Shah Rukh Khan's 'Dunki' and Prabhas' 'Salaar' make impressive overseas box office debut
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The opening day for Shah Rukh Khan's movie 'Dunki' began on a high note, accumulating an impressive USD 2.65 million (Rs. 22 crores) internationally.
This debut ranks as the fourth-largest opening for a Bollywood film in the current year, following Khan's movies 'Pathaan' and 'Jawan' and 'Animal.' Notably, 'Dunki' shares a mid-week release pattern with 'Pathaan' and 'Jawan,' differing from 'Animal,' which premiered on a Friday.
Globally, 'Dunki' garnered Rs. 56 crore on its first day, with approximately Rs. 34 crore originating from India's domestic market.
The movie's standout performance was witnessed in Australia, surpassing 'Jawan' with AUD 425K, marking the third-highest opening for a Bollywood film in the country. Additionally, Germany, known as a significant Shah Rukh Khan stronghold, began with nearly EUR 100K across 70 screenings.
Despite a solid performance in North America, reaching USD 800K, the film faced limitations in key locations due to various new releases, including 'Salaar' from India. The Middle East showed lower numbers at approximately USD 900K, historically under-indexed for this genre. 'Dunki' is expected to amass USD 12-13 million over its four-day weekend, with anticipation to exceed USD 20 million in its initial week.
In the United States, it accumulated USD 625,000, while Canada contributed USD 175,000 to its international earnings.
The Middle East emerged as a strong market, generating approximately USD 900,000 in revenue.
Additionally, in Australia, 'Dunki' grossed USD 285,000, while the rest of Asia/Pacific and the United Kingdom secured USD 200,000 and USD 250,000, respectively.
Germany and the rest of Europe added USD 110,000 and USD 100,000, respectively, rounding up the total overseas box office collections to USD 2,650,000.
Simultaneously, Prabhas' much-anticipated film, 'Salaar,' directed by Prashant Neel, had a robust global premiere.
The film's Thursday previews amassed a staggering USD 3.20 million, ranking third among South Indian films, trailing 'RRR' and 'Baahubali 2.' In North America, 'Salaar' grossed USD 2.50 million across 750+ locations, securing the second-highest premiere for an Indian film in the region, only behind 'RRR.'
While GBP 165K was grossed in the United Kingdom and an estimated USD 400K in the Middle East, the film is expected to excel further as it expands its presence in Eastern markets.
The worldwide first-day number for 'Salaar' is projected to exceed Rs. 140 crores, possibly crossing Rs. 150 crores, establishing a promising start for the much-anticipated movie.