Film Industry: BOX OFFICE: CHENNAI EXPRESS BREAKS 3 IDIOTS’ RECORD

BOX OFFICE: CHENNAI EXPRESS BREAKS 3 IDIOTS’ RECORD

    Kudos, Shah Rukh Khan’s Chennai Express has done it. In 21 days — plus paid previews — his latest release, which is still running, has broken the four-year-old record held by Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots.
    The film has crossed the coveted 202.57-crore mark, which was the highest Indian theatrical revenue for a Bollywood film after deduction of tax.
    Trade sources say that CE continues like an unbridled horse and will set new benchmarks. (See page 4 for Bollywood’s highest earners in India.)
    Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara, which released a week later, found it hard to hold up to the pace of CE after the first three days. The film, with Akshay Kumar and Imran Khan, has collected around 57.5 crore in the last 14 days, with a limited release on day one (August 15).
    It is ironical, but true, that the first part of the film, starring Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi, had ended its box-office run at around 58 crore, but that was three years ago. So, in today’s context, OUATIMD’s collections don’t augur well for it.
    Shoojit Sircar’s Madras Cafe has found its voice among the audience and with critics. The film has collected around 33 crore. Made on a modest budget of around 35 crore (inclusive of prints and advertising), its first week collections are promising. The satellite rights of the film are likely to net around 10 crore, but the returns from other ancillary rights like music and home video are negligible.