The last time Emraan Hashmi and Kalki Koechelin came together on screen on the same day, it was for Shanghai where they were paired opposite each other. Now, this Friday, they will be pitted opposite each other in two altogether distinct films – Mr. X and Margarita With A Straw. While the former is pitched for the masses, the latter is eyeing a niche audience.
Let’s talk about Mr. X first. The film is one of the rare Emraan Hashmi films that is catering to a universal audience. In fact, it has been sold as a family affair. All of this means that the film will end up reaching out to a newer set of audience, which could well turn out to be a game changer for the actor. Since Emraan is in a reinvention phase, this is actually a step in the right direction. All of this means that though there won’t be instant rush for the film on Friday itself, even a reasonable start in the range of 30%-40% would be good enough to lead towards a better weekend, if the reviews are indeed good.
On the other hand, Margarita With A Straw has been seeing some good critical acclaim basis screenings that have been held for a select set of industry people. By the look of things, Kalki Koechelin has come up with yet another impressive act. However, when it comes to commercial standing, it would have to rely entirely on word of mouth from the audience because this is what everything eventually boils down to. It would need exceptional reviews as well as steady footfalls during the weekdays to enjoy a long run in theaters, as from the opening day perspective, one can’t expect a huge crowd gathering near the box office.