Alia Bhatt’s Raazi earns Rs 56.59 crore at box office
Alia Bhaat is not just a favourite of critics, she has got audience on her side as well. The actor’s film, Raazi, is a good example of how good content — and not just star-driven vehicles– can make records. The Meghna Gulzar film opened to rave reviews on May 11, and has been generating a buzz at the ticket windows too. The film has earned Rs 56.59 crore in a week at the box office. It is now the fifth highest week one grosser of 2018.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted the figures, “TOP 5 – 2018 Week 1 biz…
1. #Padmavaat ₹ 166.50 cr [9 days; select previews on Wed, released on Thu]… Hindi + Tamil + Telugu.
2. #Baaghi2 ₹ 112.85 cr
3. #Raid ₹ 63.05 cr
4. #PadMan ₹ 62.87 cr
5. #Raazi ₹ 56.59 cr
India biz. [Hollywood films not included]”
Raazi replaces Kartik Aaryan’s Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, which was on the fifth slot earlier with a one week collection of Rs 44.56 crore.
“#Raazi emerges a WINNER… Does REMARKABLE biz in Week 1… Emerges 5th HIGHEST *Week 1* of 2018… Fri 7.53 cr, Sat 11.30 cr, Sun 14.11 cr, Mon 6.30 cr, Tue 6.10 cr, Wed 5.90 cr, Thu 5.35 cr. Total: ₹ 56.59 cr. India biz. What’s noteworthy is the fact that #Raazi put up SUPERB numbers on weekdays, following an EXCELLENT opening weekend… The biz remained consistently above ₹ 5.25 cr from Mon to Thu, which indicates the word of mouth has translated into BO numbers,” Taran added.
Based on the book Calling Sehmat by Harinder Sikka, Raazi is about a Kashmiri Muslim girl who is planted as a spy in Pakistan by the Indian agencies in the backdrop of 1971 war with Pakistan. Director Meghna wanted her protagonist to look vulnerable yet determined, and Alia emerged as the perfect choice for the role.
Meghna also claimed recently that she deliberately steered clear of Pakistan bashing in the film. “The story itself is such a powerful one that we don’t need planks of placard carrying jingoism… You say what to say and you do that simply and honestly. When you are making a film on patriotism and you are not bashing Pakistan, you need brave people to back it,”
