Holly to Bolly: Sultan expected to break box-office records and more

Sultan expected to break box-office records

As hype crests and breaks for the new Salman Khan blockbuster Sultan – releasing today – trade experts are predicting the action-packed drama will make a new box-office record in the first week. "Salman Khan plus Yash Raj Films, plus Eid release – it can't get bigger than that," said trade analyst Taran Adarsh. "Over the years, Salman's box-office status has multiplied manifold, and every film of his generates tremendous curiosity. The volume of business coupled with the massive fan following he enjoys, raises the bar every time a new Salman film is about to release." However, celebrated critic Raja Sen is one person who will not being queuing at the box office this weekend. "It might well be a massive hit, though I'd dreamily like to ­believe his imbecility will finally have a visible impact this time around and, like me, maybe a few dozen people will choose not to watch it," he said. "But don't bet on it." – IANS

In other Salman Khan news, the actor, who also hosts the popular reality-TV show Bigg Boss, has decided to take a large pay cut for hosting the 10th season of the show. Entertainment news website BollywoodLife.com yesterday reported that instead of demanding his usual fee, Khan has asked the channel Colors TV to pay him a far smaller amount, and put the remaining amount into Being Human, the education and health care charity he founded in 2007. Last year, it was rumoured that Khan almost didn't host the ninth season, until Colors TV caved and lured him back with a massive pay hike. Bigg Boss 10 is slated to go on the floors after the release of Khan's much-awaited film, Sultan, which is out in the UAE today. – Sonali Kokra

Lopez and Miranda's tribute to Orlando victims

Pop singer Jennifer Lopez and Broadway's Lin-Manuel Miranda – writer and star of the hit musical Hamilton – have recorded a tribute song to benefit victims of Orlando's June 12 nightclub attack. The two artists both tweeted on Monday a behind-the-scenes video of themselves recording Love Make the World Go Round. "We cannot let them diminish or intimidate us," raps Miranda in the clip. The artists have not yet announced a release date for the song. On Twitter Miranda said profits from downloads of the track will benefit the Hispanic ­Federation of Orlando, an ­organisation that opened a fund called #SomosOrlando a few hours after the mass shooting. – AFP