A Bollywood movie starring Salman Khan would soon premiere in China. Bollywood producers have apparently learned the trick from Hollywood studios to get a Chinese actor in the cast for the movie to have higher chances of box-office success in the world’s second-largest movie market.
Attracting Chinese Audience
Daly News & Analysis reported that to appear in “Tubelight” is Chinese actress Zhu Zhu. But the Bollywood studio is not relying on Zhu Zhu being the only draw to Chinese moviegoers. Salman Khan Films would promote the war drama movie with the lead actor touring key Chinese cities.
“China is a huge market. The number of theatres in the country are staggering. Plus, ‘Tubelight’ does have a Chinese connection, including its leading lady. We are looking at the various possibilities of how to give the film a big release in China,” Kabir Khan, director of the movie, said.
Days before the release of the movie in India, the producer released two new posters. One poster showed actors Salman Khan and Sohal Khan in a brotherly moment. The two are on top of a bus traveling between Manali and Ladakh.
The poster and location are hints about the movie’s plot, according to India Times. The fllm's backdrop is the 1962 Sino-Indian War. The other poster, released on Monday, showed Matin Rey Tangu, a child actor.
Competition with Pakistani Movies
However, Hindustan Times reported that “Tubelight” might not be shown in Pakistan on Eid. It is because some local moviemakers initiated a move to delay the film’s release. Together with the Film Distributors Association and the Film Producers Association, the movie producers seek better business for Pakistani movies to be shown during the Eid holidays, Hindustan Times reported.
If “Tubelight” would be shown during that period, it would compete with two big local movies, “Yalghaar” and “Shor Sharaba.” The Bollywood film would hit the business of the two local movies and it would not help the industry, Mustafa Qureshi, a Pakistani actor, said.