New Delhi: Romantic drama "Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui" has been making a splash because its subject matter – the film features a transgender as lead character – in a first for Bollywood.
The movie has received positive reviews and word of mouth is helping to build box office returns.
It features Vaani Kapoor alongside Ayushmann Khurrana, in a story about a bodybuilder (Khurrana) who falls in love with a Zumba teacher (Kapoor), unaware that the latter is a transgender.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh described the movie as Refreshing.
“Bold. Refreshingly different. Progressive cinema.. #CKA enlightens and entertains… Pushes the envelope, defies the stereotype and drives home a pertinent message… WATCH IT!” he said in a tweet.
The film has been released in 2,500 screens across India and in 500 screens overseas. The worldwide screen count is 3,000, Adarsh said in another tweet.
The film’s box office earnings have remained rock steady and picked up over Rs 18 crores since its release on December 10, said Adarsh.
However, the release of “Spiderman” dented its earnings a bit.
Directed by Abhishek Kapoor, "Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui" is produced by T-Series in collaboration with Guy In The Sky Pictures.
In another tweet Adarsh said that Abhishek Kapoor completes 15 years as a story teller, pushing boundaries and venturing into unexplored worlds, with films like ”Rock On”, “Kai Po Che”, “Kedarnath” and now Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui.”
Actor Hrithik Roshan, in tweets congratulated Ayushmann Khurrana and director Abhishek Kapoor for the film.
“You are one of the finest actors of Indian cinema my friend!! It’s been a long time since I got inspired like this . Love it when it happens ! Thanks for inspiring me with this one ! Extraordinary you are ! Huge congrats ! Big jhappi @ayushmannk #ChandigarhKareAashiqui,” he posted.
For Abhishek Kapoor, he tweeted: “Dear Gattu . What I saw in #ChandigarhKareAashiqui was your heart and goodness mixed with an incredible sense of commercial entertainment. I cried and laughed and had goose flesh. What else does a film need to do! Well done my friend! Come, let’s celebrate !!" (UNI)