Ek tha Tiger reviews/BO (VB's Note Pg 143) - Page 8

The D-Day is just a few hours away. It is a foregone conclusion that Ek Tha Tiger would arrive like a hurricane. There won't be any surprise either when it reaches the 100 crore. It is also a given that with this, Salman Khan would make it four in a row (after Dabangg, Ready, Bodyguard) as far as scoring a century is concerned. No one doubts either that the film will break the highest collections ever for a Salman Khan starrer. Katrina Kaif fans and followers can be assured as well that this would be her biggest money spinner till date.

With all such 'definite things' in the happening, what exactly is Ek Tha Tiger chasing? Well, the stakes are much higher. It has to be seen whether this Independence Day, the film would create record for the highest grossing day ever (hence breaking the record of Ra. One). If continued buzz over last few months and the advance booking are any indication, it will most definitely do that and that too by a huge margin. Figuratively speaking, the target is 30 crores first day. Will Ek Tha Tiger manage that? Looks very likely though practically speaking, one can be 100% confident that 27-28 crores is a given.

This should be possibly with all-India collections of around 70%-80% that the film can expect on the first day. While major centres and multiplexes should be recording 100% opening right through the day, one has to also take into account that the film is seeing a huge release with a record print count which means it would be impossible for this Kabir Khan directed film to register 100% occupancy all over. Moreover with a substantial population expected to watch the film after Eid, even 70% plus all-India collections till then would be enough to break and create new records.

The first major record which is all set to be created is the fastest century ever. So far it is held byBodyguard which managed this total in an extended 9 day week. Ek Tha Tiger is all set to achieve this total in six, if not five days. Now these are the records which would be created solely on the opening basis and euphoria around Salman Khan. The content would do the talking from Tuesday onwards and that would decided whether the film would march towards 200 crore mark or not, hence eclipsing 3 Idiots record. However, more about that next week. Till then one can be content with the fact that 150 crores is certainly on.

http://www.koimoi.com/box-office/ek-tha-tiger-box-office-predictions-30-crore-first-day-is-the-immediate-target/