'Ek Tha Tiger' expected to break more records

Salman Khan does it again! After giving back-to-back super hits "Wanted", "Dabangg", "Ready" and "Bodyguard", he has hit the bull's eye once again with "Ek Tha Tiger" which has broken records of opening day collection by earning Rs.33 crore.

The romantic thriller released on Independence Day and trade pundits are expecting the collections to increase during the long weekend, thanks to Eid, which is Monday, and make more new records.

The film's cost is said to be above Rs.50 crore and "Ek Tha..." marks director Kabir Khan's third collaboration with Yash Raj Films after "Kabul Express" in 2006 and "New York" in 2009.

Rajesh Thadani, Multimedia Combines, Mumbai, says the film has received the highest opening ever.

"Salman's movie 'Ek Tha Tiger' is doing very well all over. Ithas been the highest opening ever. In first two days, the film has collected around Rs.47 crore all over India. On the opening day, the film collected Rs.33 crore. It is the highest collection till date for any Indian film," Thadani told IANS.

"In Mumbai the film collected close to around Rs.17 crore on opening day. There is possibility that the film will break all records and collect Rs.200 crore," he added.

Vinay Choksey of VIP Exhibitors, Mumbai, seconds Thadani and said: "The film is expected to maintain the craze and the collections will go up during weekend."

The film that revolves around an Indian secret agent named Tiger collected almost Rs.17 crore on the second day.

Anant Verma, director and business head of DT Cinemas, says "'Ek Tha Tiger' opened with 98 percent occupancy".

"The movie is doing excellent business. There was a lot of hype about it because of which we have had 45 percent online and advance bookings," Verma told IANS.

"From families to couples, college students to working class came to watch the movie and they are liking it. We are waiting for the weekend and expecting increased footfalls," he added.

Salman, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer, romances Katrina (Zoya), an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agent in the film.

"Ek Tha..." shows the tumultuous journey of the dark world of intelligence that forbids its soldiers from falling in love.

The story is by Aditya Chopra and the film's screenplay has been co-written by Kabir Khan and well-known journalist-turned-lyricist-writer Neelesh Misra.