Box Office report: Aarakshan opens fairly well, but the ban hits the collections

Box Office report: <i>Aarakshan</i> opens fairly well, but the ban hits the collections

Director Prakash Jha’s latest film Aarkashan opened to a fairly decent start on Friday, but the ban imposed on the film’s screening in three Indian states will surely affect its business.

The movie saw an above average response of 50 to 60 percent at most centres where it was screened. In fact, the response was quite varied and some places even saw about 70 percent occupancy while the others only 40 percent.

Since the film is banned in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, its collections will be hit. Guesstimates pin the film’s loss due to ban to a figure of about 20 percent. However, all is not lost, as negotiations are on to screen the film to the committees appointed by the states and get the ban revoked. Jha has already said that he’s willing to edit the objectionable dialogues and scenes.

As for the critics, the response has been mixed with some lauding it for its good intent, while the others panning it as a superficial take on a serious issue.

What might, however, attract footfalls to theatres is the long weekend -- Saturday, Sunday and Monday being holidays.

The next Friday would see multiple releases at box office: Chatur Singh Two Star, Not A Love Story, Sahi Dhande Galat Bande, Cover Story and Yaara O Dildaara.