Ranbir Kapoor’s latest film, “Animal,” has marked a significant milestone on its opening day at the box office, surpassing the collections of Shah Rukh Khan’s “Pathaan.” Despite mixed reviews and criticism for alleged misogyny, the Sandeep Reddy Vanga directorial seems to have resonated with audiences, reminiscent of Vanga’s earlier success with “Kabir Singh.” Industry tracker Sacnilk estimates that the film has raked in Rs 61 crore nett in India.
According to trade analyst Ramesh Bala, the global gross collection for “Animal” on its opening day ranges between Rs 110 and Rs 115 crore. In North America alone, the film has reportedly earned $2.5 million on its debut.
The movie exhibited strong performances in key regions, with 1318 shows in the Delhi NCR area boasting an impressive 79% occupancy. Mumbai, with 1040 shows, achieved an occupancy rate exceeding 55%. Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, the Telugu version had 316 shows and an occupancy rate of over 82%, whereas the Tamil version in Chennai saw 88 shows with a more modest 30% occupancy.
While “Animal” has claimed the second spot for the highest opening day collection this year, overtaking “Pathaan,” it falls short of Shah Rukh Khan’s “Jawan,” which secured the top spot with Rs 75 crore on its opening day. “Tiger 3” follows closely behind at Rs 44.50 crore.
Competing with “Animal” at the box office is Vicky Kaushal’s “Sam Bahadur,” which has garnered a more modest opening with Rs 5.5 crore net in India. The divisive response to “Animal” may potentially benefit Vicky Kaushal’s film in the long run.
Comparisons with Sandeep Vanga’s previous hit, “Kabir Singh,” showcase a similar trend. While “Kabir Singh” faced criticism upon release in 2018, it went on to amass over Rs 278 crore net in India. Ranbir Kapoor’s “Animal” has now claimed the actor’s biggest opener title, surpassing his previous record held by “Sanju,” which collected Rs 34.75 crore on its first day.
