Salman Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan — the superstar’s Eid offering to his fans — got packed theatres across India when it released on Friday, said trade experts. The movie on Indo-Pakistan relations has been termed the actor’s “best” by B-Town.
Even as several Khan fans flocked to theatres for the ‘first day, first show’, B-Town celebrities, who had already seen the entertainer at a preview, gave it a thumbs up. Celebs including Anupam Kher, Anil Kapoor, Randeep Hooda Jacqueline Fernandez and Sonakshi Sinha called it a “must watch”.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan — which is the 49 year old’s first release since he was sentenced to five years in jail in the infamous 2002 hit-and-run case in May — is receiving a “terrific” response, and the movies popularity is likely to grow over the opening weekend.
“Salman’s films have always been superhit. The first show at our cinemas started at around 12pm to 12.30pm and all our theatres were pre-booked 100 per cent. All the shows are going houseful and same is expected over the weekend. The film should come out as a blockbuster pan-India,” Piyush Raizada, director, Delite Cinemas, said.
Having released with approximately 4,500 prints across India, it seems that the Dabangg star has once again managed to spin his magic.
Deepak Sharma, COO, PVR Cinemas, said: “It has attracted more than 80 per cent occupancy, and 20 to 25 per cent [of the] seats were pre-booked. Starting from the first show at around 10am, the response has been huge in every state.
“We have not received the total collection yet, but the film is doing really well. Also, the advance booking is great for the whole weekend. It looks that the film will complete Rs. 100 crore [Rs1 billion, Dh57 million], in first weekend itself.”
Kabir Khan-directed Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, is the story of a man on a mission to take a young Pakistani girl, who is deaf and mute, back to her country. According to trade analyst Komal Nahta, Bajrangi Bhaijaan witnessed “packed shows” at various theatres in cities such as Jaipur, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Ahmedabad.
“Waiting for Eid ka chand? [Eid’s moon] But Eid has already arrived at the b.o. #BajrangiBhaijaan takes a fantabulous opening all over. Unprecedented rush. It’s #BajrangiBhaijaan mania everywhere. Crowds going berserk. Scene outside Raj Mandir and Cinepolis cinemas in Jaipur is crazy,” Nahta posted on Twitter.
Another trade guru, Taran Adarsh, tweeted: “And #BajrangiBhaijaan ROARS from morning shows onwards. Packed houses/House Full boards greet the new Salman [film]. Trade jubilant.”
As predicted by most trade pundits, the film is likely to break the dry spell that the Hindi film industry has witnessed in 2015 so far.
Trade experts believe it would be no surprise if the film even crosses the Rs3 billion mark.