RAKSHA BANDHAN collected 8 crore nett on its first day which is a disappointing number considering the holiday of Raksha Bandhan. Although it is not a major holiday, it should have pushed the film higher especially as its an apt time for release of this film.

The other release, LAAL SINGH CHADDHA, saw its best business in Delhi NCR and East Punjab while this film was best in Gujarat/Saurashtra, CI and Rajasthan. These places are normally better for Akshay Kumar films and the holiday also pushed in these circuits. The opening day of this film in Gujarat is comparable to any other original Hindi film outside SOORYAVANSHI but again the holiday is big in Gujarat.

RAKSHA BANDHAN may have got more benefit of the holiday as its stronger in the Hindi belts which could mean it drop more on day two as against LAAL SINGH CHADDHA. The film holds little appeal for the youth and is mainly for family audiences which means that it is a word of mouth film. But the problem today is that the film which needs to pick is finding it tough to work and here its tough to pick up, that too after a holiday.

It remains to be seen where the film goes on Sunday where it can score in the Hindi belts again if public reports allow but even to be in the race for Sunday.