Salman Khan starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which is being called Little Lolita Monkey God Uncle in China, is turning out to be a blockbuster in the country, having amassed over Rs 150 crore in the country since its release.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan released in India more than two years back, but it was only on March 2 that Chinese audience got a chance to watch the movie. This is Salman Khan's first movie to release in the country, where Aamir Khan is already an established superstar.
"Eros International and Salman Khan Film's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' has an outstanding second Saturday in China, collecting $3.35 million. Running Total: $23.11 million (Rs 150.70 crore)," a statement issued by the makers read.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan has also become the first Salman movie to enter the Rs 200 crore club in overseas markets.
The Kabir Khan directed movie revolves around the attempts of a Hindu man, played by Salman, to reunite a young dumb-mute Pakistani girl with her parents.
Some religious and political outfits had initially objected to the film's title, but Salman was sure his role would win over critics.
"It’s a positive title; it’s the most positive title ever," he told The Hindu. "No religious group will object because how can anyone, particularly someone who is devout, object to the positivity expressed in this film’s title? All religious groups teach their disciples to respect other faiths. Each one is a path to God. Look around you — don’t you see how secular we are? People in skull caps dance at Ganpati Visarjans, Hindus visit Dargahs to pray for Mannats."
The film's director Kabir also defended the title saying Hanuman does not belong to one single community.
"I wanted Bajrangi to stand for what he is—the most fun god," Khan told Indian Express. "I was not going to let the right-wingers appropriate Lord Hanuman as their own. Hanuman doesn’t belong to only one community. Bajrangi is a symbol of our ethos. And the way the audience has taken to the film, it proves that he belongs to entire India."
The film also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Harshaali Malhotra and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in lead roles.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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