Summary:
Mumbai, Aug 13 (PTI) From theatre owners, film industry insiders to audiences everyone had high hopes with this week"s two big Hindi film releases -- Aamir Khan"s "Laal Singh Chaddha" and Akshay Kumar-led "Raksha Bandhan"-- but their dismal day one earnings have dampened the spirits.
Released on Thursday, both the much-anticipated films received mixed to negative reviews amid boycott calls on social media.
On the first day, Aanand L Rai-directed "Raksha Bandhan" raised Rs 8.20 crore at the domestic box office, which dropped to Rs 6.40 crore on Friday.
Khan"s "Laal Singh Chaddha" had a comparatively better opening with Rs 12 crore, but the film also registered a dip on day two with earnings reported to be around Rs 7 crore.
Mumbai-based exhibitor Akshay Rathi, who runs theatres in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, said these are "turbulent times for box office".
“We all think that films of superstars like Aamir and Akshay should do better but these are turbulent times for box office.
There is not enough equilibrium in the consumption patterns of audience, it is haphazard.
"These guys have the potential to open with big numbers but we haven"t seen such strange figures come out for them in a long time.
They are dismally low,” Rathi told PTI.
In his theatres, Rathi said “Laal Singh Chaddha” opened at about 25 per cent and “Raksha Bandhan” at 15 to 20 per cent occupancy.
Directed by Advait Chandan, “Laal Singh Chaddha” is the official remake of the Tom Hanks-starrer “Forrest Gump” (1994), and follows the titular character"s journey and how he overcomes many challenges of life, which coincides with the many iconic events from the Indian history.
“Raksha Bandhan” is a story about Lala Kedarnath (Kumar) and his relationship with his four sisters.
It focuses on his efforts to get his sisters married and tackles issues such as dowry and body shaming.
Reportedly, “Laal Singh Chaddha" released in 3,500 screens across the country and "Raksha Bandhan" opened in 2,500 screens.
Rajasthan-based distributor Raj Bansal of Entertainment Paradise, a multiplex chain in Jaipur, said the response has been below expectations and the numbers might drop further.
“Raksha Bandhan being a big holiday we had some expectations but the opening for both the films has been low.
Besides, there is a negativity for Hindi cinema but if a film is good then the negativity doesn"t matter.