Dilwale + Bajirao Mastani = Best Bollywood Weekend

The much-awaited clash of two of the biggest Bollywood films - Dilwale and Bajirao Mastani that happened on December 18, Friday - is proving to be a winner for movie goers, producers, distributors as well as for the business of Bollywood films in the calendar year 2015.

Between both these blockbusters, the weekend collections (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) zoomed to Rs 111.86 crore at the domestic box office. Reports suggest both these films are being liked across India and the overseas markets. With no other significant Bollywood release till the first week of January, both these films are expected to together gross over Rs 300 crore or more at the domestic box office.

Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dilwale grossed Rs 65.09 crore while Ranveer Singh starrer Bajirao Mastani grossed Rs 46.77 crore at the domestic box office.

According to veteran film trade expert Komal Nahta, Bajirao Mastani overtook Dilwale in US-Canada on Sunday. "That's quite an achievement for Bajirao Mastani. Dilwale $599,962. Bajirao Mastani $617,943. Grosses an impressive USD 4.5 million Overseas in 1st weekend. That's Rs. 29.85 crore," said Nahta.

Overseas Business
Overseas too both the films managed to make waves. Dilwale had its biggest opening in Malaysia for a Bollywood film while in New Zeland it was number two on the box office charts. In USA, Dilwale was ranked number 9 in Top 10 chart, said Nahta while in Australia, Dilwale is the biggest ever release for Shah Rukh Khan. In UK too, Dilwale clocked the highest opening for a Bollywood film in 2015. In the Gulf countries too it was ranked as the number one film ahead of Star Wars.

On the first day though film trade pundits said Rohit Shetty directed Dilwale had an advantage over Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed Bajirao Mastani.

As per the occupancy reports, 'Dilwale' registered an edge over 'Bajirao Mastani' with a much higher opening of around 60-70 per cent in multiplexes as compared to less than 40 per cent for the period drama. Experts said the first day collections of Dilwale may stand at around Rs 24-26 crore while that of Bajirao may be half of that. "The opening day collection for 'Dilwale' will be somewhere around Rs 21-22 crore.'Bajirao' might settle for a Rs 10-12 crore opening day figure," Girish Wankhede, of production-distribution company Entity One, told PTI.

As per the actual numbers reported by an agency representing Eros, the distributor of Bajirao Mastani, the film grossed Rs 12.80 crore on Friday, Rs 15.52 crore on Saturday, and Rs 18.45 crore on Sunday.

Dilwale was released across India, Australia, Norway, Pakistan, Myanmar, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and South Africa. In Pakistan, Dilwale is reported to have generated around Rs 5 crore as the opening day collection breaking all previous first day collection records. However, in West Asia, overseas exhibitors were bullish on Eros International's Bajirao Mastani which was released in 850+ screens, said Nahta.

Film director Karan Johar tweeted and declared Dilwale as a "blockbuster". "No doubt about that!! Box office rage coming!! Huge congratulations to SRK Kajol Varun Kriti and Rohit Shetty!!" Johar said in his Tweet.

Dilwale is being released by Shah Rukh Khan's company and is said to have been made at a budget of over Rs 75 crore. In order to be termed as a commercially successful film, Dilwale will have to generate around Rs 180-200 crore at the domestic box office, say trade experts.

Bajirao Mastani is reported to have been made on a budget of Rs 120 crore of which the producer is said to have recovered half of it via the sale of its satellite and music rights. It has been released in around 2000+ screens in India while Dilwale was released in over 3000+ screens.