It is a well-known fact that Waar has become the highest-grossing Pakistani film of all time, but will it remain the highest-grossing film within Pakistan?
The movie’s latest competition is in the form of the third instalment of Bollywood franchise Dhoom. While Waar has earned a total of Rs230 million, Dhoom 3 isn’t far behind, and has raked in a sizeable Rs225 million.
There is a fair chance that Dhoom 3 will eventually be the clear winner of this race, and there are a number of reasons to support this. Firstly, it has almost equalled the total business of Waar in only 26 days, while it took Waar 36 days to reach the Rs200 million mark, and the latter is still playing on limited screens. With regard to screens, Dhoom 3 was released on 56 screens simultaneously, while Waar premiered on 52. That however, doesn’t make a significant difference. Dhoom 3 was expected to have crossed Waar’s record by now, but the release, and positive response to Dedh Ishqiya in local theatres has slowed down revenues for the Aamir Khan starrer.
Do we really want a Bollywood masala film to take our crown?
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (13)
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@Ayesha: hi there ayesha waar is a crap movie i have ever seen
Bollywood rocks even there top movies cannot competing with us.
@Ayesha: "No place for you in Pakistan." You amuse me so much ! Indians did not go to Pakistani theaters and bought tickets worth 225 mill.
I havent seen WAAR yet as I dont live in Pakistan.But I am waiting for it to be release on DVD soon. I have watched Dhoom 3 with a very high expectation as it was an Amir Khan's movie. But I am extremely disappointed. The moives has got nothing. Same old Hollywood tricks. Crap story with bit of coppied stunts. But I am also surprised how the movie has done so much business in India and now in Pakistan. Are the viewers happy to see nonsense??? If dhoom 3 or chinnai express kind of movies will do great business than I see a very doomed future of film industry. Derh Ishqiya seems to be more fun. I will watch :))
@Lala Gee: So basically you do not spend money to watch either an Indian movie or a Pakistani one. How much do you think the producers care about your opinion then?
Secondly, the comparison of financial resources is pointless. After all 1) Many Hollywood movies made with much bigger resources do not make anywhere near the revenues of an Indian blockbuster in the Indian market. I am sure that statement is true in the Pakistani market too.
2) No one is comparing revenues of Dhoom 3 in its domestic market (India) with Waar in its domestic market (Pakistan) because the cinema infrastructure, theatre going habits, population etc are not comparable. We are comparing revenues of Dhoom 3 and Waar both in Pakistani market and so comparisons are apples to apples.
So am I saying that Dhoom 3 was a great movie? Nah. I did not like it at all. Not having seen Waar I cannot comment on it. Commercial revenues in any case are a proxy for popularity not quality and it appears that Dhoom 3 is as popular as Waar.
No matter which movie is doing good, ET will declare Dhoom3 as a winner. Thats for sure. These guys have a special task to promote indian content in Pakistan.
Next week Waar will be released in UK. I will definitely go to watch this. I have watched Dhoom 3. Without any bias Dhoom 3 is crap.
@Ayesha: do you have any place in pakistan????
It is very pleasing to see a Pakistani movie competing with Indian movie despite the huge huge difference between the two in terms of technical and financial resources, markets and revenues. Although I haven't seen 'Waar' yet, but I can tell you for sure that Dhoom 3 is one of the crappiest movies I've ever seen (courtesy easy availability on the Internet). People who watch Hollywood movies have already seen all those stunts which Dhoom 3 has copied from a dozen or two Hollywood movies, but only in the most ridiculous manner. Moreover, take Katrina's special acrobats out, and then check how many Pakistanis are interested in the movie.
@Ayesha: please read the news and then read your comment ... Dedh Ishquiya and Dhoom 3 doing great in Pakistan... and you are saying that bollywood has no place in Pakistan :-) this are only films a piece of art and nothing else so please don't use them as a tool to express your hate... tnx!!!
waar is a poor man's mission impossible.. it cannot be comapred to a great movie like dhoom3