Rajkummar Rao vs Sanjay Dutt, Newton vs Bhoomi: Who won the David vs Goliath box office battle?

Sanjay Dutt’s comeback vehicle, Bhoomi, failed to make much of an impression at the box office, reports suggest. The film could only manage Rs 7.48 crore in its opening weekend, according to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, who declared it a ‘fiasco’.

Adarsh also tweeted the opening weekend figures of Newton, the Rajkummar Rao political satire that was announced as India’s official entry to the Oscars on the day of its release.

#Bhoomi is a FIASCO... Fri 2.25 cr, Sat 2.47 cr, Sun 2.76 cr. Total: ₹ 7.48 cr [1894 screens]. India biz.

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) September 25, 2017

Newton showed remarkable growth after news of its selection was broken, leaping 162% from Friday to Saturday. The trend continued on Sunday when the film made Rs 3.4 crore, pushing its opening weekend tally to Rs 6.9 crore.

#Newton is expected to maintain momentum on weekdays... Fri 96 lakhs, Sat 2.52 cr, Sun 3.42 cr. Total: ₹ 6.90 cr [430 screens]. India biz.

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) September 25, 2017

Newton made only Rs 96 lakhs on Friday, but registered figures of Rs 2.5 crore on Saturday. What’s more remarkable is that Newton is playing in approximately 1400 theatres less than the more widely-publicised Bhoomi. Newton’s theatre count, as per Adarsh, is 430, while Bhoomi is playing in 1894 theatres in India.

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