The prominent new releases of the week, Tapsee Pannu’s GAME OVER (actually a dubbed film) and Hollywood’s MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL, saw a below par start as the audience preferred last week’s BHARAT. The other releases such as KHEL KHALLAS, KHAMOSHI etc. are washouts Yes, MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL did see an encouraging response, but it was just at a few high end multiplexes, and it managed around 2.80 crore on the opening day.
Meanwhile, the Eid release, Ali Abbas Zafar directed Salman-Katrina starrer, BHARAT, which saw a bumper opening day (42 crore –Salman’s best ever), ended the opening 5-day weekend netting 145 crore, resisting the ICC WC cricket matches involving India, but losing the audience substantially on Sunday. The film saw steady collections (in the wake of a huge weekend), netting 174-175 crore, during the extended opening week (9-days). Given that its recoveries from satellite, digital and audio rights are quite good, the film, already a semi-hit, is likely inch to a hit status, despite a crawling second half.
BHARAT has also done quite well in the overseas grossing over $9m (as of Wednesday), with US faring the best ($2.25m).