Day 2 collection: Gap between SRK-Kajol’s ‘Dilwale’ and Ranveer-Deepika’s

December 18: Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol starrer Dilwale and historical love saga Bajirao Mastani faced protests from activists of the BJP and some radical Hindu outfits on their release today, forcing theatres in some states to cancel shows. Knowing its huge budget, the film needs to perform extraordinarily well over the next few days to record a stable opening week for sure.

Steel city is missing the screening of Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra-starrer “Bajirao Mastani” as no theatre in Jamshedpur is screening the film due to license issue. “The opening day collection for “Dilwale” will be somewhere around Rs 21-22 crore”. Dilwale has opened well. It is too early to give a number now but it is in the range of very good to excellent.

The NCP condemned the protests against “Bajirao Mastani”, saying if the BJP has any reservations about the content of the film it should have approached the Censor Board. The film narrates the story of the Maratha warrior Peshwa (Prime Minister) Bajirao I of the Maratha Empire and his second wife Mastani. An analysis by Box Office India Box Office India claims that “Dilwale” has had a occupancy of 65% while “Bajirao Mastani” lagged behind at 30%.

As a matter of fact, with the big holiday of Christmas ahead, it is expected that the film would witness a good pump in collections on that day. “For both films, audience will come in at different time and watch it. Both are really nice movies”. However, in West Asia, overseas exhibitors were bullish on Eros International’s Bajirao Mastani which was released in 850+ screens, said Nahta. Looks like what was meant to be a big clash at the box office has turned into a political firestorm. But because of positive reviews & good talk, the collection started picking up from the noon shows. “I don’t endorse it personally”, she added.