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Welcome Back has done the unthinkable. No one, just no one expected the film to open the way it did on Friday. Even in this column it was mentioned pre-release that a 10-12 crore opening day was on the cards. However, anything beyond that would have been good and 15 crore was a milestone that was unimaginable.
However, this is what happened as the film not just opened well but went on to see an increase in momentum with every passing show. By evening it was clear that 12 crore was set to be surpassed and as the night shows began, there was a serious chance for the film to cross the 15 crore mark.
In a way, the manner in which the film continued to collect on Friday was pretty much akin to Anees Bazmee and Anil Kapoor’s own No Entry (2005). Just like that Boney Kapoor film, even firoz Nadaidwallah’s Welcome Back faced financial challenges till the eve of release, and later suffered from several cancelled shows till the afternoon due to issues with print delivery. Also, just like No Entry, the audience word of mouth was fantastic and that resulted in families stepping by evening and night shows to bring in excellent moolah.
No wonder, the collections of now read 14.35 crores and with this, the Anees Bazmee directed film has managed to take the third best opening of the year after none other than Salman Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Akshay Kumar’s Brothers. Now this isn’t something that anyone expected from this franchise affair that was coming eight years after first in the series, Welcome (2007). The popularity which Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar and Paresh Rawal starrer has enjoyed over the years rubbed well into the second in the series as well.
Since the word of mouth is good, except a bountiful Saturday and Sunday as well for the Eros film. It won’t be surprising now to see a 50 crore weekend on the cards.
Records – Highest Day One of 2015
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Bajrangi Bhaijaan – 27.25 crores
Brothers – 15.2 crores
Welcome Back – 14.35 crores
Joginder Tuteja tweets @tutejajoginder
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