While the first half of the year had a few hits, the second half is expected to start with a bang with the release of Salman Khan's "Sultan." Trade experts are positive that Salman and Anushka Sharma's "Sultan" will create the magic at the box office, which a big movie like "Fan" failed to do this year.
"Sultan," directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and produced by Yash Raj Films, was made on a budget of approximately Rs. 115 crore, and so the expectations are also high from the film to perform well at the box office. And trade experts have said that the film will earn the production cost before even finishing its five-day long weekend. In fact, trade analysts have said that the film will earn Rs. 150 crore before entering the weekdays run at the domestic box office.
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"Sultan is a tsunami waiting to hit the Box Office; I can already feel it. The lull before the storm is already there now, what with the present days seeing the lowest turnover in the recent days. Yes, the film will definitely have one of the 'top openings of all times'. As a matter of fact, I personally wish that it does a half century in one day," trade expert Girish Johar told Bollywood Hungama.
Distributor Ramesh Sippy said that it would not be a surprise if the film crosses Rs. 140 crore. If that happens, then "Sultan" will beat all the box office records set in 2016 by Akshay Kumar's "Airlift," "Housefull 3" and Shah Rukh Khan's "Fan." Currently, only two Bollywood movies have earned Rs. 100 crore this year and if "Sultan" crosses even Rs. 130 crore then it will emerge as the biggest hit of 2016.
"The cinemas have no other significant film to play and almost all the shows across multiplexes as well as single screens shall be given toSultan. This would virtually leave the film as the only option for movie-goers," exhibitor and distributor Akshaye Rathi said.
Not only the biggest hit of 2016, "Sultan" is also set to break the record of "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo," which holds the record of highest opening day box office collection, and "Bajrangi Bhaijaan."
"On an average, Sultan - if accepted by the audiences - will have a five-day run clocking Rs. 150 crore at the Box Office. Come on, a Salman film - especially on Eid - is not just a film, it's a 'ritual' now. 'Eidi with Bhai' is a mandate for all fans - be it any religion, caste or creed," Girish said.
