MUMBAI: Dharma Productions’ Kurbaan, which was released by UTV Motion Pictures, took an average opening at the box office on Friday. The film did a net business of approximately Rs 40 million (Rs 4 crore) on Day 1 in India with the Bombay territory contributing the maximum at Rs 15 million (Rs 1.50 crore). However, the paid previews held a day before were a crowd puller.

The paid previews were held across 350 screens with 500 shows. On Friday, the movie’s occupancy was approximately 45 – 50 per cent in multiplexes and 40 – 45 per cent across single screens. As reported earlier by Businessofcinema.com, Kurbaan had a wide release with 1498 screens across India.

Speaking to Businessofcinema.com, Fun Cinema chief operating officer Vishal Kapur said, "The response to the paid preview has been tremendous in all the cities since it was quite an awaited movie and the weekend will be good. However, the opening has not been all that good and the reactions are not very positive. Even though the weekend occupancy will be high, the occupancy from Monday to Thrusday is a bit doubtful."

However a spokesperson from a multiplex chain feels that if UTV wouldn’t have done the paid previews, the film would have opened better. "The opening has been very poor around 20- 25%. Even though it’s a well made film, there is nothing new in the film since the terrorism backdrop has been overdone," he said.

PVR cinemas programming head Prakhar Joshi added, "The response to the paid preview was very good with around 80% occupancy and also some of the shows going full, we are also thinking of adding some more shows looking at the response of the paid preview."

However, considering the average opening on Friday, it is doubtful whether those shows will be added. "The opening has been a disaster with just about 30 – 40% occupancy and it is difficult to say whether the film will sustain in the coming week," said another multiplex official.

Notwithstanding, the movie’s director Rensil D’silva is optimistic. "I have been getting a lot of feedback and it sounds great. I am confident of the film, so let’s see how it goes," he said.

Kurbaan stars Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi.