Yes it has finally happened, the jinx is broken. Hindi film sequels can now work wonders at the box office, not just in India but abroad as well. Not only has Phir Hera Pheri a sequel to the super hit comic caper Hera Pheri (2000) opened to a record breaking collections at the Indian box office, it has also managed to set the cash registers ringing at the UK Box Office.
Phir Hera Pheri has debuted at No.8 position in the UK Box Office charts raking in $ 230,000. It has managed to secure its place despite heavy duty competition from movies such as The Omen, RV, X Men 3, The Da Vinci Code, Poseidon, United 93 and Mission Impossible 3. The Akshay-Suniel-Paresh Rawal starrer released on the same day as the World Cup, yet it managed to strike a successful opening at the UK Box Office.
It is a rare feat that two Hindi films are featuring in the UK Top Ten. Phir Hera Pheri has Fanaa for company at No.10. Fanaa has managed to gross $ 160,000 at the same weekend. UTV Production Chup Chup Ke was also released along with Phir Hera Pheri on the same day. Though a slow starter at the Indian Box Office it managed to gross $ 146,000 debuting at No.11 at the UK Box Office.
Another interesting fact being, Hera Pheri (2000) was directed by Priyadarshan whereas its sequel has been directed by Neeraj Vora who was the script writer of Hera Pheri. But, Neeraj Vora directed Phir Hera Pheri has proved to more successful than Priyadarshan directed Chup Chup Ke released on the same day.
It is a third successive hit for Akshay Kumar in the UK. His last two films Dosti: Friends Forever and Hum Ko Deewana Kar Diye had managed to earn $ 1.5 million and $ 1 million respectively at the UK Box Office. Both were duds at the Indian Box Office.
The comedy sequel Phir Hera Pheri has entered the UK Box Office charts at number 8.
In what was a very competitive week for new releases, and with huge interest swayed by the World Cup, this was a fantastic start for this Akshay Kumar comic frills entertainer.
The film, which also stars Bipasha Basu, Sunil Shetty and Paresh Rawal, was only beaten by two other new entries; The Omen and RV. And bear in mind that the Top 10 also includes mega hits X Men 3, The Da Vinci Code, Poseidon, United 93 and Mission Impossible 3.
Ironically, the Aamir Khan romance Fanaa, is at number 10. It’s very unusual to have two Bollywood films at one time in the UK Top 10.
