MUMBAI: In keeping with the trend of setting new records, the Aamir Khan starrer Ghajini has now got itself yet another first. The film has had grossed Rs 182.50 million (Rs 18.25 crores) in India on Wednesday and Thursday (24 – 25 December).
The net collections in India stand at Rs 110 million (Rs 11 crores).
On Wednesday the paid previews were houseful across the country and on account of Christmas holiday on Thursday, the film ran houseful again. However, on Friday the collections dropped slightly in the morning and afternoon shows, which was anticipated. Nonetheless the trend is upward for Friday’s evening and night shows and the film should again have a power packed weekend according to officials from various cinemas.
Studio 18 director domestic theatrical distribution Aman Gill says, "Ghajini has shattered all box office records by gigantic margins. This type of craze for a film hasn’t been seen since Gadar. We are expecting gross box office collections to be Rs 700 million (Rs 70 crore) plus from Thursday to Sunday night including paid previews."
Going by these numbers, the advantage of holiday and the marketing hype Ghajini may very well end up doing a business that Singh Is Kinng and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi garnered in one week. On Thursday, Ghajini ran in fewer shows due to Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi but from Friday onwards, Ghajini’s shows will increase in multiplexes.
Speaking to Businessofcinema.com on the film’s response in the overseas market BIG Pictures COO international distribution Jawahar Sharma says, "In the UK, due to Christmas holidays most theatre chains were shut on 24 and 25 December, so the film is yet to open there in a big way. However, in the US, the response has been unprecedented and the film is getting good word of mouth publicity. We are very happy with the film’s response."
Due to Christmas holiday’s the overseas collection will only be available at a later date.
