The RK scion couldn't have made a more honest confession. The Imtiaz Ali movie, which has Deepika Padukone paired opposite the actor, is indeed a make-or-break release for him.
The spell of flops in his career began, ironically, soon after Karan Johar-Ayan Mukerji's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani's thumping box-office victory in 2013.
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Between Diwali 2013 and Diwali 2015, Ranbir counted on four films, three of which released and swiftly bowed out of public memory -- Besharam, Roy and Bombay Velvet.
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Jagga Jasoos, the fourth one in Ranbir's 'dubious quadrangle', went into production in 2013, but hasn't seen light of day yet.
On last check, large portions of the Anurag Basu-musical have been re-edited with 22 days of reshooting added. Its final 60-day schedule is waiting to happen in January 2016. The film, according to trade, will open in the second half of the year, though June may no longer be the month of release.
Considering this grim situation, it's not surprising that RK Junior is counting on Tamasha.
"Knowing Ranbir, and as his uncle and a senior actor, I'm confident Tamasha will succeed. My nephew is a great actor. His films have not done well in recent years, but that's with every actor," defends Randhir Kapoor.
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He continues, "Hits and flops are like seasons that come and go. What remains is an actor's performance. Even in Besharam and Bombay Velvet, Ranbir's performance was appreciated."
Randhir is not the only optimistic person in the industry. Though Tamasha's first trailer received lukewarm response, its music, composed by AR Rahman, has steadily grown on the younger audience. The film has also created a buzz because of Ranbir's sizzling on-screen chemistry with his ex-flame Deepika.
In short, expectations from the movie have begun to skyrocket, even if it is coming just two weeks after Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, a mammoth Salman Khan-starrer from the Rajshri Films stable.
Rajesh Makhija of Carnival Cinemas believes there's room for both the films to survive. He points out how both Baahubali and Bajrangi Bhaijaan enjoyed a two-three week run at multiplexes and single screens despite releasing within a week or two from each other.
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"There's massive buzz for PRDP and Tamasha. Families are more eager to watch Rajshri Films' entertainer. In any case, Salman, Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan are evergreen box-office favourites. Despite all this, Tamasha will still find its feet at the box office. The youth is crazy about Ranbir and his romantic pairing with Deepika is a plus. Their last film together (YJHD) was a blockbuster," he adds.
However, Manoj Desai, the man behind the popular G7 single-screen chain that houses Gaiety and Galaxy cinemas in Bandra, and Maratha Mandir in South Mumbai, has a word of caution for Ranbir. "He has had three consecutive flops, which is not great for an actor of his calibre. Tamasha is indeed his litmus test -- he has to prove his mettle as a star crowd-puller and actor. The pressure's not so much on Deepika," avers Manoj.
Devendra Bhai from Naaz Distributors, a top distribution company that has seen the rise and fall of many actors in the last five-seven decades, feels that the last few flops have made Ranbir more cautious. "Besharam, Roy and Bombay Velvet were not in his core space. Tamasha is and so, it will work in his favour. Barfi! was an emotional film, while YJHD mirrored today's youth. Ranbir essays such roles brilliantly. Tamasha is indeed the game-changer," he states.
There are voices of dissent also. Vajir Singh, for one, the editor of Box Office India, Bollywood's top trade weekly, says, "How can one film make or break a star like Ranbir? One, two or even three flops can't shake him from his position. He's the youth's favourite. A seasoned star emerges ten times stronger when he comes out of his low phase. All those who've tried writing him off will chew their words very soon."
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