Judwaa was released exactly 21 years ago yesterday and proved to be huge hit in Mumbai and Nizam /Andhra and did well elsewhere. The film was released alongside the Nana Patekar starrer Yeshwant which coincidentally did well very well in Mumbaia and Nizam also. Both these films were major releases after a long time due to the one month strike in Maharashtra due to high entertainment tax.

The film was also the film which gave the career of Salman Khan a major lift as although he had much bigger Hits than Judwaa before they were either two hero films like Saajan, Karan Arjun and Jeet or ensemble cast ones like Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Sanam Bewafa where the supporting artistes have major roles.

The interesting thing about Judwaa is that box office numbers of Judwaa and Judwaa 2 released last year are so very similar. Not in terms of gross as after 21 years that is impossible but the adjusted numbers and footfalls are so very similar. in another words a similar number of tickets were sold and the business if ticket inflation is factored in, is also similar.

Judwaa (1997) has an adjusted nett gross on 2017 ticket prices of 131.11 crore while Judwaa 2 (2017)  grossed 132.4 crore

The footfalls of Judwaa (1997) were 1.36 crore while the footfalls of Judwaa 2 (2017) are 1.30 crore. If we look at the ratios of the biggest circuits than Judwaa (1997) did 34.77% in Mumbai and 19.71% in Delhi / UP while Judwaa 2 (2017)  is 27.46% in Mumbai and 24.26% in Delhi / UP.

The film was not a brand when Judwaa 2 released and even when Judwaa 2 became a big hit it could not be called a brand but after what has happened on satellite over the last month or so the film has become a huge brand. The film is the second most appreciated film of last year taking into account theatrical and satellite audience after Bahubali - The Conclusion unless Golmaal Again or Tiger Zinda Hai can do something about it. The mega television ensures Judwaa 3 is a sure shot if it is ever made (though not 20 years later like Judwaa 2).