Shah Rukh Khan's Dunki Takes Flight: Overseas Collections Soar, Domestic Brisk
Shah Rukh Khan's much-anticipated film Dunki soared into theaters yesterday, delivering an impressive worldwide debut. While domestic collections in India clocked in at around Rs. 34 crore, the international box office truly took off, generating a robust USD 2.65 million (Rs. 22 crore). This marks Dunki's global first-day total at Rs. 56 crore, a solid launch for the global adventure.
International Box Office: A Stellar Start
Dunki's international debut ranks as the fourth-largest opening of the year for a Bollywood film, trailing only behind two other Shah Rukh Khan blockbusters, Pathaan and Jawan. Notably, both Dunki and its predecessors released mid-week, while the third-ranked Animal enjoyed a Friday opening. Factoring this in, Dunki's performance becomes even more impressive, showing strong early traction.
Breaking down the international numbers, some regions delivered particularly noteworthy results. Australia witnessed Dunki surpassing Jawan's opening with a staggering AUD 425K, securing the third-highest Bollywood debut ever in the country. Germany, a loyal Shah Rukh Khan market, welcomed the film with nearly EUR 100K from just 70 shows, showcasing dedicated fan anticipation.
North America saw decent collections at USD 800K, potentially hampered by smaller theater capacities due to multiple new releases, including Hollywood titles and India's Salaar. While the Middle East's USD 900K estimate initially appears lower, it's important to consider Thursday being a working day in the region's major territory, the UAE. Advance bookings for the weekend paint a promising picture of increased numbers.
Expectations for the Road Ahead
Based on its strong start, Dunki is projected to earn USD 12-13 million over the upcoming four-day weekend. The holiday period from Monday to January first week in most markets is expected to boost weekday collections significantly, propelling the film past the USD 20 million mark within its first week.
