‘RRR’ makes biggest opening for an Indian film, mints over $30M worldwide

The Ram Charan-starrer also features Jr NTR, Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn.

SS Rajamouli’s highly-anticipated Telugu title RRR has had a gallant opening. Having made an estimated $18 million on Friday in the neighbouring country, the epic smashed all records to set the best opening day for an Indian film ever, as per Deadline. In the process, Rajamouli topped his own record-holder, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. Worldwide, RRR has collected an estimated $30.5 million.

While the outlet cites the gathered figures to have been collected from local producers and analysts, it maintains that getting solid numbers out of India is notoriously difficult, particularly when a film is released in four different languages. Provided that some areas report net figures while others rely on gross versus share of ultimate takings, there lacks a balance for a market as big as India’s.

Estimates vary according to local reports as well but RRR is being celebrated as a record-breaking blockbuster. The film’s cast has been celebrating the figures on social media too.

As per the Indian Express, while numbers have been roaring, cinemas occupancy levels for RRR in Mumbai and North India aren’t much higher than Gangubai Kathiawadi, which did not perform as well as the film. The higher ticket rates may have worked in the film’s favour, however, that also means RRR risks facing a heavier drop. To keep its staggering box office numbers, cinema occupancy for the film will have to be better than usual in coming days as well.

The film, which had to withstand Covid delays, and whose title translates to Rise, Roar, Revolt, revolves around friends who discover they are on opposing ends of India’s struggle for independence. Deadline’s review calls it “one action crescendo after another, never dull but not exhausting either” and “a truly great story.”