Audiences will get to see Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon on the big screen again, but in a film that is more than three decades old. Trimurti Films, the production house behind “Mohra,” uploaded a video on YouTube confirming its re-release, and it will return to cinemas on November 6, during Diwali week. bollywoodhungama
“Ramayana” is scheduled for November 5, so the two films arrive back to back. “Mohra” will be re-released by Deepinder Singh’s Rimpy Films International in a 4K remastered version. The gap between a mega-budget epic and a restored classic is large, so “rival” is generous: the comparison is mostly about screen space and nostalgia, not scale. bollywoodhungama
About the Film
“Mohra” was released in 1994 and directed by Rajiv Rai, produced by Gulshan Rai under Trimurti Films. It stars Naseeruddin Shah, Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Paresh Rawal, Gulshan Grover and Raza Murad, among others. Akshay plays Inspector Amar Saxena, and Raveena plays journalist Roma Singh. The soundtrack was among the most successful of 1994, especially “Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast.” The film’s other hits include “Subah Se Shaam Tak,” “Ae Kash Kahin Aisa Hota” and “Tip Tip Barsa Paani.” The song “Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast” gave Raveena the nickname “Mast Mast Girl,” according to the source text. WikipediaWikipedia
The Raveena Connection
Raveena’s pairing with Akshay was one of the 1990s’ biggest screen duos, and “Mohra” helped define it. Wikipedia records that she was cast as a replacement after another actress, who died early in production, could not continue. The source text reports the film’s earnings, but I could not verify them, and its dollar conversions are incorrect, so they are left out.
A Wave of Re-Releases
“Mohra” is part of a larger trend. Rimpy Films has also confirmed plans to re-release other Trimurti films such as “Vidhaata” (1982), “Tridev” (1989), “Gupt” (1994) and “Yudh” (1985). Re-releases are cheap to market, rely on built-in nostalgia and can fill screens during a festival week when audiences want family outings. bollywoodhungama
Why It Matters
For a re-release, the question is whether older audiences will return and whether younger viewers will come for the songs. Akshay’s recent films have had mixed results, which makes a restored hit a low-risk way to put him back in cinemas.
What Comes Next
Watch for a 4K trailer, the number of screens and advance booking numbers. Bolly Orbit will update this report as developments emerge.