Padmaavat Collection: Bhansali’s magnum opus rakes in Rs 114 crore despite limited release
The film missed out earnings due to its limited release (Representational Image, Courtesy: Publico)
After months of struggle, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmaavat’ opened to packed cinema halls last week and set the cash registers rolling by raking in well over Rs 100 crore during the opening weekend. The film was made on a budget of Rs 150 crore.
According to Viacom18 Motion Pictures, one of the banners behind the period drama, ‘Padmaavat’ made a total of Rs 114 crore by January 28 after releasing on January 25 across 4,000 screens in India.
It hit the screens a day before the Republic Day holiday, but paid previews on January 24 had given its earnings a jump-start of Rs 5 crore.
This was followed by Rs 19 crore on January 25, Rs 32 crore on January 26 and Rs 27 crore on January 27 and Rs 31 crore on January 28.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted: “Protests… Disturbances… No screening in few states… Yet, ‘Padmaavat’ does excellent business in its extended weekend. The film lost out on substantial business (approximately Rs 35 crore to Rs 37 crore), but the superb trending in other circuits helped put up a majestic total.”
Based on 16th century poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi’s poem ‘Padmavat’, the film was caught in a row after protests from Shri Rajput Karni Sena which contended that it distorts historical facts and dents the pride of the Rajput community.
As a result of the ensuing violence, the movie did not release in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh as well as in some theatres across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
‘Padmaavat’ is even doing well in the US as well as in Pakistan. However, the film has reportedly been barred from release in Malaysia over ‘sensitivities of Islam’.
It has received mixed reviews, with some appreciating the movie for its visual brilliance and impeccable performances, while others slamming it for glorifying the practice of Jauhar (self-immolation) and for showcasing Alauddin Khilji as demon-like.
The film features actress Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati, alongside Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji.
