PUAADA did well on its first day as it collected 50-55 lakhs nett on day one but this number does not tell the complete story as the film released on just 55 cinemas in East Punjab compared to the 175 it would have had on a normal release. 

The best comparison is probably the collections from PVR properties which had the closest to a normal release. Here, the three key properties in East Punjab circuit were the main ones missing. The film managed to collect 18 lakh nett from PVR and looking at these collections then the missing three PVR properties would collect another 3 lakh with PVR Mohali adding 2 lakh alone. 

So PVR collections post the pandemic with 50% occupancy would be around 21 lakhs nett and the last Ammy Virk film SUFNA released in Feb 2020 collected 29 lakh nett on all PVR properties on day one when things were normal. PUAADA is around 30% less with only 50% occupancy allowed and this is a great result for the first major release after the pandemic. No doubt if the film was allowed 100% occupancy, it would have surpassed the PVR numbers of SUFNA despite Covid-19. 

The film has generally done very well in East Punjab but it is not reflected in the total collections due to the limited release and then on top restrictions to capacity on this limited release. There will more theatres added today including one more PVR theatre and its possible that more theatres will come on board over the weekend. This could lead to much stronger numbers on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday is crucial as signs of families returning would be a huge boost..

The film had a good response in Delhi city also with collections in the 10 lakhs nett range which is similar to what SUFNA had done in Feb 2020. SUFNA collected 11 lakhs nett in Delhi city. There are no night shows in Delhi but this is compensated by more shows in the city due to lack of Hindi films. Still it is 50% occupancy allowed here and if 100% was allowed it would have easily surpassed the SUFNA numbers. 

The film also scored very well in UK as it collected almost £15,000 and that too on a Thursday. The film had a good response in Canada also but occupancy rules held back key shows in the evening in cities dominated by the Punjabi community. These shows normally go housefull for most Punjabi releases and here they were housefull also but on the allowed occupancy.