Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 1: Salman Khan's movie release on the day of Eid has once again proved lucky for the actor, and this time with a cherry on top! His latest blockbuster 'Bodyguard' has created a new record in Bollywood by earning an estimated Rs 22 crore on the first day of the release. No movie in Bollywood has ever earned such an amount on day of the release, sources say.
It may be recalled that last year he released 'Dabangg' on Eid and in 2009 'Wanted' too was an Eid gift by the superstar.
On this Eid, Wednesday August 31, 'Bodygaurd' was released all over the country and abroad. While the country was enjoying a day off, those in the Gulf had an extended leave for two-three days as is the custom during the festival.
It is expected that in India alone, 'Bodyguard' has earned an estimated Rs 20.5 crore net with both multiplexes and single screens doing extremely well.
"There are a couple of good reason for the run-away success of the movie on the first day. It was holiday everywhere, and also, there have been no good box office releases after 'Singham'. Whatever released after 'Singham' was average in earnings, with the exception of the controversy-marred 'Aarakshan'" a film financial analyst told daijiworld.com in Mumbai.
"It is no surprise that the movie has done extremely good in the Gulf markets too, with an estimated earning on Rs 1.5 crore net on the very first day of the release, running in packed houses all over the UAE," said the analyst.
With Salman Khan away in the USA for medical treatment, it seems his fans are backing him well and doing some good mouth publicity for 'Bodyguard', which is a dub of a Malayalam movie.
"'Bodygaurd' may be a Malayalam dub, but it has lots of new ideas. The concept may be same but you have many things in the movie which are not in the original," said Salman Khan to a Mumbai journalist before leaving for USA.
Bodyguard, directed by Siddique, is a remake of the director’s 2010 Malayalam film of the same name.
The film co-stars Kareena Kapoor and has music by Himesh Reshammiya.