Akshay Kumar in ‘Bhooth Bangla’

Box Office India Trade Network

BHOOTH BANGLA did good business in paid previews as it clocked up figures in the 3.25 crore nett range. It was shows post 9 pm only but it had good occupancy especially in Mumbai circuit (both Maharashtra and Gujarat). The opening on day one is also good enough taking into account the film had paid previews which would have taken some of the initial opening day business into paid previews.

The film needed a double digit opening and it would have hit that mark if the film never had paid previews and now it is certain to get there if we include paid previews. But it remains to be seen if the opening day itself can get there. It would be a good result if the film can get 10 crore nett on day one after these paid previews.

It would actually be the best opening result for an Akshay Kumar starrer in recent times as films like HOUSEFULL 5 and JOLLY LLB 3 were established franchises where expectations were higher. This is an original film. So, the initial is a positive and its about going on from here. The initial means that if the film has merits, it will do well and that should be the target of every film which has a star in it. There have been so many films in the last few years that could not even work if they had some merit due to the initial.

BHOOTH BANGLA is likely to be a more Mumbai circuit film which could be seen from the look of the film and generally films directed by Priyadarshan from a GARDISH or VIRASATin the 90's to the GARAM MASALA/BHOOL BHULAIYAA in 2000's were Mumbai circuit heavy. Its looks the same here as the circuit again has a heavy contribution in paid previews and remains to be seen if the other circuits can do better over the weekend.

BHOOTH BANGLA is a start of a crucial period of 3 months for the industry which will see many of these medium sized films release and its the result of these films which will shape up sentiment in the film industry in the near term. BHOOTH BANGLA is a positive start to the period with these initial results.
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BHOOTH BANGLA had a good opening day as it collected around 11.50 crore nett and adding the paid previews, the total goes to around 15 crore nett which is a solid start for the film. The opening day is a little less than JOLLY LLB 3 but that was the third film of a successful franchise while here its an original film. Also counting paid previews, the figure is higher than JOLLY LLB3. So, if this film did not have paid previews, then the opening day collections itself would no doubt been better than JOLLY LLB 3.

The film had a decent trailer but no music to really support and today double digits is the target when scale and music is missing. The film is the third best opening (including PP) for an Akshay Kumar starrer after SOORYAVANSHI and HOUSEFULL 5 but those are far far bigger films in terms of hype and scale. In real terms this 15 crore (inc PP) reads better than the 22 crore nett of HOUSEFULL 5.

The film has done better in Mumbai circuit which is due to the feel and look of the film. Next best seems to be Mysore and it will be for the same reason. The film is a little less in the North but that was always going to be the case as where the look helps in Mumbai, its a negative for the North. Now its about going on from here and consolidating the initial over the weekend.

The opening of BHOOTH BANGLA is a positive sign for the film industry which should give some hope for the films to come over the next months. The opening days are so important in today's scenario when collections are a struggle. A film failing after the audience has given it a chance is not much of a concern but being dead on arrival which the industry has witnessed many times post pandemic is the killer.
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BHOOTH BANGLA had a very good Saturday as it collected 18 crore nett, taking an excellent jump of almost 60% on its second day. The film now stands at 33 crore nett after two days and previews and should comfortably cross the 50 crore nett mark for the weekend. The film is doing very similar business to JOLLY LLB 3 though both Friday and Saturday are a little less than that film.

This can change on Sunday as JOLLY LLB 3 was affected by the cricket and although there is IPL, its is different from and India v Pakistan match. JOLLY LLB 3 fell short of 20 crore nett on Sunday but hopefully here, BHOOTH BANGLA will cross that figure. The film remains best in Mumbai and Mysore while other areas are doing good to decent business. Mumbai circuit is 11.50 crore nett in two days with good contributions from both Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The weekend is done which should be enough to ensure the film is a success unless Monday really goes down which it should not looking at this Saturday trend. The wait is now can the film show better than the normal holds over the weekdays to emerge a HIT. The disappointment of Jolly LLB 3 was in the weekdays and if this can do better, it will emerge a HIT film. The open field is such for the next four weeks that even a 50% drop on Monday can do the trick.

The collections of BHOOTH BANGLA till date are as follows.
Paid Previews - 3,50,00,000 apprx
Friday - 11,50,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 18,00,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 33,00,00,000 apprx
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BHOOTH BANGLA has done good business over its first weekend as it collects 54 crore nett plus over its first three days and paid previews. The film showed very good growth on Saturday and followed up with another solid 20% jump on Sunday. The figures compare well with JOLLY LLB 3 which did 50 crore nett. Here, it is 51 crore nett for the normal three day weekend, not counting the paid previews.

The Sunday figure ensures the film will emerge a SUCCESS at the very least and its just about whether the film can go on to become a HIT. If the film can hold 50% of its collections of Friday, it will be in running and if its better than that, then the chances are good to emerge a HIT due to the open period.

The film has done better in places like Maharashtra and Gujarat but that has always been the trend for films directed by Priyadarshan no matter what the genre. Its just not Priyadarshan but practically all the directors from the South since the 80's who directed Hindi films show better performances in Western India apart from Sandeep Reddy Vanga, which puts him at a different level.

The growth is there for BHOOTH BANGLA in the North and East on Saturday and Sunday but its likely the film will depend on Maharashtra and Gujarat in the long term while it was the opposite for JOLLY LLB 3 which scored better in North India.

The collections of BHOOTH BANGLA till date are as follows.
Paid Previews - 3,50,00,000 apprx
Friday - 11,50,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 18,00,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 21,50,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 54,50,00,000 apprx
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BHOOTH BANGLA has collected good figures in Overseas as well as India with collections of around $2.75 million (INR 25 Crore). This compares well with JOLLY LLB 3 which did business of $1.75 million. BHOOTH BANGLA did have paid previews on Thursday but it was a minimal contribution and even if we take them out, its still well ahead of JOLLY LLB 3.

The film collected over $1 million in US/Canada and Gulf was very good with and $800k total. The big two films this year, BORDER 2 and DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE, did not release in Gulf. So, this is actually the first big release in this market this year. BHOOTH BANGLA is double of O'ROMEO, which had the best collections in Gulf this year but that is hardly a target considering the dull reception to that film.

The worldwide collections of the film 91 crore for the weekend including paid previews. JOLLY LLB 3 was 83 crore without paid previews. If we take the paid previews out, it has a total of 85.50 crore which would be seventh best for an Akshay Kumar starrer. HOUSEFULL 5, SOORYAVANHI and MISSION MANGAL are the films with a 100 crore plus worldwide weekend.

The worldwide collections of BHOOTH BANGLA till date are as follows. 
India -   66 crore (54.50 crore nett)
Overseas -  25 crore ($2.75 million)
TOTAL - 91 crore
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BHOOTH BANGLA held well on Monday as it collected 6 crore nett plus with the drop on the right side of 50% thanks to better areas like Gujarat, CI and Rajasthan. This is enough to ensure the film is a success but if the film could have got up towards that 7 crore mark, then the HIT mark would be easy pickings. Now, its about where the film goes from here.

There are discounted rates on Tuesday which will give the film a lift but its just for one day and because of this Wednesday becomes a crucial day for the film. Basically its the Wednesday and the second Friday which will determine whether the film becomes a HIT. The collections of the film till date are 60.50 crore nett and that 75 crore nett mark should be crossed for the first week.

The film is doing better JOLLY LLB 3 till date as the hold on Monday in terms of trend is better and the collections is also better. JOLLY LLB 3 had a higher first day but on Sunday and Monday, BHOOTH BANGLA is ahead. Sunday was down to a big India v Pak match when JOLLYLLB 3 released but there was no such thing on Monday and BHOOTH BANGLA is ahead fair and square. Now its just about maintaining these better holds for the next few weeks.

The collections of BHOOTH BANGLA till date are as follows.
Paid Previews - 3,50,00,000 apprx
Friday - 11,50,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 18,00,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 21,50,00,000 apprx
Monday - 6,15,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 60,65,00,000 apprx
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BHOOTH BANGLA showed a jump in business on its first Tuesday thanks to the discounted rates. The film collected around 7.25 crore nett which takes its five day total to 68 crore nett. JOLLY LLB 3 collected 71 crore nett for the first week. So, it will cross that figure by the end of business tonight. The film goes into that crucial period over the next three days which will probably determine where it will finish up.

There will be a drop on Wednesday as Tuesday has inflated figures due to the discounts but it will be about how far lower is it compared to Monday. The first week which should come out at around 77-78 crore nett which depending on the next days but this figures compares well with the first week of JOLLY LLB 3.

The film remains best in Maharashtra/Gujarat though Delhi/NCR is doing better now as compared to the first day or paid previews. Overall though, this will be a Western India film whereas JOLLY LLB 3 was a North India film. The period is better as JOLLY LLB 3 basically had a two week run as it got curtailed in week three by two major holiday release. A better first week and a longer open run should mean comfortably better business than JOLLY LLB 3 but Northern markets tend to hold better than Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The collections of BHOOTH BANGLA till date are as follows.
Paid Previews - 3,50,00,000 apprx
Friday - 11,50,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 18,00,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 21,50,00,000 apprx
Monday - 6,15,00,000 apprx
Tuesday - 7,25,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 67,90,00,000 apprx
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BHOOTH BANGLA did well on Wednesday as it collected 5.50 crore nett which is a drop from Tuesday due to the discounted rates. When compared to Monday, it is down only 10% which is a good hold. The total collections of the film stand at 73.50 crore nett apprx after five days and it should manage a total of 78.50 crore nett for the first week.

The trajectory of the film remains higher than JOLLY LLB 3 but the test will be Friday as there is a little competition. So, the collections have to hold in the range of Thursday. There is the English film, MICHAEL, which has very good advances but there are mainly down South which should not affect BHOOTH BANGLA much as the horror comedy has limited collections in the South.

The collections of BHOOTH BANGLA till date are as follows.
Paid Previews - 3,50,00,000 apprx
Friday - 11,50,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 18,00,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 21,50,00,000 apprx
Monday - 6,15,00,000 apprx
Tuesday - 7,25,00,000 apprx
Wednesday - 5,50,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 73,40,00,000 apprx
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BHOOTH BANGLA had a good first week with collections of 78.50 crore nett as the weekdays held up well with Thursday finishing up at 5 crore nett which is only 20% less than the Monday collection. The film could have done a little better on Monday as that if that drop of 46% was more towards 40%, it would have made a difference and it would have ensured HIT status.

The film is a bonafide success but still remains to be seen if it can hold up well enough to become a HIT. A Friday collection similar to Thursday can keep it on the right trajectory. It is an open week and there are higher ticket prices on Friday compared to Thursday which will give it a good chance to collect similar to Thursday. Above all, there is appreciation in some parts of the country. There is the new Hollywood film MICHAEL which will see good collections but not in the areas where BHOOTH BANGLA is scoring.

The target in week two at the very least is to be better than JOLLY LLB 3 which should happen. BHOOTH BANGLA has fared best in Mumbai circuit with both Maharashtra and Gujarat doing well. The collections in Mumbai circuit will be around 27 crore nett. 

The collections of BHOOTH BANGLA till date are as follows.
Paid Previews - 3,50,00,000 apprx
Friday - 11,50,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 18,00,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 21,50,00,000 apprx
Monday - 6,15,00,000 apprx
Tuesday - 7,25,00,000 apprx
Wednesday - 5,50,00,000 apprx
Thursday - 5,00,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 78,40,00,000 apprx
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BHOOTH BANGLA had good hold on its second Friday as collections were pretty much the same as the day before. The film collected a sold 5 crore nett which is a 56% drop from the first day. The film will emerge a HIT if this trend holds for the next couple of weeks. The film is a bigger success than JOLLY LLB 3 and looks in that SEMI HIT/HIT range at the moment but if holds continue, it will be a HIT as will go to 150 crore nett or close.

The total collections of the film are 83.50 crore nett till now and it will be flirting with 100 crore nett by the end of the weekend. The film continues to do well in Gujarat and its a long time since Gujarat has been an out performer for a Hindi film. Its actually hard to say why this audience has appreciated the film more. It was a comedy strong circuit but so many have not performed well in the last five years which made you doubt comedies in the circiuit.

Overall, whereever it finishes now, its a very good result for the industry and Akshay Kumar. For the industry because it needed this type of film with a relatively low production budget to put up collections just to improve sentiment and confidence and this film will do the trick. A film like DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE does not change sentiment as its seen as something maybe one or two directors can only do. Hence, it changes nothing for the vast majority.

For Akshay Kumar, its a result, as he is having many releases in the year and if they keep on doing 100-150 crore nett, then he are in a great position. This figure was higher pre pandemic but now 100-150 each with four releases is probably a bigger achievement than 150-200 crore nett each before the pandemic. This is because of the shift of business to the bigger scale and budget film.

There was dodgy period but that looks like past now with the results of the last four films, KESARI CHAPTER 2, HOUSEFULL 5, JOLLY LLB 3 and now BHOOTH BANGLA which will be a bigger in terms of success than the other three and on top, there is no sequel tag like the others.

The collections of BHOOTH BANGLA till date are as follows.
Paid Previews - 3,50,00,000 apprx
Friday - 11,50,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 18,00,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 21,50,00,000 apprx
Monday - 6,15,00,000 apprx
Tuesday - 7,25,00,000 apprx
Wednesday - 5,50,00,000 apprx
Thursday - 5,00,00,000 apprx
Week One - 78,40,00,000 apprx
Friday - 5,00,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 83,40,00,000 apprx