Strong box office collection for family drama.
By Sreekanth A Nair
Salman Khan’s ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ had solid box office collections on its Diwali release, and initial reports suggest strong average occupancy rate of 70 to 80 percent in theaters across India.
The initial collection of the film directed by Sooraj Barjatya and co-starring Sonam Kapoor is expected to be around 35-40 crores.
DNA India quoted distributor Girish Wankhede as saying “The opening has been very strong. It should be somewhere around Rs 35-40 crore (today) as per early estimates. The weekend collection should be around Rs 110-120 crore. The occupancy is 70-80 per cent even in multiplexes, which is a very good indicator. It is festive season, with Salman and Barjatya’s combo which is working.”
However Box office India doesn’t invalidate the chance of going above 40 crores and beating the records of Shah Rukh Khan’s Happy New Year and Amir Khan’s Dhoom 3.
The film has been released in more than 4200 screens across the country and 800 screens overseas.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh told Press Trust of India that the opening was phenomenal across the country. The advance bookings and the buzz so far had also been terrific.
Kamal Gianchandani, CEO, PVR Pictures Ltd, told to DNA India “It is appealing to the family audience as it is a clean film. Not only the afternoon shows but even the morning shows were flocked by parents who were watching the film with their children. That is a big positive sign.”
Salman Khan’s ‘Bhajrangi Bhaijan’ released in July this year had closed with around 27.25 crores on the opening day.
Barjatya is doing a film with Salman Khan after 16 years. Earlier, they worked together for the films ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’, ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!’ and ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’.
Along with Khan and Kapoor, the film also features Anupam Kher, Swara Bhaskar, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Deepak Dobriyal and Armaan Kohli. It is produced by Rajshri Productions and distributed by Fox Star Studios.