The much talked about and keenly anticipated Salman Khan starrer Dabangg 3 hits screens today. Being the third film in the franchise expectations from the Prabhu Dheva directorial have been at an all-time high. But will Dabangg 3 live up to audience expectations is the question of the hour.
Reports suggest that the film has started off on a rather sluggish note with occupancy rate during morning shows being pegged at just 20%. However, despite this low key opening, Dabangg 3 is expected to see an increase in business especially since it has the advantage of a strong franchise that has cultivated a fan base and of course Salman Khan’s star power. In fact, single screens have seen strong footfalls as compared to multiplexes, with advance bookings till Wednesday hovering between Rs. 5 to 6 cr, with an estimated Day 1 collection of Rs. 28- 30 cr.
On the other hand however, the low key marketing, the non-existent promotional plan and rather weak music have acted as deterrents for the audience. This coupled with a screen count that is lower than Dabangg and Dabangg 2, and the fact that a certain section of the audience are following developments of CAB, Dabangg 3 faces an uphill task.
On the whole, Dabangg 3 that has taken off to a sluggish start is likely to seen an increase in collections over the weekend. However, unlike the conventional Salman Khan blockbusters, Dabangg 3 seems lacklustre. In fact, trade predictions state that the film which has just one week’s clear run at the box office, before Good Newwz arrives will have to rely heavily on Salman’s fan following and positive word of mouth to post good collections.
