Who would’ve thought the advance booking of a film about a theoretical physicist could topple that of Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (KKBKKJ) or Ranbir Kapoor’s Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (TJMM)? But Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is doing just that, in the unpredictable times that Bollywood finds itself in.

The Cillian Murphy-led drama has so far sold more than 1.5 lakh tickets for the opening day alone in the three national chains—PVR, Inox and Cinepolis. In comparison, KKBKKJ had reportedly sold 57,000 tickets in advance booking in the three multiplex chains, while TJMM stood relatively higher at 73,000.

Oppenheimer has surpassed the advance ticket sales of all Bollywood films released in the past six months, except Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, which reportedly sold 5.15 lakh tickets.

Exhibitor Vishek Chauhan says the huge advance sales of Oppenheimer is a testament to Nolan’s popularity in India. “Christopher Nolan has built a loyal audience; he is the only selling point of his films in India. He has made blockbusters for an intelligent audience, he doesn’t dumb down his films. That’s how a true brand gets created,” he says. 

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says these numbers not only reiterate the director’s fan following, but also the audience’s keenness to head to theatres. “Nolan has a strong fan base among the metro audience. That’s the reason for the phenomenal advances. Also, there is a scarcity of big films. This shows that people are ready to go to theatres, if you give them larger-than-life entertainment.”

Despite a limited release of 800 screens across the country, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has so far sold more than 50,000 tickets for the opening day. A trade source notes, “It’s important to note that Barbie is limited to only national chains, with fewer screens. That’s what makes this number so big. By Friday, it should close at over 65,000 tickets.”