Actors Akshay Kumar and Parineeti Chopra’s period war drama Kesari may not get the holiday advantage and is expected to open at around ₹15 crore, according to film exhibitor Akshaye Rathi. “I think it has the potential to be his highest grosser till date,” he says.
Talking to Hindustan Times about the film’s prospects at the box office, Rathi said, “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 expects 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.”
Kesari is based on the Battle of Saragarhi when 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army took on the might of an estimated 10,000-strong army of Pashtun fighters in modern-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan.
{{/usCountry}}Kesari is based on the Battle of Saragarhi when 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army took on the might of an estimated 10,000-strong army of Pashtun fighters in modern-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan.
{{/usCountry}}The release of the film also coincides with Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, which marks the Bollywood debut of Maine Pyar Kiya actor Bhagyashree’s son Abhimanyu Dassani, opposite Radhika Madan of Pataakha fame. Directed by Vasan Bala, the film won the People’s Choice Award: Midnight Madness at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. It revolves around a boy who suffers from a rare condition that doesn’t let him feel pain.
On being asked if the film can survive at the box office opposite Kesari, Rathi replies, “I don’t think there is any kind of competition between them as both cater to very different kind of audiences. It is a much smaller film and since the budget of the film is much less, the recovery shouldn’t be a problem.”
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