Table of Contents
Eminent Film Business Astrologer & Strategist, Hirav Shah outlines the top 5 Bollywood Film Studios below.
1. Dharma Productions
Establishment of Dharma Productions : Dharma Productions Pvt. Ltd. is an Indian production and distribution company established by Yash Johar in 1979. It was taken over in 2004 after his demise by his son Karan Johar.
Based in Mumbai, it mainly produces and distributes Hindi films. In November 2018, a new sector of the company was created called Dharmatic, which will focus on producing digital content for online distribution platforms.
Success of Dharma Productions : The company’s first production was Raj Khosla’s Dostana (1980) starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, and Zeenat Aman. The film was the highest-grossing Bollywood film of the year.
Then after a few flops, came Agneepath in 1990, which was a major box office hit and it also became a cult film.
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Dostana, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Student Of The Year, Agneepath(2012), Ae Dil Hai Mushkil & Baahubali 1 & 2 (Hindi), Raazi, Simmba and Good Newz are some of Dharma’s and Indian film industry’s biggest hits.
Failure of Dharma Productions :There have been box office failures, of course, since inception. Among which, titles like Gori Tere Pyar Mein (2013), Shaandaar (2015), Baar Baar Dekho (2016) and Kalank (2020) are the latest famous flops. But Johar remains clear on instinct. He is like that only, instinctive…
Future of Dharma Productions : Sooryavanshi, Shershaah, Brahmastra, Dostana 2, Liger, Jug Jugg Jeeyo, Mr Lele are some of Dharma’s upcoming films.
Looking at the slate of films, we can safely say that Dharma has an incredible future in 2021, also there is a possibility that the biggest film of 2021 could come from the stable of Dharma.
2. YRF
Establishment of YRF : Yash Raj Films (also known as YRF) is an Indian film production and distribution company working in Hindi and Punjabi cinema. Veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra founded YRF in 1970. The company has grown to be one of the largest film studios in India.
Success of YRF : YRF’s first release came in 1973 with the Chopra-directed Daag: A Poem of Love, a drama about bigamy, starring Rajesh Khanna, Raakhee and Sharmila Tagore.The company had four more releases in the 1970s, including the family drama Kabhie Kabhie and the action film Kaala Patthar, both of which starred Amitabh Bachchan.
YRF’s sole commercial success in the 1980s was the Sridevi-starring romance Chandni.
YRF’s highest-grossing films came in the 2010s with the spy thriller Ek Tha Tiger (2012) and its sequel in 2017, both starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, the third installment of the Dhoom franchise, entitled Dhoom 3 (2013), featuring Aamir Khan, Uday Chopra and Abhishek Bachchan, the sports drama Sultan (2016), starring Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma, and the action thriller War (2019), starring Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff.
All five films rank among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.
Failure of YRF : Over the decades, Yash Raj Films has given us many quality films. But there have been its side of ‘downs’ as well.
Thugs of Hindostan, Fan, Kill Dil, Daawat-e-Ishq, Aurangzeb, Bewakoofiyaan, Meri Pyari Bindu, Bank Chor, Qaidi Band are some of the studio’s latest and biggest failures, both commercially and critically.
Future of YRF : From Darr, DDLJ & Dil To Pagal Hai to War, YRF has come a really long way. Also the studio in a way defined commercial Hindi Cinema in India.
From making high-budget blockbusters to genre-defining films, from working with the biggest actors of the industry to launching young talent in films, from being the distribution house with the strongest global foothold to pioneering new formats of distribution and exploring newer territories, from launching compelling story-telling forms to the numerous digitally led innovations, Yash Raj Films (YRF) has maintained its flagship position across all verticals since its genesis.
Shamshera, Jayeshbhai Jordaar, Prithviraj, Pathan, Tiger 3, Maharaja & Bunty Aur Babli 2 are some of YRF’s slate of films, which are all set to release this year and beyond. Looking at the filmography and YRF’s business acumen, it’s safe to say that the future of YRF looks great !!
3. NGE
Establishment of Nadiadwala Grandson : Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment Pvt Ltd (NGE) is an Indian film production company based in Mumbai. It was established in 1970; 51 years ago.
Success of Nadiadwala Grandson : In August 1996, Raj Kanwar’s action thriller Jeet starring Sunny Deol, Karisma Kapoor and Salman Khan, which was produced by NGE, was released to highly positive critical reviews, and eventually proved as a breakthrough for the banner, as it grossed over ₹330 million (US$4.6 million) at the worldwide box office to become one of the year’s most earning films.
David Dhawan’s comedy Judwaa, released in February 1997, marked the next film of NGE. Featuring Salman Khan as twin brothers who were separated at their birth and reunite in youth, Judwaa starred Karisma Kapoor & Rambha as Khan’s love interests, and had a box-office successful run with lifetime earnings of over ₹220 million (US$3.1 million).
NGE achieved further success in 2010, producing the Sajid Khan-directed comedy Housefull, which consisted of an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Riteish Deshmukh, Arjun Rampal, Lara Dutta, Jiah Khan and Boman Irani. The movie grossed over ₹1.51 billion (US$21 million) worldwide, thus becoming NGK’s highest-grossing release at that point, and was the fourth top-earning Bollywood production of the year.
Housefull was the first installment of the Housefull film franchise as well. The company’s second production of the year was Siddharth Anand’s Anjaana Anjaani, a romantic comedy featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, which was profitable at the box office.
Housefull franchise, Baaghi franchise, Super 30, Kick , Heropanti, Chhichhore are all of the studio’s most highly successful films.
Failure of Nadiadwala Grandson : Every film studio has their own share of failures and successes. Even NGE.
Rangoon, Kalank, Phantom Kambakkht Ishq, Jaan E Mann are some of the studio’s biggest failures. These films had big stars but somehow, the audience didn’t accept them.
Future of Nadiadwala Grandson : 83, Tadap, Heropanti 2, Bachchan Pandey, Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali, Kick 2 and Sanki are their slate of films. This is huge and largely star driven. Looking at their vision and stories, it appears that, NGE’s future is going to be rock solid supported by Hits and Superhits.
4. Excel Entertainment
Establishment: Excel Entertainment is an Indian production company, founded by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar in 1999. Based in Mumbai, they mainly produce Hindi films. They are also known to be the pioneers of original content on Online Digital platforms in India.
Success of Excel Entertainment : Their first film,Dil Chahta Hai, received critical acclaim. They won national awards for Dil Chahta Hai and Rock On!!. With movies like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Don, Fukrey, Raees and Dil Dhadakne Do, Excel is known for its contemporary and diversified characters and style of cinema. Their film Gully Boy was also India’s official entry to the 92nd Academy Awards.
Failure of Excel Entertainment : Game, Talaash, Positive, Bangistan, Baar Baar Dekho, 3 Storeys are some of Excel’s failed films. The excel team has always been visionary but a few films here and there failed still, like any other studio.
Future of Excel Entertainment : In 2017, they released India’s first original series for Amazon Prime Video – Inside Edge, which was nominated for the International Emmy Awards for Best Drama Series. And this means, they are certainly ahead in the game.
The slate of Excel films which are all set to release are also a testimony to the fact that, “they are ahead in the game“.
Their upcoming film releases include Toofaan starring Farhan Akhtar, K.G.F: Chapter 2 starring Yash and Phone Bhoot starring Katrina Kaif, Ishan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi. Their upcoming O.T.T. The show is Inside Edge Season 3.
5. Reliance Entertainment
Establishment of Reliance Entertainment : Reliance Entertainment Pvt Ltd is an Indian media and entertainment company. It is a division of Reliance Group, handling its media and entertainment business, across content and distribution platforms.
The company was founded on February 15, 2005 as two entities, namely Reliance Big Entertainment and BIG Pictures. Four years later the two companies were merged into Reliance BIG Pictures in 2009, and the company’s name was changed to Reliance Entertainment the following year.
Success of Reliance Entertainment : Reliance Entertainment, the only 100% Indian-owned corporate player in the filmed entertainment industry, is a place where commerce meets art, blockbusters meet meaningful cinema, Bollywood & Hollywood meet Indian regional cinema and where genres like drama and comedy meet horror and romance.
With 300+ commercially and critically acclaimed movies in its portfolio, Reliance Entertainment has been distributing and syndicating films across India and 100+ countries. The movies and the people associated with Reliance Entertainment have won appreciation from fans and critics alike. Besides winning 28 National Awards, their films have premiered at some of the most prestigious film festivals around the world.
Failure of Reliance Entertainment : Since Reliance has forayed into a lot of things in films and digital across multiple languages, naturally they end up backing the maximum projects, hence their share of flops is also the maximum.
The girl on the train, Panipat, Bhavesh Joshi, Namaste England, Saand Ki Aankh, Commando 3, Do Knot Disturb, Daddy Cool, 13B, Wazir etc…are 10 of the failed Hindi films to have come out from the studio.
Future of Reliance Entertainment : Sooryavanshi, 83, Cirkus, Goodbye are some of the studio’s upcoming Bollywood releases. Aelay, Mandela & Jagame Thandhiram are 3 Tamil films from the studio, which are all set to release this year.
Looks like Reliance Entertainment is on a mission to produce films that can become classics in the future.
Final Thoughts
India is a growing entertainment economy. It is at the crossroads of an exciting phase that will shape its cultural and social framework forever.
And these film production houses will certainly help in doing so…Concludes Hirav Shah.
Who Is Hirav Shah:
Film Astrologer, Film Strategist, Bollywood Adviser, Thought Leader, Bollywood Astro-Strategist…..Hirav dons multiple hats.
Hirav’s advice and direction to various film studios and celebs, using Astro Principles have resulted in incredible results, for the world to see.
And, the best part is, despite being a world renowned Astro-Strategist, Hirav believes in consulting ‘free of cost’ to those struggling to gain a foothold in the industry.
Sounds Amazing, Doesn’t It !!
