'Dostana' rakes in 80 percent collection on day one

Mumbai, Nov 15 (IANS) Karan Johar's latest production 'Dostana', which has Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham pretending to be gay, got a great opening, raking in 80 percent collection at the box office in Mumbai on the opening day.

'The movie's box-office performance is equally encouraging in other centres in the country,' a trade source said Saturday.

Released with 700 prints domestically, the movie has been faring better especially in multiplexes, as opening collections indicated Friday. In BIG Cinema and PVR chains in Indore, 'Dostana' raked in 85 percent and 90 percent respectively on the opening day.

A spokesperson of Yash Raj Films, which has the world distribution rights of 'Dostana', said that the movie being a lighthearted comic caper with a homosexuality angle has been particularly liked by the youth as it gives them quite a few good laughs.

'We expect the collection to pick up further over the weekend,' she said.

Produced by Dharma Productions, the film is the directorial debut of Karan's second unit assistant director Tarun Mansukhani.

Set entirely in Miami, 'Dostana' also stars Priyanka Chopra and Bobby Deol. Abhishek and John are said to have pulled out all stops while pretending to be gay, leaving audiences in splits.

In contrast to 'Dostana', One More Thought production's 'Dasvidaniya,' which also released Friday, failed to garner a good opening despite it being promoted extensively.

But producer Azam Khan is confident that though the movie is a slow starter, it would have a better run during the weekend. Trade experts say the Russian title may have driven away audiences on th opening day.

'Why they have chosen a Russian word for a Hindi movie title, I do not know. But the title itself is a put-off for the audience, though the movie, in sum, is enjoyable in spite of lacking in star-value,' a trade analyst said.

'Dasvidaniya' means good-bye in Russian. The word had got some currency in India during the release of Raj Kapoor's 'Mera Naam Joker', in which Raju, the circus joker played by the actor-filmmaker, utters it a number of times while bidding adieu to his lady-love, Marina, a trapeze artist played by Russian actress Kseniya Ryabinkina.

Co-produced by lead actor Vinay Pathak, 'Dasvidaniya' opened with a disappointing 30 percent collection in Mumbai.

But Pathak's earlier 'Bheja Fry' also had a slow start, but it eventually turned out to be a huge hit.

As far as 'Dostana' is concerned, the buzz in the trade circles is that given the movie's subject, it would fare better only in cities and might do good business in the overseas markets.