"Bajrangi Bhaijaan", Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's Eid gift to his fans, is not only breaking records in India, but has also garnered appreciation at the Pakistan box office - earning nearly Rs.6 million (INR3 million/$47,000) in its first week in Karachi and Islamabad alone.
The Kabir Khan directorial, which released in India and Pakistan on July 17, has left behind the collection of Pakistani films "Bin Roye" and "Wrong Number".
According to Nadeem Mandviwalla, "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", which focusses on the bond shared by a Pakistani mute girl and an Indian man, minted Rs.3.2 million in its first week, while Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed-starrer "Bin Roye" raked in about Rs.2.8 million and "Wrong Number" managed to collect Rs.2.7 million in Mandviwalla-owned cinemas in Karachi and Islamabad, Dawn online reported on Friday.
Where Hollywood films like "Minions", "Terminator: Genysis" and "Ant-Man" were unable make their presence felt, "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" also left behind Pakistan's regional cinema.
"Bajrangi Bhaijaan", which also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, collected Rs.2.5 million in Karachi's Capri Cinema.
The exact figures for the entire country will be known only after the film ends its run in Pakistan.
Although "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" faced a lot of obstacles before its release in Pakistan, the film is drawing large audiences who are coming to see Salman in a role of a brotherly figure.
Meanwhile, the film is receiving enormous response at the box office in India. It collected Rs.184.62 crore in its opening week leaving behind Aamir Khan's "PK" (Rs.183.09 crore) and Shah Rukh Khan's Happy New Year (Rs.157.57 crore), according to trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
"#BajrangiBhaijaan is now 3rd HIGHEST grosser of Salman, after #ETT (Ek Tha Tiger) and #Kick... Will emerge HIGHEST grosser in Week 2. India biz. AWESOME," Adarsh posted on Twitter on Friday.
