Earns approx Pakistani Rs 42.6 million in two days
- Film Correspondent
Behind the scene of Pakistani action film 'Waar', starring Shaan Shahid, Meesha Shafi, Ali Azmat, Shamoon Abbasi and Ayesha Khan.
Actor Shaan has once again proven that he remains the unbeatable, true star of Pakistani cinema as his much-hyped action thriller 'Waar' broke all records against estimates.
The film revolving around the theme of terrorism in the country has set new record openings at the box office, beating Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Chennai Express" record at Eid ul Fitr two months back.
'Waar' was released on Wednesday and raked in approximately Rs11.4 million on its first days.
Bilal Lashari's big budget flick earned a total of Rs42.6 million (42,606,655.00) till Friday night, a record for any film released in the country.
Nadeem Mandviwalla, film distributor and owner of the Atrium multiplex cinemas said that the film was released across 42 screens in the country and it took in around 11.4 million rupees which is even better than the nine million rupees mustered by 'Chennai Express' on its opening day at Eid.
He said it is a healthy sign for Pakistani film industry that 'Waar' did good business with direct competition from Bollywood's Akshay Kumar's 'Boss', which also did well on the opening day.
Experts believe, going by the first two days collection 'Waar' can rake in around 50 million rupees in its first week of exhibition across the country.
The film is a debut for director Bilal Lashari and is said to be the most expensive Pakistani film made at a budget of 2.5 million.
It has caught the imagination and interest of viewers with its catchy trailer and action sequences.
Mandviwalla said the advance bookings for the film had also been helped by the unusually long Eid holidays and noted the year had been a good one for Pakistani film industry.
Films like 'Main Hoon Shahid Afridi' which took in 55 million rupees, 'Zinda Bhaag' which has also done well and now 'Waar' have given the Pakistani film industry a new credibility and distributors, exhibitors are willing to bank on them.
As a result of the new wave of Pakistani cinema, Akshay's 'Boss' was only released in seven cineplexes and cinemas in Karachi on Eid but industry insiders say it also did good business.
'Waar' which also stars TV actors like Shamoon Abbasi, Ayesha Khan and singer Ali Azmat has been given an adults-only certificate by the Sindh Board of Film Censors.
If this movie maintains its first-weekend run in the following weekends as well, then it will be considered the second blockbuster of modern-day Pakistani cinema, after 'Bol'.
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