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In a face-off anticipated for months, Shah Rukh Khan’s gangster drama Raees and Hrithik Roshan-starrer Kaabil simultaneously hit screens on Wednesday. As with any other Hindi film clash, trade experts agree both films have suffered by going head-on.
Shah Rukh Khan starrer Raees has raced ahead of Hrithik Roshan’s Kaabil at the box office after both films opened simultaneously on Wednesday.
Rahul Dholakia directed Raees starring Shah Rukh as a bootlegger, has garnered more than Rs20 crore while Hrithik’s film Kaabil helmed by Sanjay Gupta has earned over Rs10 crore at the box office on day one.
“Raaes had a better opening as it did Rs19-20 crore business on day one while Kaabil made Rs10.5 crore at the box office. Shah Rukh is a bigger star, also people are liking the story of Raees so it has affected Kaabil,” distributor Rajesh Thadani said.
According to Thadani, Raees opened in 3500 screens while Kaabil opened in 2700 screens. “The occupancy for Raaes was 60-70 per cent on day one while for Kaabil it was 25-35 per cent occupancy. Yesterday morning shows were housefull for both the films,” he said.
Another distributor Akshay Rathi too said that Shah Rukh’s movie had an edge over Hrithik’s Kaabil in theatres.
“Both the films are doing well at the box office and world mouth for both of them is positive. Raees has earned Rs17 crore while Kaabil Rs10.4 crore on Day one.
“What works for Raees is the presence of Shah Rukh Khan who has been a star since longtime, the film has mass appeal, great dialogues and songs. Even Kaabil has content,” Rathi said. According to him the collection for both the films is bound to increase today as it is a holiday.
“It was a working Wednesday yesterday still both the films did well. Today is the best day as its holiday for both the movies,” he added. Manoj Desai, Executive Director of Gaiety, Galaxy and Maratha Mandir cinema, said both the films are being appreciated. “At our theatres Raees had 100 per cent occupancy and Kaabil had 90 per cent,” he said. As per a statement released by the makers of Raees that has Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Pakistani actress Mahira Khan in lead alongside SRK, the crime-thriller has earned Rs20.42 crore despite a mid week, working day. According to makers of Kaabil, the Hrithik Roshan-Yami Gautam starrer which is produced by Rakesh Roshan opened to 40 per cent theatre share in multiplexes and single screens theatres on Wednesday. It collected Rs10.43 crore on day one. To be sure, this isn’t the first instance of a clash proving detrimental to the business of both the films concerned. During the much-publicised face-off in 2015, Khan’s own Dilwale and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani had made Rs65 crore from less than 4,000 screens and Rs46 crore from 3,050 screens on their opening weekend respectively.
