Sultan : How high will it fly next week ?

Salman Khan's 'Sultan': How High Will It Fly Next Week?

Don Groves , CONTRIBUTOR
I write about screen industries in Australia/NZ & neighboring regions.

With Salman Khan, the sky is the limit. The buzz is almost unprecedented
'Sultan' (Photo: Yash Raj Films)
Salman Khan in Sultan' (Photo: Yash Raj Films)

The highest-grossing movie of Salman Khan's stellar career, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, rang up 184.62 crore ($27.7 million) in its opening week in India in July 2015. Can the Bollywood superstar's new film Sultan, which launches worldwide on July 6, beat that in its first five days?


Yes, according to a healthy majority of people who responded to an online poll. Director Kabir Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan, the saga of a devoted guy who rescues a young mute girl from Pakistan and sets out to reunite her with her family, finished up earning 320.34 crore ($48.15 million).

Blogger Taran Adarsh posed the question: Will Sultan will earn more in five days than Bajrangi Bhaijaan's opening week? Of more than 12,000 who responded, 62% said most definitely while 25% were doubtful and 13% rated its chances as 50-50.


CenturyLinkVoice
How To Make Phone Meetings More Productive

Gallery
Salman Khan
Launch Gallery
30 images

That suggests sky-high expectations for the Yash Raj Films production which stars Khan as Sultan Ali Khan, a 40-year-old wrestler from Haryana who has battles in the ring and in his personal life. Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the drama co-stars Anushka Sharma as his love interest, Aarfa, a wrestler who tackles opponents with raw energy and strength. Randeep Hooda plays Sultan's coach together with Amit Sadh as Sultan's brother and two Americans, UFC mixed martial art competitor Tyron Woodley and real-life grappler Kurt Angle, as wrestlers.

Recommended by Forbes
MOST POPULAR Photos: 17 College Majors That Report Higher Underemployment
Want To Retire In Your 30s And Travel The World? This Woman Did

All the signs point to a massive opening despite the controversy over Khan's recent interview in which he compared the physical exertions of playing a wrestler to feeling like "a raped woman." Social media erupted with indignation after he said, "If have to pick up a 120kg person and drop him down, I have to do it 10 times from five different angles. So [for] six and a half, seven hours, either I am picking up and throwing or he is picking up and throwing... When I used to walk out of that ring, it actually felt like a raped woman walking out. It was most difficult. I could not take steps."


The actor defused the issue by apologizing via his father, writer Salim Khan, who said, "Undoubtedly what Salman said was wrong...but his intention was not wrong. I apologize on behalf of his family and friends...to err is human, but to forgive divine." Actors including Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Pooja Bedi as well as many of his 18.3 million Twitter followers defended him. One Bollywood film industry executive told FORBES, "There will be no impact on business. We expect the film to start with a strong number."

The first trade screenings are happening this weekend for the film rated UA (parental guidance for children under 12), evidently due to violence. Advance bookings open on Sunday. Analyst Komal Nahta predicts an opening day of 40-45 crore ($6 million-$6.7 million) and a lifetime total of 250-300 crore ($37.5 million-$45 million), reasoning, " With Salman Khan, the sky is the limit. The buzz is almost unprecedented ."

Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma in 'Sultan' (Yash Raj Films)
Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma in Sultan' (Yash Raj Films)

Another analyst, Amod Mehra, said, "I am confident that the film will break all opening day records. The film is very hot among the trade and viewers. Salman Khan is the biggest star in India currently and the expectations are sky high."


If the film opens as strongly as the analysts and most fans expect, it will eclipse the lifetime totals of Khan's Dabangg 2, which earned 158.5 crore ($23.8 million) in 2012, and soon overtake Ek Tha Tiger's 198 crore ($29.7 million) in 2012 and perhaps Prem Ratan Dhan Payo's 207.4o crore ($30.2 million) last year. Beyond that are Kick's 233 crore ($35 million) in 2014 and Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

One thing is virtually certain: Sultan will mark the actor's 10th film to surpass 100 crore ($15 million) in India, an unrivaled feat in Bollywood.

If you liked what you're reading, follow @grovesdj on Twitter and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/don.groves.50). Also, check out my archives for older work HERE.

Comment on this story
Report Corrections Reprints & Permissions

What goes up must come down. I feel Salman has been flying too close to the sun and he will burn and come crashing down. History has bear witness to this time and again and he is no exception.

They should minus 10Cr from the actual Prediction because of Utterly Bad Photoshop.
15Cr of Fake Accent of Wrestler.
20Cr for Shaking his big butt
25Cr For Adding 440v Pathetic song
30Cr For Singing a Song in his voice.. Autotune Failed Miserably
And 35 Cr because i say.
In so much of misconception I would Say is Sky is so F**king Limited.

He only needs one flop..to come crashing down..not only in his career but also his social & legal battles...

no ways can it break BB's record n 5 days. that's just utter madness.

With his latest controversial statement, i dont think it'll...

Sultan will be another successful movie of salman.This controversy will do more good than harm.

Udta Salman 😆😆 😆

I have been hearing that it's already a ATBB with record advance booking.

Expectations are too high for Sultan . Hope it will cross everyone's high expectations. Good Luck to Salman& whole Sultan Team .