PK rakes in Rs 182 cr in first week

Aamir Khan starrer is expected to keep cash box ringing in the second week as well; might cross the Rs 233-cr mark set by Kick

Raj Kumar Hirani's PK has raced ahead of other movies like Bang Bang and Happy New Year in terms of the highest collection in the first week of release. The Aamir Khan and Anushka Sharma starrer has raked in Rs 182.58 crore in seven days since its release on December 19.

The movie opened with Rs 26.63 crore on Friday, December 19. It showed very healthy growth over the weekend, with Saturday bringing Rs 30.34 crore (a jump of 14 per cent over Friday) and Sunday raking in Rs 38.44 crore (a jump of 27 per cent over Saturday).

While most movies see a massive drop in revenues (60 per cent or more) from Sunday to Monday, PK's revenue fall was less, with a 40 per cent drop to Rs 21.22 crore on Monday and a marginal drop on Tuesday at Rs 18.85 crore. However, as the Christmas festivities kicked in, the movie's collection also picked up to Rs 19.55 crore on Wednesday and Rs 27.55 crore on Thursday (Christmas). Trade analysts reveal the film is holding well in multiplexes and single screens, with word of mouth being very positive.

With this, Aamir Khan has beaten his own previous record of highest collection by a Bollywood film on Christmas day, held by Dhoom 3 at Rs 24 crore. The film is co-produced by Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra, in association with UTV Motion Pictures.

With this, Hirani has managed to keep his 100 per cent record as a director. UTV Motion Pictures has ended the year on a high, following the success of Highway, 2 States, Kick and Heropanti earlier in the year.

"The film has lived up to the expectations of the trade community. We hoped the movie makes around Rs 175 crore in the first week, and it surpassed that number. The coming weekend looks good as well, with schools and colleges closed and people in a festive mood," say box office analysts.

All eyes are now on the Rs 300 crore mark. Trade pundits are bullish the film will cross the Rs 233-crore mark set by Salman Khan's Kick earlier this year.

The highest lifetime collection by a movie is Rs 284 crore, by Dhoom 3 last year. It will be interesting t if Aamir Khan once again beats his own best.

International success
The social satire is setting the cash registers ringing abroad as well. PK has so far raked in $13.36 million (Rs 85 crore). This puts it at number seven on the list of highest foreign earners in Bollywood. Dhoom 3 leads with $28 million, followed by 3 Idiots at $26 million.

The movie is yet to release in markets like Japan and China, where Hirani's previous film 3 Idiots (also starring Aamir Khan) was a huge hit.

PK was released in 844 screens abroad,, making it one of the widest releases for a Bollywood movie.

It has gained the highest first-week collection for a Hindi movie in North America ($6 million) and Australia ($1 million).

The film is also the highest grossing movie in Australia -US$75,139/AU$92,986 - for Christmas, ahead of all releases, inform observers.