Yash-starrer KGF Chapter 2, which hit theatres on Thursday, has collected Rs 134.5 Crore (gross) at the Indian box office, production house Hombale Films announced on Friday.
Directed by Prashanth Neel, KGF Chapter 2 is the sequel to the filmmaker’s 2018 blockbuster KGF Chapter 1. The first instalment witnessed the biggest opening in the history of the Kannada film industry.
Like its predecessor, the pan-Indian film was released in five languages – Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi. Aside from Yash, KGF Chapter 2 also stars actors Srinidhi Shetty, Raveena Tandon, and Sanjay Dutt, among others.
Set against the backdrop of the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), the film follows the story of the ambitious Rocky (Yash), who is born into poverty but wants to conquer the world. Dutt essays the antagonistic Adheera, a character inspired by the Vikings.
In Karnataka, the film collected around Rs 27 crore on day one, KV Chandrasekar, President of Karnataka Film Exhibitors Association, tells Silverscreen India.
Noting that the film has been well-received by audiences, Chandrasekar adds that KGF Chapter 2 was released in 350 single-screen theatres and all multiplex cinema halls across Karnataka.
“In the recent past, I think KGF Chapter 2 is one film that has had great reception in Karnataka. The film is being celebrated by both families as well as younger audiences. The cinema halls were full on the first day. Almost 90% of the tickets for day one were booked through the advance booking system,” he says.
He further adds that they expect all shows will continue running at a full capacity in the coming days as well, since it is a long holiday weekend. “Karnataka theatre business is on the path of revival. The release of KGF Chapter 2 is a great boost and the business of many smaller theatres will pick up as a result of it.”
KGF Chapter 2 also fared well in the Hindi belt, with collections around Rs 52.50 crore (nett) on opening day. The film has surpassed the record of Hrithik Roshan-starrer War (2019), which had collected 50.75 crore (nett).
It may be noted that as many as 4400 screens in North India and 10,000 screens worldwide were allocated for KGF Chapter 2. Prior to the film’s release, Tirupur Subramaniam, President of the Tamil Nadu Theatres Association, had told us that KGF Chapter 2 will premiere in around 200-250 screens in the state.
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Following the massive response to the film and the demands for additional shows, the Managing Director of GK Cinemas in Chennai announced that they have opened bookings for special 1:30 am and 4:45 am shows on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Vijay’s Tamil film Beast, the other highly-anticipated release of the week, had collected around Rs 34 to 36 crore (gross), at the Tamil Nadu box office on its first day, Wednesday.