Filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli’s historical epic Baahubali 2: The Conclusion has made more than Rs4 billion (Dh228 million) worldwide in its opening weekend, according to trade experts.
The second part in the Baahubali franchise was released in India on April 28.
After zooming past the Rs1 billion mark on the first day of its release, the much-awaited movie has seen a steady flow of people at the theatres.
The film, featuring Prabhas, Anushka Shetty, Rana Daggubati and Tamannaah in the lead, released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam in more than 6,500 screens across India, and in more than 9,000 screens worldwide.
Filmmaker Karan Johar, who has presented the Hindi dubbed version of the film, tweeted: “Historic Weekend! Here is the Hindi language all-India Friday (Rs41 crore) [Dh410 million], Saturday (Rs40.5 crore), Sunday (Rs46.5 crore). Grand total Rs128 crore.”
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted: “The wave is unstoppable. ‘Baahubali 2’ creates new record.”
Adarsh pointed out how the opening weekend figures of the Hindi version of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion had surpassed Bollywood biggies such as Salman Khan’s Sultan and Aamir Khan’s Dangal.
Sultan made Rs1.05 billion upon a Wednesday release, and Dangal amassed Rs1.07 billion, he said.
Down south, the response has been tremendous.
In Telugu states, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the earnings are estimated to be beyond Rs1 billion.
“Going by estimates, the film could have easily grossed over Rs100 crore from Telangana and Andhra. It has already broken every record of all other big Telugu films,” trade analyst Anand Vanga said.
Trinath, another trade analyst, said there’s no stopping the film at the box office.
“With no competition, the film is making a killing at the ticket window. It could be the first Telugu film to even gross over Rs200 crore only from Telangana and Andhra. For the next two weeks, the film will have an uninterrupted run at the cinemas,” he said.
In Tamil Nadu, where the film released in nearly 650 screens, it is estimated that the film might have grossed more than Rs300 million in its opening weekend.
“If the early morning shows on April 28 were not cancelled, it could have easily minted another Rs5 crore,” Trinath said, citing a financial dispute between the producers of the film and its Tamil Nadu distributor.
In Kerala, according to the film’s distributor Global United Media, the film has reportedly grossed more than Rs200 million in the first three days.
In the US, the film was released via Great India Films, who said in a statement that the film has minted $10.49 million (Dh38.5 million).
Released in more than 1,100 screens in the US, the film made it to 40 IMAX screens, the highest for an Indian film.
From other parts of the world, the film is said to have collected Rs710 million in its first three days, trade gurus said.
