Director Omung Kumar’s Sarbjit managed to create a good deal of buzz, for a few good reasons, before it released on May 20. For one, the film is based on the tragic story of Sarbjit Singh, who was killed in Pakistan after being convicted of having terror links. For another, it features Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the crucial role of Sarbjit’s sister.
Despite the buzz, however, Sarbjit has not managed to do well at the box office. In the first weekend, the film earned a mere Rs11 crore in India. Starring Randeep Hooda in the titular role, Sarbjit collected only Rs3 crore on Friday, according to the website boxofficeindia.com There was no significant improvement in the next two days as it earned Rs4 crore and Rs4.75 crore on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. As the film was made on a budget of Rs30 crore, recovery of investment looks tough at this point.
The film, which opened to mixed reviews, is Omung Kumar’s second directorial venture. His first, Mary Kom, was also a biopic, based on the heroic rise of India’s boxing champion, with Priyanka Chopra playing the lead.
In comparison to Sarbjit, Mary Kom fared better at the box office, earning an impressive Rs28 crore in its opening weekend. This was all the more creditable, and profitable, because Mary Kom was made on a budget of Rs15-18 crore. Though the film did not receive a completely positive response, boxing champ Mary Kom’s personal popularity and Priyanka Chopra's impressive performance helped the film.
Let’s wait and watch whether Omung Kumar’s streak with biopics continues.