its well defined and crazy action sequences – and a lot of it. Shiraz Ahmed’s story doesn’t come across as the most defining feature of the film: blame the excessive action for that. The film is left open-ended, and – I can bet anything on this – there’s a sequel to this one coming up soon. The story isn’t able to keep one glued to the screen: your attention sways from not-enjoyable to boring several times.

In all, ‘Race 2’ is a grand display of money. The adrenaline-pumping action is the plus point of the film, but too much of that does no good to it. Two and a half stars from me for this Friday’s ‘expensive’ release.

Race 2, pale compare to Race

PHOTO: John, Chitrangda and Prachi on the sets of Me Aur Main

PHOTO: Race 2 Movie Team Press Meet

NEWS: 'Race 2' to release in over 50 countries

Abbas-Mustan's action-thriller "Race 2" is set to release in more than 50 countries, including Morocco and Vietnam.

It releases Jan 25.

"We have planned a massive international release for 'Race 2'. The film will be released in more than 50 countries. After many years, a Hindi movie will see a simultaneous release in Morocco in four to five screens, including theatres in Casablanca and Marrakech," said Amrita Pandey, executive director, Syndication, International Distribution and Disney Media Distribution, Studios, Disney UTV.

"Newer territories like Myanmar, East Timor, Maldives and Vietnam (with as many as seven screens) are also in our release plan. There is very high anticipation and for this sequel from the 'Race' franchise, and we are excited!" Pandey added in a statement.

Co-produced by UTV Motion Pictures and TIPS Industries, "Race 2" is the sequel to 2008 film "Race". The film features Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Jacqueline Fernandez and Ameesha Patel in prominent roles.

NEWS: First schedule of 'Madras Cafe' completed in South India

The first schedule of filmmaker Shoojit Sircar's new movie "Madras Cafe", featuring John Abraham and Nargis Fakhri, is over. It has been shot extensively in south India.

"We have finished shooting the first schedule in south India. The first schedule was shot in various parts of south India. It was great shooting for the film," Shoojit said.

"The second schedule will be shot in Mumbai, abroad and again in few parts of south India," he added.

Produced by John, the film was earlier titled "Jaffna". Asked about the film, Sircar said: "It is a spy thriller, a simple story of a spy. It is a thriller set in India and Sri Lanka."

Sircar's last film "Vicky Donor" not only won critical accolades, but went on to rake in the moolah at the box-office too.

OFFICIAL TRAILER: Race 2

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Meet the starcast of RACE 2