Salman Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan ran houseful in theatres across India on its opening day, trade experts said.
‘Salman bhai’s’ fans flocked to theatres for the ‘first day, first show,’ as did his friends and colleagues from Bollywood who termed it his ‘best’ film till date.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which is Salman’s first release since he was sentenced to five years in jail in the 2002 hit-and-run case in May, is receiving ‘terrific’ response, and the footfalls are only likely to grow in the opening weekend.
“Salman’s films have always been superhit. The first show at our cinemas started at around 12 pm to 12.30 pm. and all our theatres were pre-booked 100 percent. 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, told IANS.
Having released with approximately 4,500 prints across India, it seems that the Dabangg Khan has once again managed to spin his magic on the occasion of Eid, which falls on Saturday.
Deepak Sharma, COO, PVR Cinemas told IANS, “It has attracted more than 80 percent occupancy, and 20 to 25 percent seats were pre-booked. Starting from the first show at around 10 am, 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 in first weekend itself, he added.”
Directed by Kabir Khan, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, chronicles the adventures of a Hindu man on a mission to take a young Pakistani girl ‘without a voice’ back to her country.
According to trade analyst Komal Nahta, Bajrangi Bhaijaan witnessed ‘packed shows’ at various theatres in cities like Jaipur, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Ahmedabad.