When 3 Idiots (2009) touched the `202 crore (Netbox office in India-NBOC) with 1149 screens it was truly a cause for celebration.
Not only was this critically acclaimed film the first to hit a double century; the movie also accomplished the feat with less than half the number of screens that other movies are currently doing it in.Now with the big-daddies resorting to releasing their movies in double the number of screens and with a sharp increase in ticket prices around festivals and more opportune dates in the release calendar, more movies are crossing the `100 cr mark.
Suddenly the 100-cr club is becoming over-crowded. And the leaders have now opened membership to the new 150-cr club.
They have pushed the domestic box office benchmark to 150 cr and even as Chennai Expresstook a fantastic first day (the real figures will arrive shortly), you can see that Bollywood's 150-cr club is getting more members today.
According to Taran Adarsh, "Chennai Express" beat "Ek Tha Tiger" record, which had collected nearly 30.50 crore (INR) on its first day. Amul Mohan tweeted that "Chennai Express"first day collection is the second biggest opening day for any Bollywood movie.
"Chennai Express" earned approximately 6 crore (INR) from its Thursday preview shows. The movie, however, is shattering all other records.
The movie, released in 3500 theatres in Indian and around 700 overseas, is all set to become Shah Rukh Khan's biggest hit of his Bollywood career. Koimoi.com reports that "Chennai Express" is the highest opening day collection for the highly popular actor. "Though "Don 2," "Ra.One" and even "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" began well, "Chennai Express" assured that King Khan claims back his position of the highest opener ever."
