Box office: Rajkummar Rao's 'Srikanth' dominates as lone contender
Rajkummar Rao's latest offering, Srikanth, hit theaters on May 10 to a mixed bag of reviews from both critics and audiences. The movie, which delves into the life of visually challenged MIT graduate Srikanth Bolla, started with a modest ₹2.25cr. However, its box office earnings fluctuated over time. By the end of the first week, the film garnered ₹17.85cr. It added another ₹1.5cr on its second Friday (Day 8).
Why does this story matter?
Srikanth is directed by Tushar Hiranandani, recognized for his work on Saand Ki Aankh and Scam 2003: The Telgi Story. The film features Jyotika, Alaya F, and Sharad Kelkar in pivotal roles alongside Rao. To note, Rao is currently promoting his next film Mr. and Mrs. Mahi, co-starring Janhvi Kapoor, which is produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and slated for release on May 31.
'Srikanth's collection stands at ₹19.35cr
According to Sacnilk, Srikanth experienced a 7.14% increase in collections on Day 8, earning ₹1.5cr. This brings its total collection to ₹19.35cr, with the film's overall India gross collection reaching ₹23cr within 8 days. Additionally, the film boasted a 10.75% Hindi occupancy rate on Friday. Trade analysts expressed optimism regarding the movie's performance, expecting it to surpass the ₹23-24cr mark over the weekend.
Film faces minimal competition at the box office
Srikanth is enjoying a successful run with little competition from new releases this week. Shreyas Talpade's Kartam Bhugtam and the Hollywood animation film The Garfield Movie have not managed to draw significant audiences. Kartum Bhugtam recorded a slow start with just ₹16 lakh on Day 1, per Sacnilk. Meanwhile, the only notable competitor for Srikanth in the near future is Manoj Bajpayee's film Bhaiyaa Ji, set to release on May 24.
How 'Srikanth' filming completed under restricted budget
In a recent interview with Zoom, T-Series head Bhushan Kumar, director Hiranandani, and co-producer Nidhi Parmar Hiranandani discussed how they managed to complete the film under budget. Hiranandani disclosed, "Sharad (Kelkar) did the film for ₹101." Bhushan added, "And it's not like he's doing it for the sake of it. It's out of respect for the script that he did it." Additionally, "Raj is also very cognizant of the economics of making a film...Jyotika and Alaya F reduced their fees."
