<i>Bajrangi Bhaijaan</i> gives Bollywood its second Rs 300-cr flick

Made at around Rs 100 crore, the film has made 200% return on investment at the box office

Salman Khan-starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan has crossed the Rs 300-crore mark on Wednesday (August 5), at the domestic box office. Thus, it has become the second Bollywood film to do so after Aamir Khan’s PK, which was released last December. Khan’s previous best was Kick  (2014), which collected Rs 233 crore in its lifetime.

On the success of its maiden production venture, Amar Butala, COO, Salman Khan Films and co-producer of Bajrangi Bhaijaan, said, “It's a matter of pride for Salman Khan Films that our first film as producers continues to set new box office benchmarks in India and worldwide, and has found both box office success and critical acclaim. We are overwhelmed with the love and appreciation the audience is showering on the film across the globe".

Nandu Ahuja, senior vice-president, India Theatrical, Eros International Media, said, “Bajrangi Bhaijaan has created box office history; Salman mania persists among his fans and audiences and records continue to shatter.”

Apart from being the most successful movie featuring Salman Khan, it is also one of his most profitable films. Made at about Rs 100 crore, the film has made 200 per cent return on investment at the box office, and around 50 per cent return on investment at the producers’ level (calculated after accounting roughly 50 per cent of net collection for the producer since the rest goes to the exhibitors/distributors).

PK leads the race as it was made at a budget of Rs 70 crore, giving a return on investment of around 140 per cent.

Suniel Wadhwa independent distributor and box office analyst said, “Bajrangi Bhaijaan is looking at a lifetime box office collections of Rs 310-315 crore, which will be 2nd biggest grosser after PK which earned Rs 338 crore.”

Wadhwa added, “While Bajrangi Bhaijaan on the consolidated box office level may not surpass PK’s life time business, on standalone basis it is expected to hit all-time records this week either in net collections or distributor share. Barring the Mumbai circuit and the South where PK will ocntinue to lead, other circuits will see PK’s record beaten.”

Experts add that in the South the Baahubali wave affected the film from Day One but in the North it is expected to hit all-time record in spite of higher entertainment tax, which was introduced recently. The movie had tax free status in UP from the second week of its run.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan is the maiden venture under Salman Khan Films, co-produced by Rockline Venkatesh and has been distributed worldwide by Film studio Eros International Media Ltd. Directed by Kabir Khan, it stars Harshali Malhotra, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui as well.

The film was released on July 17 and crossed the Rs-150 crore milestone within five days of release in India.

In the international circuit too Bajrangi Bhaijaan has been doing good business with Rs 155 crore in the first 18 days. The film has broken all previous overseas records of Salman Khan films and is in Top 10 in the UK.

Commenting on the overseas success, Pranab Kapadia, President - Marketing and Distribution, Eros International Plc, said: “Bajrangi Bhaijaan’s performance in the overseas markets has amazed trade pundits with unheard of numbers. The movie has surpassed the overseas collections of Salman’s previous blockbusters and has gone on to become the highest grossing Salman Khan movie ever.”