Maidaan kicks off: 9000 tickets sold for premiere & Eid showings

As the much-anticipated release day of "Maidaan" dawns, directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma and starring Ajay Devgn, Priyamani, and Gajraj Rao, the buzz is building up. However, the initial ticket sales for premieres and the Eid holiday are surprisingly low, with only 9000 tickets sold in top national chains.

Despite the sluggish start, "Maidaan" aims for an opening of around Rs 1.75-2 crores on premiere night and anticipates collecting Rs 6 crores on Eid. The last-minute rescheduling of the release of "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan" has worked in favor of "Maidaan," potentially securing more screens for its debut.

Although "Maidaan" may seem less costly than its competitor, it still carries a substantial budget and needs to match the success of Ajay Devgn's previous film, "Shaitaan," to break even. With years of anticipation building up, the pressure is on for the football-centric film to deliver on its promises.

The silver lining for both "Maidaan" and "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan" is the absence of major releases in India for the next month, providing them with ample opportunity to perform well. As the industry eagerly awaits the audience's response, hopes are high for both films to attract the viewership they deserve.