Yash Raj Films’ newest blockbuster Pathaan starring Shah Rukh Khan has broken records at the UK Box Office in its extended opening weekend. The Siddharth Anand directorial released in UK cinemas midweek on 25th January in Hindi and Tamil in approx 225 locations, becoming the second-widest release for an Indian title.
The film collected the highest-grossing opening day for an Indian title ever on its first day with £319k. The previous record at the UK Box Office was also with Yash Raj Films for Sultan (2016) which scored £271k on its first day. Shah Rukh Khan topped his own highest first day collection, which were with Chennai Express (2013 – UTV) at £258k.
Pathaan collected £231k on day 2 and created a new record on day 3 scoring £345k, a record for a single day intake for an Indian title. The cumulative gross from the first three day with the weekend was at £896k.
The biggest record came in on Saturday, its 4th day on release in the UK, where to film collected an unprecedented and historic figure of £556k.
The total gross of the extended weekend at the UK Box Office stands at £1.4M, excluding Sunday’s collections which will be shared on Monday for the final figure of 5 days.
The record-breaking opening has already crossed the lifetime collections of multiple blockbusters such as Don 2, Ra.One, Don, Ek Tha Tiger, Bajirao Mastani and Bodyguard.
It has also surpassed the lifetime collections of all Indian films released last year including Laal Singh Chaddha, Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva, K.G.F. 2, RRR and Ponniyin Selvan: I.
It is expected that Pathaan will become the highest grossing Indian film at the UK Box Office of all time. This title is currently with Dhoom 3, a Yash Raj Films release, at £2.7M. Other high-grossing titles Pathaan must beat at the UK Box Office include Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Eros – £2.6M), My Name Is Khan (Fox Searchlight – £2.6M), Dangal (UTV – £2.5M), PK (UTV – £2.3M), Dilwale (UTV – £2.3M), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (Yash Raj Films – £2.2M).
Siddharth says, “With War and now Pathaan, we, the Hindi film industry have given films that have pan India appeal. I have always believed that cinema has no language. Cinema is about an emotion and if it connects with people, it can really go to dizzying heights and that’s what’s happening with Pathaan.”
Director Siddharth is happy that Indian cinema is flourishing and creating new benchmarks with landmark global hits.
He says, “Today is a victory of Indian cinema because we are all Indians first. It is such an exciting phase for our country that films from across India are making records, breaking records and most importantly entertaining the people of our country globally!”
Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films, says, “It is incredible that Pathaan has registered the biggest all-time opening in India and overseas, considering the collections of the film in the first 3 days of release which is dubbed as the opening weekend for any film. Pathaan has been blessed by Indians across the globe and what is happening with this film is unprecedented and historic.”
Pathaan has become a must watch theatrical entertainer which is being celebrated across the nation. Pathaan, is part of Aditya Chopra’s ambitious spy universe and has the biggest superstars of the country Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in it.
BollyNews UK 