New Delhi: In a surprising turn of events, Christopher Nolan’s non-superhero Hollywood film, ‘Oppenheimer,’ has emerged as a box office winner in India, surpassing the much-hyped Bollywood multistarrer ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani,’ directed by Karan Johar. The milestone achievement marks a significant moment in the industry and comes seven years after Karan Johar’s last directorial venture.
‘Oppenheimer’ delves into the gripping narrative of the Manhattan Project and the moral dilemma faced by J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist leading America’s quest to develop the atom bomb. Despite being a film with a theme not traditionally expected to resonate with Indian audiences, the international title has remarkably outperformed the Bollywood blockbuster at the box office.
According to trade website Bollymoviereviewz.com, ‘Oppenheimer’ made an impressive Rs 13.5 crore on its debut Friday, followed by Rs 16.5 crore on Saturday and Rs 17.25 crore on Sunday, resulting in a net collection of Rs 47.25 crore during its first weekend. Surprisingly, India has turned out to be the second-biggest international market for ‘Oppenheimer’ after the UK, with the film’s net earnings touching an impressive Rs 91.05 crore in just ten days.
Despite ‘Rocky Aur Rani’ running on 3,200 screens across India, compared to ‘Oppenheimer’s’ 1,200 screens, the Hollywood epic’s opening-day collection ranks seventh among all-time best Hollywood first-day earnings in India. The top spot remains held by the 2019 superhero action drama ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ which made Rs 53.1 crore.
Both films were released in close proximity, and while ‘Rocky Aur Rani’ had two sets of figures available, those from the producer and the trade, the latter showed a lower collection compared to ‘Oppenheimer.’ The trade figures for ‘Rocky Aur Rani’ were Rs 9.5 crore on Friday, Rs 14.5 crore on Saturday, and Rs 15 crore on Sunday, summing up to Rs 39 crore for its first three days. The producer’s figures were slightly higher at Rs 11.1 crore on Friday, Rs 16.05 crore on Saturday, and Rs 18.75 crore on Sunday, resulting in a total collection of Rs 45.81 crore.
Interestingly, even as ‘Oppenheimer’ appears headed for the coveted Rs 100-crore club, the audience has unequivocally spoken with its wallet. Karan Johar’s music and dance-filled tale about a spirited West Delhi Punjabi boy and a Bengali sophisticate has been outshined by the thought-provoking story of the morally conflicted atomic physicist in ‘Oppenheimer.’
Comments