Happy New Year (2014 film)

Plans for the film began as far back as 2005 with an ensemble cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Uday Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, Manisha Koirala, Ameesha Patel, Priyanka Chopra, Raveena Tandon and Zayed Khan.[16] The film was shelved for unknown reasons and instead, Farah Khan made Om Shanti Om (2007), which featured Khan and Padukone. After her film Tees Maar Khan (2010), Farah began to consider the possibilities of the film and screenwriting was completed by October 2012.

When the film was revived, the filmmakers wanted an established actress in the lead role opposite Khan. In December 2012, media reported that the makers had approached Priyanka Chopra for the role, who was their first choice for the film after the script was revamped.[17] However, Chopra turned down the film due to dates issue; the schedule was clashing with another film she had signed.[18] Several actresses were considered for the role, such as Sonakshi Sinha, Asin, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Parineeti Chopra and Katrina Kaif,[19] however, Padukone was finalized, making it her third film opposite Khan following Om Shanti Om and Chennai Express (2013).[20] Khan was reported to be playing the role of a con artist in the film which had Deepika in the role of a Marathi dancer. At a point, John Abraham was to play one of the supporting roles but Sonu Sood replaced him.[21] Boman Irani was confirmed by the director during an interview. In August 2013, Jackie Shroff was finalised to play the film's antagonist.[22] The director's brother, Sajid Khan, would be making a guest appearance while actress Malaika Arora Khan was also signed to appear in a cameo.[23] Vivaan Shah was reported to play the role of a computer hacker. Actor-director Prabhu Deva performed a dance in a cameo.[24]

Farah made the official announcement on Twitter.[25] The first schedule of filming started in Dubai in early September 2013.[26] Arabian Business reported that a major portion of the film will be shot in the prestigious Atlantis, The Palm.[27]

On 23 January 2014, Shah Rukh Khan was injured while shooting at JW Marriott Hotel, Mumbai. Though reported as minor at first, he suffered a fractured shoulder[28] and a torn left knee patella, being advised rest for a while.[29]

Mehboob Studios was used as one of the major locations while certain portions were also filmed near the Wilson College. The final schedule was completed in August 2014.

Farah Khan wanted Shah Rukh Khan to grow his hair long so that he could sport shoulder length tresses.[30]

The worldwide distribution rights were sold to Yash Raj Films for ₹1.25 billion (US$18 million), the satellite rights were sold to Zee Network for ₹650 million (US$9.1 million) and the music rights to T-Series for ₹120 million (US$1.7 million), earning a total pre-release revenue of ₹2.02 billion (US$28 million).[35][36]

The soundtrack gained mostly positive reviews from music critics.

Kasmin Fernandes at The Times of India felt, "As a heist film centred round a dance competition, Happy New Year provides plenty of fodder for composers Vishal and Shekhar and lyricist Irshad Kamil to showcase their way with sounds. And they've delivered, with seven original tracks, one electronic version, a variation, a medley and an instrumental number."[37] Rohit Vats for Hindustan Times gave the album 3 out of 5 stars stated, "Farah Khan looks more concerned about the feel of her film than the quality of the songs, and it prompts her to go with trendy tunes. Overall, the album is average and is only youth oriented. Acquiring longevity will be difficult for this album."[38] For India.com, Prathamesh Jadhav wrote, "It's a mixed bag!"[39] On the contrary critic Surabhi Redkar for Koimoi felt, "Happy New Year album is not as extravagant as the film looks. With an expectation of a Bollywood musical soundtrack, it comes down to a regular album of Vishal-Shekhar. Even though the album will be a hit with tracks such as Manwa Laage and Kamlee, it will not enjoy much longevity."[40]

Happy New Year set a record by collecting ₹44.97 crore, making it the first Bollywood film to reach the figure in a single day. The record is recently broken by 2018 Diwali release Thugs of Hindostan starring Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Shaikh which collected 52.25 crore on Day 1 which is currently 2nd highest for any Bollywood film and this record is broken by War which collected 53.35 crore on Day 1[41] The film witnessed a drop on Saturday when it earned ₹285 million nett[42] and collections on Sunday were in the same range, taking the opening weekend to a record ₹970 million nett.[43] The film grossed around ₹1.75 billion in its first weekend worldwide,[44] the second highest opening for a Hindi film after Dhoom 3.[45]

The film grossed around ₹122.5 million nett on its first Monday to take its total to ₹1.09 billion in four days.[46] It earned ₹110 million nett on its first Tuesday as the film had a decent hold from Monday in a few circuits, taking its total to a huge ₹1.20 billion nett in five days.[47] Happy New Year grossed a huge ₹1.34 billion nett in its first week.[48][49] The film had a strong weekend and its all India collections were good on Monday and Tuesday but it fell on Wednesday.[50] The huge first week gave the film a massive distributor share of ₹770 million approx.[51] The film grossed ₹2.45 billion worldwide in its first week which was the fourth highest total ever behind Dhoom 3, Kick and Chennai Express.[52] The Tamil and Telugu versions of the film grossed ₹11 million nett and ₹26 million nett respectively in first week.[53]

Happy New Year had good collections on second Friday of around ₹45 million nett.[54] The film showed huge growth on its second Saturday and Sunday to gross around ₹67.5 million nett and ₹92.5 million nett respectively.[55][56] Happy New Year grossed around ₹202.5 million in second weekend to take its ten-day total to ₹1.54 billion nett.[57] The film grossed around ₹30 million nett on second Monday,[58] ₹40 million nett on second Tuesday[59] and ₹27.5 million nett on second Wednesday.[60] Happy New Year grossed around ₹353.8 million nett in its second week to take its total to ₹1.685 billion nett.[61] It grossed around ₹45 million nett over its third weekend to take its total to ₹1.73 billion nett.[62][63] Happy New Year grossed around ₹77.5 million nett in week three taking its total to a little over ₹1.76 billion nett.[64]

Happy New Year grossed ₹15.6 million nett in week four and ₹3.4 million nett in week five taking its final total to ₹1.83 billion nett.[65][66][67] Box Office India declared Happy New Year a "Super Hit".[68] Its final domestic gross was ₹295 crore[69] (US$48 million).

Happy New Year recorded the second highest overseas opening weekend of all time with figures of US$8.1 million (₹498 million).[70] The film had an all-time record opening in the Gulf, Nepal, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Germany.[71] In the opening weekend, the film grossed US$2.9 million (₹178 million) in the Gulf, $2 million (₹123 million) in US/Canada, £570,000 (₹56 million) in United Kingdom, A$380,000 (₹20.5 million) in Australia, and PKR 62 million (US$600,000, INR 37 million) in Pakistan.[72] Happy New Year took the all-time best ever opening for a Hindi film in Germany as it grossed $94,000 on its first day of release. Dhoom 3 had grossed $86,000 over the weekend and My Name Is Khan was $98,000 over the weekend.[73]

At the end of its theatrical run overseas, the film earned US$16.71 million (₹102 crore) in overseas markets.[74] It is one of the highest-grossing Indian films ever in overseas markets.

The film released in China on 12 February 2015. It went on to gross $500,000 (₹3.21 crore ) at the Chinese box office.[5]

The film received mixed reviews from critics in India and overseas.[75] It holds a 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 14 reviews.[76] While the performances of the lead cast, particularly Shahrukh and the humor content received praise, the lack of character development and the 'unoriginal' plot received criticism.

Saurabh Gupta of Indian Express rated the film 2 out of 5 stars calling it a "Mera Bharat Mahan sentiments" type movie, and a cross between an Ocean's 11/12 and "Flashdance".[77] Rediff rated the film 2 out of 5 stars, and said "the film plays out like a spoof from the get go, a gigantic lark where nothing is taken seriously".[78] NDTV also rated the film 2 out of 5 stars and said that irrespective of earnings at the box office, it "has nothing new to offer".[79] Mihir Fadnavis of First Post said that, "the movie looks and feels like a home video project that was intended for appreciation by precisely two people in the entire universe – Farah and Shah Rukh Khan" and appears to be "Ocean's 11 rewritten by baboons".[80] Rohit Vats of Hindustan Times gave the film 2.5 out of 5 stars taking on originality, said that "Originality? What's that, ask Farah Khan in Happy New Year".[81]

Shilpa Jamkhandikar of Reuters said that the film has liberally borrowed from Hollywood heist films, in particular from Steven Soderbergh's Ocean’s Eleven. "The first half is lighter and genuinely funny at times, but as the second half wears on, the proceedings become monotonous".[82] Lisa Tsering of The Hollywood Reporter reviewed film as, "an ambitious musical, a love story and an Ocean's 11-style crime caper".[83] Sami Qahar of the Dawn gave the film 2.5 out 5 stars and said the film is "Ocean’s Eleven plus Italian Job plus Step Up all in one…on cheap shape-deteriorating steroids."[84]