Box office: Vicky Kaushal's Uri makes Rs35 crore in opening weekend

It's only the second week of January 2019, and the Hindi film trade has much to cheer about. Ranveer’s Singh-starrer Simmba, which was released on 28 December 2019, has gone on to make more than Rs200 crore nett and now Vicky Kaushal-starrer Uri: The Surgical Strike is on its way to becoming the first hit of 2019.   

Directed by Aditya Dhar, Uri: The Surgical Strike has made an impressive Rs35 crore nett in its opening weekend. Produced by RSVP, the film is based on the Indian Army’s retaliation against the terror attack on Army posts in Uri, Kashmir in 2016.

After opening to an impressive Rs8.25 crore nett, Uri did well, collecting Rs12.25 crore and Rs14.50 crore nett over the weekend.

Uri: The Surgical Strike review – Vicky Kaushal hits bullseye in maiden action flick

Made at an estimated budget of Rs25 crore, Uri was released in 2,200 screens in India.  

Uri has already proved to be Kaushal’s highest earner in a solo lead role. Kaushal was part of Sanju (2018) that amassed Rs334 crore nett, while Raazi made over Rs122 crore nett. The two films had Kaushal in the supporting cast.  

Kaushal has barely featured in a couple of films as the main lead. He was the protagonist in Masaan (2015) and the little-known film Zubaan (2016). The brilliant opening weekend collection of Uri not only speaks volumes of the film, but also shows that Kaushal is among the rising young actors today.

Holdover release Simmba slowed down in the third weekend, collecting Rs12.50 crore. The film, directed by Rohit Shetty, has so far made Rs223.50 crore nett in its domestic business.

Simmba review: Perfect mass entertainer driven by Ranveer Singh’s high-energy act

With Uri going strong, Simmba may struggle to reach the Rs250-crore nett mark. The film, however, is already in profit. Made at an estimated budget of Rs120-125 crore nett, Simmba was released in 4,500 screens in India. Trade sources say that the action drama has bagged around Rs75-80 through satellite and digital deal [sold to Zee].

Anupam Kher-starrer The Accidental Prime Minister, that was released alongside Uri, has failed to get going in its opening weekend. The film got a decent opening of Rs3.50 crore nett, but didn’t pick up much over the weekend, collecting Rs4 crore nett and Rs4.50 crore nett over the weekend.

Produced by Pen India Limited and Bohra Bros, the film has so far made Rs12 crore nett in India business.

The Accidental Prime Minister review: Manmohan Singh deserves more than to be a caricature in a poorly crafted film

Director Vijay Ratnakar Gutte’s film is based on Sanjaya Baru’s book of the same name. Baru was the media advisor to former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Kher plays Dr Singh, while Akshaye Khanna has essayed the role of Baru.

Made at an estimated budget of Rs30 crore, The Accidental Prime Minister was released in more than 1,200 screens in India.