Friday release Lootera is hit by the experimentation flu. In spite of having rising stars Sonakshi and Ranveer, cinema owners and the audience seem not too excited about the film.

Advance bookings for the film started on Thursday. A talk with the owners and the management revealed that not many people turned up to book tickets for Lootera directed by Vikramaditya Motwane of Udaan fame. The reason for the lack of interest, the management cited, was the period look that does not seem to suit the people’s taste.

Sonakshi Sinha has paired up with Band Baaja Baaraat star Ranveer Singh the first time for this film set in the 1950s. Delivering super hits with her first five films, this time, the city girl has not been able to pull in the crowds yet. Not too many shows have been slotted too — six in Cinepolis, three in Mona and two in Elphinstone.

The cinema management are rather pinning hopes on Sanjay Dutt-starrer Policegiri with 10 shows at Cinepolis, Regent and Elphinstone combined.

Cinepolis manager Abhishek Ranjan said: “You cannot compare Ranveer Singh to Salman Khan (Sonakshi’s first co-star). Dabangg was an action movie and had a lot of entertainment factors. Lootera, however, is unlike that. It is based in the early-1950s and we consider the youths won’t like it.”

Till 6pm, 45 tickets were sold for Lootera at the multiplex, and 35 at Mona and Elphinstone combined. Abhishek said: “We are expecting good response from Sanjay Dutt’s Policegiri. It may turn out to be the dark horse and bring good business because people like larger-than-life characters and it’s all there in this film.”

Regent owner Suman Kumar Sinha, who is not even screening Lootera, said: “Sonakshi’s earlier films were entertaining but Lootera is not convincing. As you can see from the trailer, it has a very traditional look and people do not want to go into the past but live in the present and think about the future. I really do not know how people in other cities will react to it, but it does not match the taste of our viewers.”

Abhishek does not even want to give more shows to Lootera and would rather screen Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Raanjhnaa, which continue to bring in good business.

Sharad Gupta, manager, Mona and Elphinstone, however, expects good response from the film.