MUMBAI: The Akshay Kumar, Trisha Krishnan starrer Khatta Meetha opened much better in the B and C centers as compared to metros. However, the movie has done well in some centers up north like Rajasthan, Punjab, UP and Haryana. On its opening day (Friday), the movie has done a net business of approximately Rs 650 million (Rs 6.50 crore) across India.
Khatta Meetha opened to about 25 – 30 per cent in the metros while it opened to around 60 – 65 per cent in B and C centers. On the other hand, Hollywood film Salt starring Angelina Jolie did not open as expected and the multiplexes are hoping it will pick up over the weekend.
As far as the previous releases go, Inception is still at the top and in terms of occupancy it is still the highest, while Udaan and Tere Bin Laden too are still going strong. This week both the occupancy of Udaan and Tere Bin Laden was around 40 per cent.
Speaking to Businessofcinema.com, Fun Cinemas CEO Vishal Kapur said, “Both Khatta Meetha and Salt have had average openings but we are hoping for about 80 – 90 per cent occupancy over the weekend.”
PVR Cinemas programming head Prakhar Joshi added, “The opening of Khata Meetha was below expectation in Delhi and Mumbai even though it did open well in the smaller centers. Indore saw occupancy of around 70 -80 per cent, Lucknow and Allahbad were both 100 per cent. In the metros it was around 25 – 30 per cent. Salt too did not open well. Udaan had occupancy of around 70 per cent and Tere Bin Laden too was good at around 90 per cent.”
Cinemax India president – sales, marketing and operations Devang Sampat said, “Khatta Meetha did well in B and C centers with around 60 – 65 per cent but the metros were not very good. Salt did not do well, we’ll have to wait and watch how it goes.Tere Bin Laden and Udaan are still going strong.”
Inox associate vice president Rajender Singh Jyala said, “Khatta Meetha did very well in the small centers with around 70 – 80 per cent occupancy and in the north too it was good, while the metros saw occupancy of around 40 per cent. Salt had an average opening.”
