'Jaane Tu', 'Love story 2050' open to huge expectations

Mumbai, Jul 5 (PTI) All eyes will be on Bollywood box
office Friday with the release of 'Love Story 2050' and 'Jaane
Tu...Ya Jaane na' featuring two promising debutants Harman
Baweja and Imran Khan, respectively.

Both the actors come have a Bollywood connection and are
contrasting personalities.

Harman is the son of filmmaker Harry Baweja while Imran
is the grandson of noted filmmaker late Nasir Hussain and
nephew of Aamir Khan.

With the first half of 2008 not providing much fireworks
at the box office, trade analysts are pinning hopes on the two
films to lead the way in the second half.

Harman makes his debut under the directorial baton of
father Harry in the film produced by his mother Pammi. Imran
takes his bow as an actor with lyricist turned director Abbas
Tyrewala and Aamir as producers of the film.

Tall and handsome Harman is been compared to Hrithik
Roshan due to his looks and dancing skills while Imran with
his typical chocolate boy looks reminds the audiences of a
young Aamir Khan.

Harman is trained in film production and always wanted to
be an actor and Imran studied filmmaking at New York film
school and aspires to be a director like his uncle.

Both Harman and Imran have begun their careers with
romantic films - Harman with a sci-fi, futuristic love story
and Imran with a contemporary romantic tale set up in the
backdrop of a college campus.

The premiere of 'Jaane Tu' was a star studded affair
held at a suburban multiplex last night. While 'Love Story
2050' premiered in London the previous day.

Trade analyst Amod Mehra told P.T.I. that 'Jaane Tu...'
has a fresh, young look to it and this would work in favour of
the film.

"It is a routine story presented in a very contemporary
manner. The treatment of the story is very good.

As the story comes to an end, one feels bad about it and
want to see it more. It is after a long time that Bollywood
has seen a simple love story which has some brilliant light
moments," he said.

Apart from Imran, Pratik Babbar, son of Bollywood actors
Raj Babbar and Smita Patil makes his debut as the film's
leading lady Genelia's brother.

Mehra said clash of release dates of the two films is
bound to affect one of them. "It is natural that the better of
the two will work at the box office."

'Love Story 2050' marks the biggest ever global release
for a debutant actor. The film has opened at 1055 screens
across 898 locations worldwide.

The film made with a budget of USD ten million, one of
the most expensive ever made,has released with 367 prints and
355 digital screens with over 2500 shows scheduled for
screening per day in India.

The film's release was complemented through a marketing
plan with a combine outlay of direct marketing spends and
branding associations exceeding rs 15 crore.

'Jaane Tu...' has been released with 450 prints.

Trade sources feel 'Jaane Tu...', a comparatively low
budget film will be a tough competitor to 'Love Story 2050', a
futuristic sci-fi film.

'Jaane Tu...' has seen much higher advance bookings than
'Love Story 2050', the sources said.

Taran Adarsh, another trade analyst said both the films
are fresh and novel. "There is space for a good film in the
market."

Both the debutants have already made their mark with the
filmmakers. Apart from 'Jaane Tu...', Imran has completed
shooting for Sanjay Gupta's 'Kidnap' and is now shooting for
'Luck' opposite Shruti Hassan, daughter of actors Kama Hassan
and Sarika.

Harman has been signed by Ashutosh Gowarikar for his next
film 'What's your Rashee?' and another film being produced by
Sanjay Leela Bhansali. PTI MR