Now all eyes are set on the release of Baahubali 2 in China. But the Prabhas starrer may not beat the collection records of Aamir Khan's Dangal at Chinese box office.
The SS Rajamouli-directed historical fiction movie, which was released in the theatres on April 28, has collected Rs. 1,348 crore gross in India and Rs. 307 crore gross in international markets. Baahubali 2 has collected a total of Rs. 1,655 crore gross at the worldwide box office in 37 days. The movie has shattered all the previous records of Indian cinema in all regions it was released recently.
Baahubali 2 is gearing up for a grand release in China in July. Trade experts are busy predicting whether it would shatter the records of Dangal, which has created history by bebecominghe first India film to cross the Rs. 1,000 crore gross mark at the Chinese box office. Everyone including its makers is curious about its performances in the country.
The producers are hopeful that Baahubali 2 will live up to the expectations of viewers and make record breaking collection at the Chinese box office. "It will be the next Indian film after Dangal to release in China, and we are excited about its possibilities. Dangal has done record business in China and its exemplary response has upped the quotient for Indian films," Kishore Kedari of Arka Media Works said.
The huge success of Dangal in China is not due to great content or making but owes mainly to the star-power. Aamir Khan is the most popular Indian actor in China and collections of his previous releases 3 Idiots (Rs 16.80 crore), Dhoom 3 (Rs 24 crore) and PK (Rs 123.27 crore) testify to his popularity in the dragon country.
Baahubali 2 has grabbed eyeballs in the international markets. The success of Baahubali 2 might make you think the movie will score big in China. However, it's worth recalling that Baahubali: The Beginning minted only Rs 7.54 crore in China.
Even Aamir Khan did not have such huge fan following and craze for his films, when 3 Idiots, his first release in China, hit the screens in China. The burgeoning fanbase and craze around his movies reflected on the collection of his later releases in the country. Considering this fact, it might take another couple of movies for SS Rajamouli and Prabhas to get recognised in the country.
You might think the massive success of Baahubali 2 will draw the audience in numbers in China. But the language stands as a barrier as the Chinese audience is not exposed to news makers in other languages. And hence, Baahubali may not cross even Rs. 100 crore mark in the country.