Pathaan day 1 early Box Office collection: Shah Rukh Khan’s film goes neck-to-neck with Yash’s KGF: Chapter 2 opening day

Shah Rukh Khan’s much-awaited Pathaan is finally in theatres and as expected from this one, the movie has managed to shatter many records. It is the second highest opening film in the post-pandemic era after Yash’s KGF: Chapter 2. However, since KGF is originally a South film, one can easily say that Pathaan has shattered all records to become the highest grossing opening day release in the post-pandemic times.

A report on Box Office India suggests that Pathaan has a bumper opening of 60% occupancy. This is on an average when each tier is considered in India.

While Pathaan has slightly lesser occupancy than KGF: Chapter 2, it still goes neck-to-neck with Yash’s film. The movie enjoys a wider release with a production house like YRF to back it up.

The single screens in UP, MP and Rajasthan were housefull by Wednesday afternoon on January 25 (its release date). The movie has done extra-ordinarily well for a film that released on a non-holiday.

KGF: Chapter 2 as well as Siddharth Anand’s film WAR was a holiday release. Thus, they enjoyed slightly more occupancy. While Pathaan did not release on a holiday, there is the Republic Day holiday on January 26 (a day after its release). This will in reality prove just how much the audiences are liking this movie.

The movie has sure set the pace for January 26 and its effect can be seen in the South Indian regions too. Circuits like Nizam and Andhra are leading in terms of the film’s occupancy.

Nonetheless, Pathaan’s success comes as a huge boost to Bollywood in times when no film is being accepted. The movie is in a way Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback in movies. He was last seen in Aanand L Rai’s Zero. That contributes a lot to the occupancy for the movie, for all SRK fans want to watch the movie at least by the weekend, if not FDFS (first day first show).

The first day craze for Pathaan is at the level of SRK of the 90s. It currently competes with films like Karan Arjun, Koyla and of course, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

This is clear with the advance booking for the film. Pathaan broke all records when it came to the advance bookings. It beat the ‘ever-so-mighty’ KGF: Chapter 2, Baahubali: The Conclusion as well as WAR’s records by minting as much as Rs. 54 crores as advance booking.

Having Deepika Padukone as the female lead and John Abraham back as the antagonist is only the icing on the cake. The movie, backed by YRF, is among one of their Spy Universe, which they revealed after completing 50 years in the industry.