Karan Johar’s latest production Kalank has proved to be a damp squib at the box office despite its star cast. According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, the film, which released on 17 April, has earned Rs 66.03 crore at the box office despite having the advantage of opening during a long weekend.
Alia Bhatt, who plays one of the film’s leads, reacted to Kalank’s dismal performance during an interview at a recent awards ceremony. She said,
“I’m not going to analyse anything because I think that that’s something that is not required. Janta ki adalat sabse badi adalat hoti hai (the audience’s verdict is the most important). When the audience does not accept a film then the film should not do well. That’s just the way it is. We must accept things and try and make sure they’re not disappointed the next time.”Alia Bhatt, Actor
Kalank is a love story set in the 1940s in pre-Independence India. The film stars an ensemble cast of Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Madhuri Dixit, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditya Roy Kapur and Sanjay Dutt. It has been directed by Abhishek Varman and produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions.
While Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Madhuri Dixit and Sonakshi Sinha’s performances have been praised, the general consensus among critics and the audience alike is that the star cast and elaborate sets have not been able to make up for Kalank’s lacklustre story and three-hour run time.
The Quint’s Stutee Ghosh writes, “The clothes are distractingly good and the jewellery, well... it’s tantalisingly beautiful. As for all the radiance on screen thanks to the excessive gorgeousness brought by Alia Bhat, Aditya Roy Kapoor, and Varun Dhawan – it only gets better. Abhishek Varman’s Kalank is beautiful! It’s visually stunning, but devastatingly boring!
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