Shah Rukh Khan’s return movie Pathaan is the centre of attention. Everyone, including the public, business insiders, and trade specialists, is anticipating the movie’s January 25 release. The movie is in charge of awakening the Hindi film industry from its protracted slumber, and industry insiders are optimistic that it will provide the impetus for the remainder of the year. They anticipate “tremendous” things from Pathaan.
Speaking about the movie, film trade analyst, Taran Adarsh said, “As we all know, Shah Rukh Khan is returning to the screen after four years in an out-and-out action entertainer, and the promotional material has done the trick. People are talking about the film. Since it’s the first big release of 2023, all eyes are on it.” He anticipates the movie to make between Rs 40 and Rs 50 crore in its opening weekend.
On January 20, Pathaan’s advance ticket sales officially started, and on that first day alone, more than 5 lakh tickets were sold. The top three multiplex chains, PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, sold more than 2 lakh tickets. These numbers are anticipated to increase greatly in the final two days before the movie’s premiere. “This demonstrates people want to watch a big entertainer on the big screen only,” Taran remarked in response to a strong advance ticket sales performance.
Filmmaker and industry expert Girish Johar believes that Pathaan’s early ticket sales have given the Hindi film industry as a whole a sense of confidence. The Hindi film industry struggled in 2022 due to intense competition from South Indian and international movies.
“The advance ticket sales are fantastic for all formats, all languages. It gives a lot of confidence, not only to the film’s team but also to the entire film fraternity. Pathaan is the best that Hindi films can offer as of now. It has a star cast of Shah Rukh, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham, is directed by Siddharth Anand and is backed by Yash Raj Films, all of are in their top game. I am expecting a brilliant start for Pathaan.” However, he estimates that the movie would make between Rs 35 and Rs 38 crore on its opening day.
Pathaan’s fame will last far beyond the day it premiered in theatres. Experts in the movie business are optimistic that it will set some records for takings during its five-day extended weekend. According to Girish Johar, the movie will easily bring in Rs 350 crore globally and earn Rs 175-200 crore in the domestic market in its first five days.
Akshaye Rathi, a film exhibitor, said that Yash Raj Films, which failed to produce a success last year, will “bounce back this year.” He said, “Siddharth Anand and YRF have never gone wrong in the urban action genre. So, whether its a Tiger movie or a Dhoom franchise or War, it’s a genre which YRF has always raised. Therefore, with a director like Siddharth, who fairly understands the big action set pieces and great entertainers, they will deliver a hit.”
The highest-earning debut in Bollywood history was Siddharth Anand’s War, which debuted in 2019 and starred Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff. It brought in Rs. 53.35 crores the day it was released. It remains to be seen whether Pathaan will hit him again. Additionally, Shah Rukh consistently draws crowds to theatres on opening day. Zero, his disastrous 2018 film, opened at Rs 19.35 crore.