The much awaited Mahesh Manjrekar directed gangster drama, Antim, featuring Aayush Sharma and Salman Khan released across the country across 3,500 screens. The film is sharing shows with John Abraham’s Satyameva Jayate 2 across most of the screens in ratio of 1:1. As per early estimates, the movie has taken a fair start in the range of approx. Rs. 5.25 to 6.00 crores.
Maharashtra is the best fairing circuit for Antim, followed by Gujarat and Bihar, however, the Northern belts are just not firing at all. The collections are simply poor in Delhi and Punjab, and this is a little surprising given that Salman plays a Sikh cop. The collections jumped towards the evening and night shows, which is a positive sign reflecting a decent to good conversation among the audience.
These are fair numbers given that it isn't a conventional Salman Khan film, as the superstar is seen more in a supporting track to protagonist, Aayush Sharma, around whom the story is set. Sans Salman Khan, the film would have struggled to open at even a crore, and his face value has translated in respectable business on Day one.
The jump towards the evening and night shows on Friday has given the film a good platform to grow over the weekend and its now all wait and watch scenario. While this is a fair opening, it is essential for Antim to show a growth over the weekend. A three day figure in the range of Rs. 20 to 22 crores will be a fair result for Antim: The Final Truth, and then it all boils down to crucial Monday test. A lifetime figure upside of Rs. 50 crore will be a good result for Antim, taking it to the success point.
The costs are resonable and hence, there isn't much of pressure around recovery, but yet, the half century mark is a must for Antim for a respectable biz.
