MUMBAI: At the end of week one, Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan, which stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, has done a net business of approximately Rs 480 million (Rs 48 crore) in India.
Fox Star Studios CEO Vijay Singh said, "This is just the beginning of the journey of Khan. This film has a distinctive release pattern normally practiced by foreign studios giving longevity to the film, which is unlike a normal Bollywood film that ends its life in a couple of weeks. We have many more markets yet to open up. Last week it became the first Hindi film to release in Egypt to a fantastic response. Jordan, Syria and Lebanon are next in the first week of March. Germany and Poland with 50 prints each will follow. This will continue till mid-June at least as 25 more countries will hear the message of Khan."
In the overseas, the movie has done a gross business of $8.50 million in week one. This is the highest ever gross collections for a Hindi film in the overseas market. The recently released 3 Idiots did a gross of $.7.50 million in week one in the overseas market.
My Name Is Khan has broken the record for the biggest opening for a Bollywood movie in the UAE, with approximately 135,858 tickets sold in the first four days of its release.
Singh informs Businessofcinema.com that an additional 25 prints have been added in countries such as Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in the second week across the Middle East in the opening week. "The total print count of MNIK in the Middle East countries stands at 61 prints with another 10 prints being added for Jordan, Lebanon and Syria by the first week of March taking the print count tally to 71 which is double most Hindi films," said Singh.
In Singapore the film has done a business of $210,000 in the first week, which is a record for Hindi film. Australia and New Zealand have ended their first week collections over $690,000.
In the US, MNIK has done a business of approximately $2.44 million in six days, whereas in the UK, the film has done a business of GBP 1.41 million in six days.
Inox Leisure CEO Alok Tandon said, "My Name is Khan is a well crafted film with excellent all round performances; its emotional core has been appreciated by our audiences across the country."
Fame India AVP-programming, distribution and corporate sales Aditya Shroff added, "It is no surprise that the audiences have liked this movie because it is a novel story and it is SRK, after all."
"The movie has taken a fabulous opening. All shows so far at Sathyam Complex through the week are running full and there is a huge demand for the tickets. The audiences are loving Kajol and Shah Rukh. Looking forward for the next weekend," said Sathyam Cineplex Chennai director Swaroop Reddy.
Cinemax senior vice president Devang Sampat said, "I feel the family audience are just loving the movie. Shah Rukh is at his best. I have seen occupancy growing in evening and night show and am sure that movie will see great second weekend as well."
