Toilet: Ek Prem Katha bags Rs11.71 crore nett on opening day

Akshay Kumar’s much-awaited social drama, rom-com Toilet: Ek Prem Katha has got an average opening of Rs11.71 crore (adjusted), as reported by BoxOfificeIndia.com. The figure is not alarming as Toilet is made at a modest budget of Rs40 crore. This figure does not include Akshay Kumar’s fees, which the actor will take from the profits. The film also stars Bhumi Pednekar.

Speaking to Cinestaan.com, trade analyst Vinod Mirani said, “Though Akshay says that the production cost is Rs18 crore, as per the buzz in the market, the film is said to have been sold to Viacom18 Motion Pictures for around Rs50-53 crore. The opening is fairly decent, but the film will have to make a lifetime (India) business of around Rs120-125 crore for Viacom to make profits. It has been released across 3,000-odd screens in India.”

The opening day collection of Toilet is less than last Friday’s (4 August) release Jab Harry Met Sejal. The Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma film had earned around Rs15 crore nett on its opening day. As opposed to Toilet, Jab Harry Met Sejal’s estimated budget was around Rs80-81 crore, with the film’s overall distribution cost crossing well over Rs100 crore.

The opening day collection of Toilet is similar to that of Akshay Kumar's last release Jolly LLB 2, which had collected around Rs12.06 crore nett.  

Akshay Kumar is likely to pin hopes for better business on the long weekend, as India celebrates Independence Day on Tuesday, 15 August.