2021’s first significant theatre release is here. Roohi Afzana, now titled Roohi, an eerie airy horror-comedy featuring Janhvi Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao, is all set to release in March 2021. Confirming this director Hardik says other details are now being worked out.
Roohi has a lot going for itself. Jahnvi Kapoor scored a bull’s eye last year with the bio-pic Gunjan Saxena. Released on the OTT platform, the film fetched her unanimous accolades and she tells me she will be seen in a completely new avatar in Roohi.
Her co-star Rajkummar Rao has also been going through a winning streak with Ludo and The White Tiger released digitally, getting enormous eyeballs and appreciation.
Comments trade analyst Girish Johar, “Roohi has decent buzz around it primarily because of its cast Rajkummar Rao, Janhvi and Varun Sharma and also because of the Horror-Comedy genre. This cast follows a good traction at the box-office and the genre has been successful in the past as well. Promotions are yet to be started but yes if the content catches the viewers’ attention, I am pretty much confident that the makers will have a decent start at the box-office.”
Adds trade expert Atul Mohan, “The overall package looks good. This one may be the first A Lister film to release in 100% occupancy, if all states allow it. Right now only some of the states are participating with main centres like Mumbai and Delhi not participating in the 100 percent occupancy guideline. The film is an extension of the runaway hit horror-comedy Stree which had Rajkummar Rao in the lead and same producers (Maddock Films). But the scenario is different now. The movie-watching habits have changed during the lockdown. People are not wholeheartedly coming to cinemas. Hence, Roohi may have to face some difficulty. But as we have been saying since ages, a good product will always draw an audience. Fingers crossed!”
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