MUMBAI: There has not been a single new release in last two weeks and the only two films in contention are Dilwale and Bajirao Mastani, which released simultaneously on 18 December, 2015. Both films have been generating box office revenue to an extent, subtle, but not enough to justify the high investments they entailed. Both the films enjoyed an open three week run sans new releases and the Christmas holiday’s week as a bonus.
The media created race between Dilwale and Bajirao Mastani did not mean much as it was not about getting the better of other film as much as it was about reaching the target. That of recouping the investments.
Dilwale paid the price for Shah Rukh Khan’s loose talk and the loss of single screen slots and while the film opened reasonably well, it could not maintain the pace thereafter. It continued to sustain with decent collections but no windfall happened despite the Christmas week. The film, which opened with Rs 22 crore opening day, started tapering down and sank into below ten digit figures as the week progresses.
The film collected Rs 30.4 crore for its second week and took its two week total to Rs 126.7 crore.
Bajirao Mastani, a very high priced product, made more impact on the social media than at the cinema halls. The film’s best performance, as expected, came from Western India and the elite multiplexes elsewhere. While, Delhi UP figures are usually 50 per cent of Bombay Circuit, in UP had rejected the film. It also had to do with the casting as well as the film having a regional flavour.
The film opened on a weak note and though it maintained the collections at around Rs 8 – 10 crore through the week, which, it seems, won’t be enough for the ultimate target.
After its first week tally of Rs 81.8 crore, the film had a stable run at the box office and collected Rs 50.3 crore in its second week taking its two week tally to Rs 132.1 crore. Still, far away from the target.
