Mumbaikars rally behind SRK, throng cinema halls

Shah Rukh Khan apologises for controversy over his film.

Thousands of Mumbaikars thronged cinema halls today to watch Shah Rukh Khan’s My Name Is Khan, giving thumbs down to the Shiv Sena, which had issued a diktat to boycott it for the actor’s alleged advocacy of Pakistani cricketers.

Movie buffs, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Home Minister R R Patil, trooped out in huge numbers to watch the story of Indian Muslim Rizwan Khan (SRK) in the post-9/11 US.

Theatre owners confirmed to Business Standard that each screen showing the film had witnessed a hundred per cent occupancy rate.

“We decided to screen a few shows in select properties rather than in all. But once we realised that people were flocking in, we decided to increase the number of shows,” said a source in a leading multiplex.

“The response has been overwhelming and that’s when we decided to screen evening shows as well. Earlier, the plan was to screen shows just till afternoon,” said another industry source.

Cinema hall owners are hoping to offer tickets for all weekend shows.

The six leading multiplexes — Inox Leisure, Fun Cinemas, Fame India, Cinemax India, PVR Cinemas and BIG Cinemas — in Mumbai showcase around 120 shows (20 shows on an average per multiplex property) for a big ticket film. My Name is Khan had around 35 shows across the six leading theatre chains. Of the 63 theatre properties in Mumbai, 30 are multiplexes.

Despite the number of shows being just one third of the usually screening for a movie, with the high audience demand for the film, multiplexes had little choice, but to increase the number of shows in the evening.

Meanwhile, King Khan has apologised for the controversy over his film. “I thank you all for this... apologise for giving stress over the last few days... and now truly know the meaning of being humbled. Love you all so much,” tweeted the actor.

Khan also said he was humbled and overwhelmed after the response from the public for his film. “I realise today...I am just a film hero...you all in the theatres are the real deal. God feel so loved & humbled. Hats off to all heroes.”

According to sources, though the cash registers at the Mumbai box-office are not ringing loud, the important thing is that what audiences did today was symbolic and it boost their spirits.

Multiplexes and single screen theatres have decided to screen almost all shows tomorrow.

As on Friday, My Name is Khan is estimated to have earned around Rs 2 crore. If the Karan Johar production had not released the film in Mumbai, then it would have lost over Rs 10 crore in the first three days.

Fox Star Studios has bought the rights of the film for Rs 100 crore, the most expensive Bollywood deal ever.