The much-awaited film Race has opened to a phenomenal response everywhere, setting box offices on fire. It recorded the second best opening week collection in India and is likely to surpass this year's biggest Bollywood grosser, Jodhaa Akbar.
The movie, starring Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Anil Kapoor, Kartina Kaif, Bispasha Basu and Sameera Reddy, has definitely enthralled viewers, many of whom have returned to see it more than once.
Directed by Abbas-Mustan it has all the hallmarks of a slick thriller, and is their first major hit in a long time. Such has been the film's success that its producers are already toying with the idea of a sequel and have registered its title as Race 2.
Box Office
Race netted Rs356 million (Dh33 million) in its first week but fell short of Om Shanti Om's record Rs402 million (Dh37.2 million).
However, it has surpassed the collections of last year's blockbuster Welcome's net gross of Rs353 million (Dh32.6 million).
There was such a frenzy to see this film that in some parts of India cinema managers decided to put it on every available screen.
In the US, Race debuted at No 18 at the box office, grossing $802,254 (Dh2.94 million) in its opening weekend, which is extremely good although it could not surpass Jodhaa Akbar's opening collection of $1.6 million (Dh5.87 million) which, incidentally, is Bollywood's highest opener in the US this year.
Comparatively, in the UK, Race opened at No 10 and collected £457,303 (Dh3.33 million) in its opening weekend. The film is Khan's biggest opener in the UK ever. Race also set a record for Khanna and Kapoor that surpassed the collection of their earlier biggest grossers, Salam-E-Ishq and Welcome.
Sales in the UAE
With record collections everywhere, could the UAE be far behind? Indeed the film opened to packed houses in the UAE. It generated close to Dh1.5 million in its opening weekend, which was extended due to the Easter break for some Dubai residents.
It makes it without question Saif Ali's biggest opener in the UAE where it closed its first week's collection with almost Dh2 million.
At Star Cineplex in Sharjah, the film was shown on all three screens with a one-hour break between screenings. Even getting tickets for a screening was considered an achievement. In fact, the film is still going strong in its second week despite the release of the latest Bollywood comic caper, One, Two Three.
Factors favouring the film
So what made Race so big at the box office in the UAE since it was pure Bollywood masala with song and dance sequences?
- For starters, there hasn't been a major release since Jodhaa Akbar and the audience was longing for a major film for more than a month and Race was the answer.
- The film had a major star cast that had never teamed up before, making it a unique combination for the audience.
- Race's exciting promos with its sleek looks and exotic locations caught the fancy of moviegoers.
- The film's music has topped the charts this year and most of its songs, like sensuous Zara-Zara to soulful Pehli Nazar, are highly popular.
- Eye candy stars cannot be ignored and the oomph provided by Katrina Kaif, Bipasha Basu and Sameera Reddy had the male viewers asking for more.
- Its clever twists and turns took the audience by surprise and the excellent action sequences added to the excitement.
Career boost
Race's stupendous success has elevated Khan into the top league. He may now join the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan as the hottest and most happening Bollywood stars today.
Moreover, Saif Ali's next release, Tashan, will only add fuel to his blossoming career. Race's success has come as a boost to Khanna as he wasn't in the best of form and suddenly his forthcoming projects are being taken seriously by distributors.
The film has given Kaif her fifth hit in a row after Namastey London, Apne, Partner and Welcome, and now there is no stopping this beautiful girl.
Kapoor scores another big hit after Welcome while Basu consolidates her position. But Reddy is likely to be the most elated of the cast as the movie represents the greatest success of her career to date.
Race is bound to continue its pursuit of box office records until the next much-anticipated release, Yashraj's Tashan starring Saif Ali, Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor and Anil Kapoor.
Meanwhile, Race could face a speedbreaker in the form of U, Me Aur Hum starring Ajay Devgan and Kajol.
