Rs 325 cr in 3 days: Baahubali 2 is now the highest opening Indian film

In coming days, the movie is set to break even more records with its business still holding steady

 

It released to perhaps the most hype seen by an Indian movie in a long time, and it did not disappoint. S S Rajmouli’s Baahubali 2: The Conclusion opened with Rs 121 crore collection (previous/early estimates were Rs 125 crore) and continued its good run at the cinemas over the weekend, netting Rs 320-325 crore over the first three days of release.

At Rs 320-325 crore, Baahubali 2 is now the highest opening Indian film, beating Bollywood blockbusters and its predecessor Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) by a huge margin. The highest opening weekend collection by a Bollywood film so far is by Sultan (2016) at Rs 180 crore. However, the movie was released mid-week and hence enjoyed a five-day opening weekend. If one were to consider the Fri-Sun opening weekend period, Baahublali 2 has left Sultan far behind as estimates peg the opening weekend collection for the Hindi dub version only at Rs 128 crore (net after tax).

In the coming days, the movie is set to break even more records. Already the most widely distributed Indian film ever at 6,500 screens, the film’s business seemed to be holding steady on Monday, leading trade pundits to estimate a 30 per cent or less drop in collection on the first day of the week. The fact that Monday, May 1 was a holiday for many office and educational institutions on account of Labour Day and/or Maharashtra Day (in that state) will also work in the favour of the magnum opus.

As things stand, Baahubali 2 is no doubt the most successful Indian movie ever. It is already the highest grossing Hindi dub version of a regional film and by the looks of it, is ready to pull a Jungle Book, by being in the top three movies of the year for the Bollywood genre (Hindi language). Last year, Disney’s Jungle Book made a whopping Rs 190 crore at the box office, becoming the most successful Hollywood film to release in India, and also the third highest collector of the year. Read more

Expect record opening: Baahubali 2 likely to rake in Rs 1,000 crore

The movie has stirred a box-office storm even before it hits the screens on Friday

Nearly two years after releasing the first part of his magnum opus “Bahubali-The Beginning”, director S S Rajmouli is all set to release the concluding part of the saga.

“Bahubali 2: The Conclusion” has stirred a box-office storm even before it hits the screens on Friday.

The first part, which ended at perhaps the most titillating junctures in the recent cinema history, opened to blockbuster collections in the range of Rs 50 crore on day one and went on to collect a massive Rs 650 crore (gross) at the worldwide box-office. The Rs 200-crore franchise is expected to take a record opening, getting close to or even exceeding its predecessor’s record.

ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 will eclipse all existing Indian box office records: Analysts

Starring Telugu actors Prabhas and Rana Dagubatti along with Tamannaah and Anushka Shetty, the film will be released in as many as 6,500 screens in the country, including 3D and IMAX — the third film from India to be released in IMAX format (the first two being Dhoom 3 in 2013 and Bang Bang in 2015).

With no other movie releasing on the same day as Bahubali-2, the movie is well-positioned to break box-office records in the southern states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.

According to trade analysts, the movie will out do its prequel and rake in around Rs 1,000 crore (gross worldwide) in its life time. Experts bet that the opening day figure could breach Rs 80 crore (gross). (more)