Rab Ne... sets a new record

Rab Ne... sets a new record
Indo-Asian News Service
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 (New Delhi)

Yash Raj Films' Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi that hit the screens on Dec 12 has proven to be a boon for the production house breaking its jinx of delivering duds this year. The film has broken all earlier opening weekend collection records for Yash Raj Films, grossing approximately Rs 600 million worldwide on its opening weekend.

The banner's earlier releases this year, Roadside Romeo, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic and Tashan were cold-shouldered by the audience despite major pre-release promotion though Ranbir Kapoor starrer Bachna Ae Haseeno managed to do average business at the box office.

However, Rab Ne... has given Yash Raj Films a new lease of life. It was believed in the trade circles that the production house was releasing the film at a wrong time - when global economic slump was on and soon after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Directed by filmmaker Aditya Chopra, the film is Shah Rukh Khan's first release of the year and the first Shah Rukh-Aditya Chopra collaboration in over eight years after post Mohabbatein (2000).

"It's after a long time that a good movie has came out of the Yash Raj camp and that too with Aditya Chopra and Shah Rukh coming together after eight years," said Joginder Mahajan, a Delhi-based distributor.

"Though the collections for the movie have not been cent per cent, they have been beyond expectations so far. It is the first big release after Dostana and has no competition till the next two weeks until Ghajini releases on Dec 25. So, it has full chances of reaping the benefit," he added.

Set in Amritsar, Rab Ne... is the story of a mismatched couple played by Shah Rukh and debutante Anushka Sharma and how the pair explores love in the backdrop of a dance competition.

According to a statement released by Yash Raj Films on Monday, the light-hearted romantic comedy has crossed boundaries and even set records in the Middle East. The film has also received a grand opening across all overseas markets, including Britain, US, Australia, Europe, Africa, and other territories in Asia.