Kesari box office day 1: Akshay Kumar’s film is biggest opener of 2019, makes ₹21 crore despite Holi release
Akshay Kumar appears to have delivered yet another hit with Kesari. The film is now the biggest opener of 2019, and the second biggest opener of Akshay’s career.
Actor Akshay Kumar’s latest film, Kesari, has had a stellar opening at the box office. The war epic made ₹21 crore on its first day, making it the biggest opener of the year in India. The figure is especially impressive considering it released on Holi.
Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted the figures on Friday. “#Kesari roars... Sets the BO on (fire). Emerges the biggest opener of 2019 [so far]... After limited shows in morning/noon [#Holi festivities], the biz witnessed massive growth from 3 pm/4 pm onwards... Evening shows saw terrific occupancy... Thu ₹21.50 cr. India biz,” he wrote in his tweet.
Adarsh also revealed that the film is the second biggest opener of Akshay’s career. “Top *Opening Day* biz - 2019... 1. #Kesari ₹21.50 cr [Thu] 2. #GullyBoy ₹19.40 cr [Thu] 3. #TotalDhamaal ₹16.50 cr 4. #CaptainMarvel ₹13.01 cr Note: ₹10 cr+ openers. India biz. #Kesari is Akshay Kumar’s second biggest opener, after #Gold [ ₹25.25 cr; #IndependenceDay],” he wrote in his tweet.
Also read: Varun Dhawan celebrates Holi with girlfriend Natasha Dalal and his parents. See pics
The film appears to have exceeded all expectations. Talking to Hindustan Times about the film’s prospects at the box office, film exhibitor Akshaye Rathi said ahead of the release, “Holi is not expected to be an advantage as most of the malls and theatres remain shut during the first half. Despite the Holi disadvantage it should open at around ₹15 crore.”
“It has the potential to go beyond ₹30 crore in the first weekend and should certainly cross the ₹100 crore mark on the 8th or 9th day,” he added.
Rathi expected director Anurag Singh’s film to be among Akshay’s highest grossers and said, “The movie has generated tremendous buzz and the kind of feedback coming from the screenings that have happened is terrific. Besides, it is about an event that makes every Indian proud and want them to know what happened more than 100 years ago. Akshay Kumar is one of the biggest superstars we have in the industry. I think it has the potential to be his highest grosser till date.”
The film is based on the Battle of Saragarhi when 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army fought against 10,000 Afghan tribesmen in September 1897.
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