New Delhi: Shahrukh Khan-starrer Pathaan has broken box office records by seeing Bollywood’s biggest opening day ever, earning Rs 57 crore across languages. The film, also starring Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, opened on 8,000 screens across the world.
According to Hindustan Times, production house Yash Raj Films has said that the Hindi version earned Rs 55 crore on the opening day, and dubbed versions earned another Rs 2 crore. The combined collection over the first two days of screening is believed to be more than Rs 120 crore, Indian Express reported.
“It is a historic day for Indian cinema and we are humbled to see the love and appreciation that is flowing for Pathaan globally. For Pathaan to shatter records in this fashion on a non holiday, just proves that the theatrical business is here to stay, provided we make films that entice people to come to the cinemas to witness a never seen before experience that entertains them thoroughly,” Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films, said in a statement.
Also read: With Pathaan, Shahrukh Gives His Fans What They’ve Been Missing All These Years
This is also being seen as a comeback for both Shahrukh and Bollywood – as movies have not being doing this well at the box office off late. “It is a historic return, not just for Shah Rukh Khan, but for the Hind film fraternity and the Yash Raj Films in general. The entire entertainment industry is jubilant and in a celebratory mood. Hoping that the collections go upwards and onwards today, on the Republic Day holiday. Fingers crossed, really hope to see people come to theatres and create a historic extended weekend record for the film,” film exhibitor Akshaye Rathi said, according to HT.
Pathaan has broken these records despite protests from right-wing groups, who were unhappy that Padukone was dancing with Khan while wearing a “saffron” bikini in the song ‘Besharam Rang’. Their protests have not clearly mentioned what about the film they find objectionable, but it is believed that the presence of the Muslim superstar has something to do with it.
On Wednesday, police in Faridabad filed a case against Bajrang Dal workers for tearing down Pathaan posters at Crown Interior Mall. Similar instances of the posters being vandalised and torn down have been reported from other parts too.