If the opening occupancy is any indication, Salman Khan has struck again. His Prem Ratan Dhan Payo has taken an excellent all around opening with Housefull signs being seen at multiple centers. None of that is a surprise though as the indications were right there in the last couple of days itself once the advance booking reports started coming in. With single screens booked almost entirely for the whole day and multiplex shows seeing over 50% advance as well, it was anyways a given that at an average, there would be occupancy of around 75%.
This is exactly what has happened in the morning and afternoon shows. As things stand at the moment, the situation is only getting better towards the evening shows. Yes, late night shows don’t project similar momentum as far as advance booking is concerned since tomorrow is a working day. Also, though single screens are showing a fantabulous response right till Sunday when it comes to the advance booking, same is not the scenario at the multiplexes.
Salman Khan in a still from ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’
This isn’t something for Rajshri and Fox to worry though since Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is practically the only Hindi movie being screened across the country, which means a hefty weekend is pretty much on the cards on the sheer basis of current bookings.
Meanwhile, the way opening shows have seen such terrific response, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is now already the best of the year so far, hence surpassing Salman’s own Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Meanwhile, it is also heading for a 40 crore+ Day One for sure. As for the highest Day One record of Happy New Year (44.97 crore – all versions), it is to early to predict as for that a lot would depend on how the late evening and night shows occupancy turn out to be.
