'Dilwale' performing better than 'Bajirao Mastani' at Pakistani box office

Karachi: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan-led ‘Dilwale’ has been doing exceedingly better than Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus ‘Bajirao Mastani’ at the Pakistani box office since the last Friday clash, according to the initial figures given by distributors and exhibitors.
Acton-comedy ‘Dilwale’ earned in excess of Rs 65 million during its opening weekend. The collections for the first three days were Rs 21.3 million, Rs 24 million and Rs 23 million respectively, said an official of EverReady pictures, which also distributed the film.

According to early figures, Bhansali's period romance has earned just one-fourth of what the Rohit Shetty film has managed in the Pakistan market. The Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone starrer has, reportedly raked in Rs 21 million so far.
It, however, would be wrong to say the competition is one-sided because now people are lining up to see ‘Bajirao Mastani’ as well, exhibitor and distributor Nadeem Mandviwalla said.
While the advance bookings of ‘Dilwale’ outshone ‘Bajirao Mastani’, the latter's ticket sales are picking up because of positive feedback, reviews on social media and positive word of mouth talk, Madviwalla said.
He added the real test for ‘Bajirao Mastani’ would come later this week when they are two successive holidays before the weekend.
Distribution Club executive director Abid Rasheed said ‘Dilwale’ was released on 85 plus screens in comparison to 70 screens for ‘Bajirao Mastani’.
He said the success of ‘Dilwale’ was also because its team spent a lot of time in Dubai promoting the film for the Pakistan market.
‘Dilwale’ has not only performed well in multiplexes but also in single screen cinemas in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and other cities, Rasheed added.
Farrukh Rauf, director operations of the famous Capri cinema in Karachi, confirmed that while ‘Dilwale’ has recorded full houses, attendance for ‘Bajirao Mastani' been below par.
He said ‘Dilwale’ would be given an extended run at Capri cinema due to the long weekend because of the holidays.