“12th Fail,” featuring Vikrant Massey, is primed for an extensive release in China, spanning across 20,000 screens.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s film “12th Fail” emerged as one of the most successful movies of 2023. Despite its initial lukewarm reception in India, the film is now poised for a wide release in China, which is expected to significantly boost its profits. Actor Vikrant Massey, who portrays the lead role in the film, shared in a recent interview that it will hit 20,000 screens in China.
“It has been in the works for a few months, but finally the news is out, and everyone knows that the film is releasing in China. There is a huge demand for Hindi cinema or Indian cinema in China. There are more than 20,000 screens [allocated to 12th Fail]. China really caters to the entertainment sector and hence the numbers [of screens],” he told India Today.
When asked if he would travel to China to promote the film, Vikrant stated, “It is too soon to talk about that, but I am really excited because, after a long time, something like this has happened.” Despite not receiving a wide release in India, 12th Fail managed to earn Rs 56.75 crore in the domestic market, according to Bollywood Hungama. On its opening day, the film had approximately 1,347 shows across India, as reported by Sacnilk. Considering its modest budget, this was considered a significant success for the film. Shortly afterward, the film premiered on the streaming platform Hotstar and garnered considerable acclaim on social media. Even 25 weeks after its theatrical release, the film continues to be screened in theaters across India.
In the past, films like Dangal, Secret Superstar, and PK have achieved remarkable success in China. According to Bollywood Hungama, Dangal grossed $196.89 million, Secret Superstar made $118.24 million, and PK earned $116.6 million upon their releases in China.
The ban on the release of Indian films in China was implemented in 2020 amidst escalating tensions between the two countries. However, this ban was lifted in 2022 with the Chinese release of the film Chhichhore, starring Sushant Singh Rajput.