JAI HO is looking at a strong start at the box office all over but the expectations have also changed after the release of DHOOM 3. DHOOM 3 managed to set a record opening day on a non holiday. Hence, whereas earlier a 20 crore nett figure was regarded excellent for a non holiday the stakes have gone up with DHOOM 3.

DHOOM 3 had production values which have never been seen before in India and the huge cost was evident in the promos which is not the case with JAI HO which is a very costly film for the distributors but not in terms of it showing on screen which is important today as consumers are paying high ticket rates and they come for the gloss. So a grand looking film does add to the box office opening which was also proved by GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA RAM-LEELA which opened much better than the cast warranted and a lot was to with the fact that the product looked big.

JAI HO has the presence of Salman Khan who is the biggest crowd puller but the market expectations of a 25 crore nett number may be bit too high as the market is basing it on DHOOM 3 collecting nearly 32 crore nett but these things sometimes don't materialise. The advance at many single screens is actually better than DHOOM 3 and CHENNAI EXPRESS which were top openers of 2013 but multiplexes are less almost all over where advance is open.

The music not being a huge hit does not matter for big stars like Salman Khan but a grand look may be a problem in terms of putting up a very big number (25 crore plus). A superstar, grand look and holiday probably means 37-38 crore nett opening day business today but JAI HO is banking totally on the superstar. The year has started on a slow note with only YAARIYAN just about covering costs and being an average fare so it is down to JAI HO to get the box office going again.