Hindi
Aamir’s 3 Idiots on course to be year’s biggest hit
MUMBAI: The last month of the year has had three good releases, one better than the other as far as box-office collections go.
First, it was AB Corp’s Paa that brought to the fore the acting capabilities of the 65-plus Amitabh Bachchan when he played a 13-year-old child. Then we had James Cameron’s Avatar that has supposedly broken box-office records of its Hollywood contemporaries 2012 and The Spiderman in India.
But the Christmas opening of 3 Idiots has brought in a big cheer in industry circles, mopping up over Rs 140 million at the box-office on its opening day of its theatrical release.
Says trade analyst Taran Adarsh, “3 Idiots has seen the biggest starts ever, collecting Rs. 25 milion in paid previews on Thursday. Comparatively, the paid preview collections of Ghajini were Rs 16 million net. And the film has had a solid first day opening, with estimates pegged at box-office collections of Rs 140 million.”
Multiplex players, who have had a tough year with content, expect the movie to emerge as the biggest hit this fiscal. Says Cinemax vice president Devang Sampat, “The film is doing exceptional business. As per our properties, all I can say is that each one has broken its own previous records as far as the box-office returns of the opening day are concerned. To me, 3 Idiots will stand as the biggest hit of 2009.”
Adds Delhi-based PVR Cinemas CEO Amitabh Vardhan, “This is one of the best openings this year in terms of theatrical revenues. Going by the advance booking numbers, we believe the film will continue with its success story in the days to come.”
Made on a budget of Rs 350 million and distributed by Reliance Big Pictures, 3 Idiots has been released with 1894 prints, of which 1550 is for the Indian market.
Interestingly, Khan‘s superhit Ghajini was released during the same time of last year.
Says Reliance Big Pictures domestic distribution head Kamal Gianchandani, “The opening of the film is phenomenal and is currently on its way to become the highest-ever opening weekend grosser.”
Hindi
Dhurandhar the revenge storms past Rs 1,000 crore in a week, rewrites box office records
Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller sets fastest run to Rs 1,000 crore with record-breaking weekday hold
MUMBAI: The box office has a new juggernaut—and it is moving at breakneck speed. Dhurandhar the revenge has smashed past the Rs 1,000 crore mark worldwide in just a week, clocking a staggering Rs 1,088 crore and resetting the rules of the blockbuster game.
Backed by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, and directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy action sequel opened to the biggest weekend ever for an Indian film globally—and then refused to slow down. Unlike typical tentpole releases that taper off after Sunday, this one powered through the weekdays with rare muscle, posting Rs 64 crore on Monday, Rs 58 crore on Tuesday, Rs 49 crore on Wednesday and Rs 53 crore on Thursday.
The numbers stack up to a formidable first-week haul. India collections stand at Rs 690 crore nett and Rs 814 crore gross, while overseas markets have chipped in Rs 274 crore, taking the worldwide total to Rs 1,088 crore in just eight days.
The film’s opening weekend alone delivered Rs 466 crore, laying the foundation for what is now being billed as the fastest climb to the Rs 1,000 crore club in Indian cinema. Every single day of its first week has set fresh benchmarks, from the highest opening weekend to the strongest weekday hold—metrics that typically separate hits from phenomena.
A sequel to the earlier hit Dhurandhar, the film has not just built on its predecessor’s momentum but obliterated previous records, emerging as the biggest global blockbuster run by an Indian film to date.
At this pace, the film is not merely riding a wave—it is creating one.
