The heady combination of Salman Khan and Eid has spelt magic at the ticket windows yet again and this time round, the impact seems bigger than ever. His latest outing, ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, has sailed comfortably into the Rs 100-crore club in India over its opening weekend and is doing good business in the international market as well. What’s more, it has set several records within the first three days of release.
Says trade analyst Amod Mehra, “Though Friday was the last day of Ramzan, an occasion when collections are generally poor, ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ opened to packed houses and by Sunday, crossed the Rs 100-crore mark. Families are flocking to the theatres in huge numbers. Overseas too, the film is shattering records. It now looks set to become the biggest as well as the fastest money spinner this year.”
This Kabir Khan film is Salman’s eighth entry into the Rs 100-crore league, a record feat as no other Bollywood actor holds that distinction. With Rs 102.60 crore in the first three days, the star has surpassed the opening weekend figures of his 2014 blockbuster ‘Kick’, which stood nearly Rs 84 crore, says trade pundit Taran Adarsh, who also tweeted: “Film trade in ecstatic mood… Raining blockbusters. Achhe din aa gaye! (sic)” Besides, the movie’s Sunday business (Rs 38.75 crore) is also Salman’s highest single day figure so far.
The roaring domestic collections apart, ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ is making an impression in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, US and Canada, says trade analyst Komal Nahta. In fact, it has been placed at No 10 on the BO chart of North America, edging past Sir Ian Mckellen’s ‘Mr Holmes’.
On the other hand, SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus ‘Baahubali’, which released a week earlier, continues to rake in the moolah with a worldwide figure of Rs 303 crore. Collections of its dubbed Hindi version have, however, been hit by Bajrangi’s dominance. Mehra says, “‘Baahubali’ in Hindi is still doing brisk business although the number of shows have been reduced to accommodate ‘Bajrangi…’. It’s collection would have doubled had the single screens not made way for the Salman-starrer. But anyway, this is a good time for the industry.”
BO stats
Rs 102.60crore
‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ (opening weekend)
Rs 37.77crore
Baahubali (Hindi)
(second weekend; Overall: R60.12 crore)
