Diwali Update 2: Not too bright a Diwali in Overseas!

The Overseas results are out! This Diwali hasn't been as fruitful for the film industry as the previous years. We are not speculating. We are not talking through our hat. We are not making ludicrous assertions. Reproduced below are the facts and figures that mirror the truth, whether you like it or not!

Amongst the two Diwali releases, DON has overtaken JAAN-E-MANN by leaps and bounds in the three major markets -- U.K., U.S.A. and Australia. Let's have a closer look at the response to the biggies in each market:

U.K.

• DON has fetched an impressive start [£ 291,462 on 51 screens, average: 5,715], but when compared to other SRK starrers, like the recent KABHI ALVIDA NAA KEHNA and VEER-ZAARA, the business is much lower [K.A.N.K. -- £ 749,243 on 60 screens, average: £ 12,487 and VEER-ZAARA -- £ 484,993 on 60 screens, average: £ 8,083]. Okay, you might argue that both K.A.N.K. and V.Z. were multi-starrers and romantic films [genre], which have an edge in Overseas. But DON is lower than the action-masala flick MAIN HOON NA [£ 322,290 on 41 screens, average: £ 7,861], which comes as a surprise. When compared to last year's Diwali release, DON is lower than GARAM MASALA as well [£ 292,033 on 37 screens, average: £ 7,893]. How do you explain that?




• On the other hand, JAAN-E-MANN is a complete downer in U.K. [£ 65,574 on 42 screens, average: 1,561]. Last year, Salman's KYON KI… had opened in the Diwali week and we are reproducing its figures: £ 171,566 on 55 screens, average: £ 3,119. It's more than evident that JAAN-E-MANN is much poorer than KYON KI… Shockingly, JAAN-E-MANN is lower than last year's two other Diwali releases as well -- GARAM MASALA [£ 292,033 on 37 screens, average: £ 7,893] and SHAADI NO. 1 [£ 95,086 on 33 screens, average: £ 2,881]. In fact, if we were to go by screen average, then JAAN-E-MANN has performed much lower than Salman's much-delayed SHAADI KARKE PHAS GAYA YAAR [average: £ 2,151] and also PHIR MILENGE [average: £ 1,665], both disasters at the box-office. Going by screen average again, JAAN-E-MANN is Salman's second lowest opener since 1999, after SAAWAN - THE LOVE SEASON [average: £ 1,188].

U.S.A.

• DON takes an excellent start here [$ 804,388 on 113 screens, average: $ 7,118], but the collections aren't commensurate with 'Brand SRK'. Again, comparing it with K.A.N.K. or V.Z. is debatable, but let's refresh your memory on the kind of openings the two SRK starrers fetched in U.S.A. [K.A.N.K. -- $ 1,351,786 on 64 screens, average: $ 21,122 and V.Z. -- $ 903,010 on 88 screens, average: $ 10,261]. Now let's see what MAIN HOON NA collected -- $ 704,651 on 79 screens, average: $ 8,919]. Clearly, the average of MAIN HOON NA is higher than DON.




• JAAN-E-MANN is a terrible letdown in the U.S. as well [$ 210,000 on 66 screens, average: 3,182]. The Salman-Akshay starrer MUJHSE SHAADI KAROGI had performed much better here -- $ 199,958 on 31 screens, average: $ 6,450. Need we elaborate more?

AUSTRALIA

• DON has started with a bang [Australia $ 98,205 on 12 screens, average: Australia $ 8,184], but, again, the screen average is lower than K.A.N.K. [$ 21,365], LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI [$ 9,360], KRRISH [$ 10,057], FANAA [$ 13,890], RANG DE BASANTI [$ 10,171], SALAAM | NAMASTE [$ 14,531], MANGAL PANDEY - THE RISING [$ 11,494] and VEER-ZAARA [$ 10,479].




• JAAN-E-MANN has had a lukewarm start in Australia too [Australia $ 18,556 on 7 screens, average: Australia $ 2,651]. In terms of average, the Salman-Akshay combo is lower than ZINDA [$ 3,978], TAXI NO. 9211 [$ 4,413], HUMKO DEEWANA KAR GAYE [$ 3,573], DARNA ZAROORI HAI [$ 3,758], CHUP CHUP KE [$ 3,612], GOLMAAL - FUN UNLIMITED [$ 5,826] and OMKARA [$ 4,869], most of them starring actors who aren't as hot in this territory.

Weekend: October 20 - 22, 2006.

U.K. BOX-OFFICE

• DON has debuted at No. 11 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 291,462 [approx. Rs. 2.48 crores] on 51 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 5,715.





• JAAN-E-MANN has debuted at No. 18 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 65,574 [approx. Rs. 55.75 lacs] on 42 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 1,561.





• VARALARU [Tamil] has debuted at No. 24 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 14,178 [approx. Rs. 12.05 lacs] on 3 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 4,726.





• DIL APNA PUNJABI [Punjabi; last weekend: No. 26, this weekend: No. 45]: In its eighth weekend, the film has collected £ 1,067 on 5 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 213. Total: £ 258,149 [approx. Rs. 2.19 crores].





• WARIS SHAH - ISHQ DAA WAARIS [Punjabi; last weekend: No. 27, this weekend: No. 47]: In its fourth weekend, the film has collected £ 1,021 on 2 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 511. Total: £ 49,218 [approx. Rs. 41.85 lacs].





• MANNAT [Punjabi; last weekend: No. 33, this weekend: No. 56]: In its third weekend, the film has collected £ 750 on 2 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 375. Total: £ 16,260 [approx. Rs. 13.82 lacs].





• LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI [last weekend: No. 29, this weekend: No. 58]: In its eighth weekend, the film has collected £ 550 on 1 screen. Total: £ 823,560 [approx. Rs. 7 crores].

THIS WEEKEND IN U.K.

[Based on screen averages]

U.S.A. BOX-OFFICE

• DON has debuted at No. 17 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected $ 804,388 [approx. Rs. 3.65 crores] on 113 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 7,118.





• JAAN-E-MANN has debuted at No. 29 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected $ 210,000 [approx. Rs. 95.37 lacs] on 66 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 3,182.

NEW YORK CITY BOX-OFFICE

• DON has debuted at No. 15 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected $ 81,341 on 9 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 9,038.





• JAAN-E-MANN has debuted at No. 26 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected $ 22,499 on 9 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 2,500.

AUSTRALIA BOX-OFFICE

[4-day weekend: October 19 - 22, 2006]

• In its opening weekend, DON [No. 15] has collected Australia $ 98,205 [approx. Rs. 33.83 lacs] on 12 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 8,184.





• In its opening weekend, JAAN-E-MANN has collected Australia $ 18,556 [approx. Rs. 6.39 lacs] on 7 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 2,651.