'Race' on a winning streak in India, abroad

Mumbai, April 3 (IANS) Director duo Abbas-Mustan's racy thriller 'Race' has hit the box office jackpot, grossing Rs.700 million across the country within 10 days of its release.

Produced by Tips Films, 'Race' was distributed worldwide by UTV and is also faring well in the overseas markets, fetching Rs.200 million for the distributor so far. It occupies 18th position in the US box-office chart and 9th in Britain.

The movie's collection in Mumbai itself hovers between 80 to 85 percent.

The audiences have particularly appreciated the slick production values of 'Race', even though the content is rather weak.

The movie features Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Katrina Kaif, Bipasha Basu and Sameera Reddy, with some good music thrown in.

Its box-office success has retrieved the slipping career of the director duo who had been trying hard for a hit.

After getting the domestic box-office all to itself for one week, its collections in Mumbai slumped a little when Kumar Mangat's 'One Two Three' was released last week. But being a comedy, it could not wean away a big chunk of the audience from 'Race', a lavishly mounted thriller.

Although 'One Two Three' did not have a spectacular opening, it is having a fair run at the box-office. Apart from 'Race', it has had no opposition at the box-office so far.

Ironically, the movie that is going to give 'One Two Three' a tough competition from next week will be 'Krazzy 4', written by Ashwani Dhir who has directed 'One Two Three.'

Also due for release April 11 is Ajay Devgan's directorial 'U Me Aur Hum'.

This week Percept Picture Company releases the Pakistani movie 'Khuda Kay Liye' in select centres in India, inaugurating a new chapter in the Indo-Pakistan relationship.