Farah Khan's latest directorial venture "Happy New Year" (HNY) has become the biggest opener of 2014, but the movie may not become the highest grosser of the year, beating the lifetime record of Salman Khan's recent release "Kick" at the Indian Box office.
Directed and produced Sajid Nadiadwala, "Kick" released in nearly 5,000 screens across the country on 25 July. Having maintained rock-steady at the ticket counters, the Salman Khan-Jacqueline Fernandez starrer has collected ₹233 crore at the domestic box office in its life time. The film has become the highest grosser of the year.
"Happy New Year" also released in 5,000 screens in the domestic market. It features ensemble cast of Shahrukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Sonu Sood, Boman Irani, Vivaan Shah and Jackie Shroff. With its star-cast, mega budget and massive promotions, the Gauri Khan-produced movie is much bigger than "Kick". Before its release everyone predicted it to top the list of 2014.
As predicted, "Happy New Year" debuted with a bumper response in the domestic market. The movie not only smashed the first day record of "Kick", but also went on to become the biggest opener in the country.
But, that is not all. Having done superb collection in three days, the Shah Rukh Khan starrer shattered the earlier records including that of "Kick", "Krrish 3" and "Dhoom 3".
But "Happy New Year" could not maintain the same pace on the weekdays. Though it collected ₹157.57 at the Indian box office in the first week, the film failed to beat the opening week's record of "Kick", which had minted ₹164+ crore in the domestic market. The movie crumbled further in the second week and collected ₹35.87 crore, taking its 14-day domestic total to ₹193.44 crore.
After the second week, "Happy New Year" once again lost several screens. In its third week, the business of the musical heist drama has fallen to the ground with its collection reaching ₹1.5 crore and ₹1.75 crore on its third Friday and Saturday respectively. It is yet to cross ₹200 crore mark in the domestic market.
"Happy New Year" has collected ₹196.69 crore at the domestic box office in 16 days. The film needs ₹4.31 crore to cross the mark and as per its present pace, the film may struggle to achieve this magical number in its third week. Its business would be completely halted in the fourth week. Hence, it will not be able to break the life-time record of "Kick", which has raked in ₹233 crore at the Indian box office.
