New Delhi: Akshay Kumar’s Independence Day release Mission Mangal is looking at impressive opening weekend collections of ₹96.50 crore, making it the actor’s fastest ₹100 crore grosser. Starting with around ₹28.50 crore on Thursday, the Jagan Shakti directed movie grew to ₹17 crore, ₹23.50 crore and ₹27.50 crore on Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively.
“Mission Mangal sets the box office on fire. Springs a big surprise. Packs a fabulous total in its extended weekend. Metros superb, mass circuits join the party on Sunday," trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted.
Over four days, Mission Mangal has also emerged as Kumar’s highest opening weekend ever, beating the business of the Hindi version of 2.0 ( ₹95 crore) and Kesari ( ₹78.07 crore). Trade website Box Office India said the earnings of Mission Mangal were definitely aided by the big first day but it is the Friday and Saturday numbers that are more impressive as they didn’t come on holidays. The Saturday number is just slightly lower than the big Eid release Bharat which earned around ₹24.25 crore on its Saturday though it was the fourth day for that film.
Adarsh added that the film was also picking up speed in key international territories making $504,000 in North America, $619,000 in the Middle East, £85,000 in the UK and $112,000 in Australia at last count.
Box Office India said the film has already crossed the business of hits like De De Pyaar De, Manikarnika - Queen Of Jhansi and Luka Chuppi in just four days and these were all successes to varying degrees. Mumbai is bringing in fantastic numbers for the film while West Bengal and Mysore will notch up record figures for an Akshay Kumar-starrer by the end of the week. Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and East Punjab too have been rock solid on Saturday and Sunday and should catch up with business in the Mumbai circuit soon.
The competing Hindi film release of the week, John Abraham’s Batla House had a decent extended weekend of around ₹33.50 crore over the first four days. The film has recovered well on Saturday and Sunday after the drop on Friday. The Sunday figure of ₹12 crore is especially good, considering it’s the fourth and not third day of release, Box Office India said.
“Batla House shows substantial growth on day three. Has been appreciated and that is reflecting in its numbers, despite a strong opponent," Adarsh had tweeted.
