MUMBAI: Unlikely as it may seem, Akshay Kumar’s Toilet Ek Prem Katha may be on its way to spring a surprise at the box office. In fact, the process started from day two after its release as the film’s collections took huge jump on Saturday followed by another leap on Sunday.
The film, which is meant to be a love story about an overage small town UP native, Akshay Kumar, mildly uncouth but street smart, and, Bhumi Pednekar, an educated younger girl up to date with the trends, takes a turn to propagate the need for personal toilets for every home.
The film promotes the prime minister Narendra Modi’s campaign against open defecating. The last 50 minutes of the film are meant to educate and inform the people, mainly of the hinterland, about privacy for women when it comes to call of nature.
That the film has gradually found favour with the multiplex audience can be attributed to the popularity of Akshay Kumar. He has been sincere and worked hard to promote the purpose of the film.
*Most recent films, including big star films like Tubelight and Jab Harry Met Sejal, have met with poor response with below par opening day collection. Toilet Ek Prem Katha did quite well on that count collecting over almost Rs 120 million on day one despite its theme.
The film enjoyed the advantage of a longer weekend but, while most films fail to rise on the Saturday following its opening day, Toilet Ek Prem Katha, took a massive leap with the collection jumping to Rs 170 million. The figures on Sunday were even better as the film collected over Rs 210 million to end its opening weekend with an impressive Rs 511 million. Things can get only better with a couple of more public holidays to follow during the week.
The film needs to reach its target of approx Rs 1.25 billion.
*Jab Harry Met Sejal faces rejection from day one. Having collected 53.7 crore in its first week, it slides badly as its week two takes off. The film’s shows had to be cancelled for lack of audience at many screens. The film manages to add Rs 38 million in its second week to take its two week total to Rs 575 million.
*Mubarakan collected Rs 464 million over its first two weeks has collected about Rs 35 million in its third week to take its three week tally to Rs 499 million.
