ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding mixed reviews, Salman Khan's Bodyguard has given Bollywood its biggest weekend. The movie, released last Wednesday, has grossed an estimated Rs 86 crore in the first four days of its screening in India, thereby surpassing the opening week net collections of previous Bollywood blockbusters such as Dabangg and 3 Idiots.
Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor starrer Bodyguard
While Salman-starrer Dabangg had netted an estimated Rs 81 crore at the Indian box office, Aamir's 3 Idiots had garnered Rs 80 crore during the first week of their release. Meanwhhile, Bodyguard's worldwide box office collections are estimated at Rs 110 crore, said film industry sources.
Sanjeev Lamba, Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Entertainment said, "Salman's superstardom, the special relationship he enjoys with his fans on Eid, the quality of the film, the multi-faceted marketing plan and the wide release have all combined to create a perfect storm." It will be the fastest film to net Rs 100 crore in India, he added.
Film trade analyst Komal Nahata said, "The movie has got mixed reviews, but Salman's fan following and the long weekend have worked very well for Bodyguard. Going by the highest opening day and weekend collections, it will become the highest grosser for the week at box office."
Another trade analyst Taran Adarsh said that the Sunday collections and occupancies are looking higher than Friday and Saturday. "The movie is expected to earn over Rs 85 crore at the Indian box office for the five-day extended weekend as net collections," he said.
Multiplexes say that the movie's occupancies have been strong with an average of 78-85%, and the movie has done well across big and small centers. Gautam Dutta, chief operating officer at PVR said, "Occupancies have been consistent on weekend, making it the biggest blockbuster for the industry."
In the overseas market, the movie has grossed $3.8 million so far, and is now set to become Salman's biggest overseas hit, beating Dabangg's $5 million.
Bodyguard ranked at 9 in the UK Top 10 at £120k in 51 locations — just behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2 which grossed £122k in its 8th week. In the US, Bodyguard has grossed $1.6 million so far, according to reports.
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