Bollywood profits soar on back of Indian Superman

Bollywood's first superhero has brought super profits to India's prolific film industry. Bollywood superhero 'Krrish'

Bollywood superhero 'Krrish''Krrish,' the story of a Superman-clone who also sings and dances, has topped a series of unconventional movies that have propelled mid-year earnings to about $70 million, one of the best in recent years, industry officials said on Monday.With more unusual stories set to hit the screens later this year, 2006 could well end up being a dream year for an industry that operates on small margins and is known for making more flops than hits. "It has been a very good year so far," said Sopran Sen, secretary-general of the Film and Television Producers' Guild."Three super hits and a few moderate hits. Some more big-banner films are expected to do well," he said.'Krrish,' which centers around a man with superhuman powers and saves the world from a mad scientist, has ended up as the year's biggest earner, netting almost $15 million in the opening week, an Indian record.It is expected to easily gross one billion rupees ($22 million) by this weekend.‘Rang De Basanti’ (‘Color Me Saffron’) started this year's string of hits. The film is the story of five self-absorbed youngsters and their awakening and stars reclusive actor Aamir Khan.It earned 500 million rupees ($10.8 million), considered a handsome amount by Bollywood standards.Khan followed it up with ‘Fanaa’ (‘Extinction’), dealing with an Islamist terrorist's change of heart and an unconventional climax. It has grossed 900 million rupees ($19.5) and is still playing in many cinemas.Other moderate hits have included ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ (‘Conned Again’), a slapstick comedy, and ‘Gangster.’"2006 looks set to be one of the best years for Bollywood in recent times," said Taran Adarsh, a leading Bollywood analyst.It was India's aging screen icon Amitabh Bachchan who helped reverse a steady decline in Bollywood's fortunes in 2005, and the industry is looking to him for another good year.Bachchan's 2005 hits grossed nearly $22 million -- helping the industry cut its losses to 1.35 billion rupees on an investment of 10 billion rupees.For Bachchan, 63, this year has started none too impressively. But the industry is pinning its hopes on ‘Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna’ (‘Never Say Goodbye’), an extra-marital pot-boiler that is due for release this month.‘Zamanat’ (‘Bail’) is also eagerly awaited in which Bachchan plays a blind lawyer.