The BIGGEST July releases

In the last decade, July has been quite lucky for Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn, who have scored three blockbusters each!

Joginder Tuteja looks at the biggest July hits in the last decade.

 

Super 30, 2019
Box office collection: Rs 147.30 crore

Hrithik Roshan scored big in Vikas Bahl's Super 30.

The film didn't quite take a quick start, but word-of-mouth caught on and it made the weekend bountiful.

Co-starring Mrunal Thakur, this film about Patna educationist Anand Kumar just missed the Rs 150 crore mark.

 

Dhadak, 2018
Box office collection: Rs 74.19 crore

Karan Johar launched Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor in Dhadak, a remake of the Marathi blockbuster, Sairat.

The Shashank Khaitan directed film did well commercially despite a lot of criticism.

In fact, on satellite, it is one of the biggest hits as it caters to family audiences.

 

Mom, 2017
Box office collection: Rs 37.28 crore

A year before Janhvi Kapoor made her debut, her mother Sridevi was seen in her last film, Mom.

Directed by Ravi Udyawar, this thriller reminded us of how good a performer Sridevi is.

Arjun Kapoor and Anil Kapoor's Mubaarakan released in the same month and though it netted more (Rs 55.29 crore), it wasn't a theatrical success.

 

Sultan, 2016
Box office collection: Rs 301.50 crore

Salman Khan delivered a hat-trick of hits in July 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Sultan arrived in 2016 and the Ali Abbas Zafar directorial emerged an all time blockbuster.

The sports drama had a beautiful love story woven into the narrative with Anushka Sharma.

 

Bajrangi Bhaijaan, 2015
Box office collection: Rs 321 crore

Kabir Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan touched audiences' hearts with its emotional appeal.

It remains one of Salman and Kareena Kapoor's most successful films.

Baahubali: The Beginning released a week before this and entered the Rs 100 crore club.

Kick, 2014
Box office collection: Rs 232 crore

Salman's Kick was an instant blockbuster.

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala turned director with this masala film which had a lot of action.

The same month also saw the release of the other superhit, Ek Villain (with a collection of Rs 106 crore).

 

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, 2013
Box office collection: Rs 109 crore

Farhan Akhtar's biopic on Milkha Singh was a huge hit and one expected his acting career to really take off.

Surprisingly, neither did he make too many films nor did they turn out to be commercial successes, barring Wazir and Dil Dhadakne Do.

Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra was in great form and the same is expected from his next outing with Farhan, Toofan.

 

Bol Bachchan, 2012
Box office collection: Rs 103 crore

From 2010 to 2012, the month of July belonged to Ajay Devgn.

Along with Rohit Shetty, he delivered a major success in the form of Bol Bachchan, co-starring Abhishek Bachchan in a double role of sorts.

An adaptation of the Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt starrer Golmaal, Bol Bachchan was good fun.

Asin and Prachi Desai were the leading ladies.

 

Singham, 2011
Box office collection: Rs 100.30 crore

Singham, an official remake of the Surya starrer Singham, turned out to become a genre in itself.

The Rohit Shetty directed film surprisingly took a slow start, but once it took off, there was no looking back as it raced into the Rs 100 crore club.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, which released in the same month, did net Rs 90.27 crore, but its overall run was impacted.

 

Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, 2010
Box office collection: Rs 58 crore

Sheer dialogue-baazi ruled Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai which brought Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi together.

Incidentally, there was a time when it had seemed that the Milan Luthria directorial would not see the light of the day.

When it went over budget after completion of 50 percent of the shoot, there was a lot of uncertainty around it. Eventually, of course, it became a hit.