The Akshay Kumar-starrer Bell Bottom is the first Hindi film to arrive in theatres after the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic reared its ugly head in India. The period thriller has been released in most states, excluding all-important Maharashtra, where a large chunk of box-office collections is typically generated.
Directed by Ranjit M Tewari, Bell Bottom made an opening collection of Rs2.75 crore nett, as per figures shared by BoxOfficeIndia.com.
Considering that the film hasn’t been released in an important territory and that theatres are operating at 50% occupancy, the number isn’t dismal. But at the same time, considering the buzz surrounding the project and the fact that Akshay Kumar is the leading man, it isn’t too encouraging either. Bell Bottom has earned the most in Delhi, Kolkata and Chandigarh.
The first-day collection of Bell Bottom is exactly the same as Roohi and Mumbai Saga, which were out earlier this year. But these two films had the advantage of getting released in Maharashtra.
As per trade sources, Bell Bottom has been made on a budget of around Rs150 crore, which includes Akshay’s fees. So, it’s impossible for the film to break even via the Indian box office alone. The film might fare better on the weekend and if theatres are opened in Maharashtra in the first week of September.