Flashback June 2001.
Sunny Deol and Aamir Khan are clashing for the third time; GADAR and LAGAAN are pitted against each other. The Friday proves lucky for both the actors, with both GADAR and LAGAAN proving hits.
People wait with bated breath when the Sunny – SRK clash is announced. It's for the first time the two stars are clashing.
While INDIAN has been sold at a fabulous Rs. 2.5 to 3 crores per major circuit, SRK sets a precedent by (under) selling the film at Rs. 1 crore. The countdown begins. The question on everyone's lips is, who will win the race rule eventually?
If Sunny races ahead, he would emerge the No. 1 star in all respects. And if SRK wins the race, it would establish his supremacy at the box-office.
In any case, both INDIAN and ASOKA are important releases. Sunny has to consolidate his position as the hero of the masses after GADAR. SRK needs a hit as a producer (remember PHIR BHI DIL HAI HINDUSTANI?) and as a star (ONE 2 KA 4 did not fetch even a face-saving opening).
Let's have a look at how the two biggies are faring at the turnstiles.
'INDIAN'
MUMBAI CITY:
The collections of the first three days (Friday to Sunday) were 100%, but a drop was noticed from Monday. As on this date, the collections are in the range of 95%, which is fantastic.
GUJARAT & SAURASHTRA:
The opening at Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Baroda was excellent. The collections were cent per cent till Sunday, but a drop was inevitable from Monday onwards (too many prints in circulation). In the final tally, the film will prove a profitable venture for its distributors.
PUNJAB:
The film opened to an extra-ordinary response at Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Bhatinda, Patiala, Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali, Jammu, Shimla, Faridabad, Rohtak… The response to the film is magnificent. But the question on everyone's lips is, will INDIAN outshine GADAR? It's too early to predict, but the film is a blockbuster in this circuit.
DELHI CITY & UTTAR PRADESH:
The film opened to a 100% response in Delhi city and at key stations of Uttar Pradesh. The first three days in Delhi were fantastic, although the collections have dropped slightly from Monday. In Uttar Pradesh, the collections are good.
KOLKATA CITY:
The film opened at 34 cinema halls in the city (normally, a big-budget film is released at 20 theatres) and the response was amazing (the first 5 days were almost 100%). Though a slight drop in the collections has been noticed, the distributor is confident of emerging victorious.
BIHAR:
The opening at Patna, Muzaffarpur and other centres of Bihar was extra-ordinary. The crowds are swelling with each passing day.
C.P. BERAR (Parts of Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh):
The film took a bumper start at all 25 centres of the circuit. The 6 a.m. shows at Raipur, Jalgaon, Akola and Amravati were packed to capacity. At Nagpur, the drop was witnessed from Monday. Overall, the film is a hit in this circuit.
C.I. (Parts of Madhya Pradesh):
The opening was good in Indore, but has dropped as days progressed.
RAJASTHAN:
The opening was excellent, but the reports are average. Dropped slightly from Monday, but the drop was not alarming.
'ASOKA'
MUMBAI CITY:
The collections were almost 100% for the first three days, but a drop in the suburban cinema halls was witnessed from Monday.
GUJARAT & SAURASHTRA:
Despite starting on a promising note at Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Baroda, the film dropped on the second day itself.
PUNJAB:
Despite clashing with a Sunny Deol flick, the film managed to open to a positive response. But the reports are far from encouraging.
DELHI CITY & UTTAR PRADESH:
The reactions in Delhi are mixed. The film did not open to a 100% response, despite being a holiday. A drop in the collections was noticed on the second day itself, which can prove damaging for the film. The masses are not patronising the film. In Uttar Pradesh, the collections are not up to the mark. The reports are poor.
KOLKATA CITY:
The opening was satisfactory in the city. The reports are not encouraging and a drop in the collections was witnessed from the second day itself.
BIHAR:
The film did not open to a nice response at practically all centres of Bihar. Inspite of Durga festival, the collections were not up to the mark on the first day.
C.P. BERAR (Parts of Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh):
The film opened to a heartening response at Nagpur, but could not sustain as days progressed. At Nagpur, the drop in the collections is substantial. A gentry film, it's likely to run for 3-4 weeks at major stations, which is not a positive sign.
C.I.(Parts of Madhya Pradesh):
The collections are not up to the mark in this circuit. The film has not been appreciated at all. Weak.
RAJASTHAN:
After starting well in Jaipur, the film dropped from Saturday itself. And from Monday, the drop was alarming.
