Shah Rukh Khanthe action thriller of “Jawanbroke the star’s record on Bollywood’s opening day.

“Jawan” is produced by Gauri Khan and Gaurav Verma for Red Chillies Entertainment. It opened on Thursday and its Hindi-language version grossed $9.4 million in India, with another $1.3 million coming from the dubbed Tamil and Telugu-language versions, according to figures provided to Variety by Red Chillies. Including overseas collections, “Jawan” enjoyed a $15.6 million opening day.

Shah Rukh Khan’s “Pathaan,” released in January, held the previous record for a Hindi-language film, grossing $8.32 million in India and another $4.5 million in overseas territories during its first day of theatrical release, grossing a total worldwide of $4.5 million in overseas territories. $12.7 million.

“Jawan” is directed by Atlee, who has previously directed a trio of Tamil-language blockbusters with Vijay – “Theri” (2016), “Mersal” (2017) and “Bigil” (2019). The cast of ‘Jawan’ also includes Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra and Ridhi Dogra, with Deepika Padukone in a guest appearance.

“Jawan” features Khan in a dual role of father and son who seek to rectify corruption in Indian society. The film follows in the lineage of several Tamil-language blockbusters tackling the ills of Indian society by S. Shankar, whom Atlee helped before making his directorial debut with Fox Star’s “Raja Rani” Studios in 2013.

“The love and response from the audience on the first day of the release of ‘Jawan’ is overwhelming and sensational, and proves the importance and power of mass artists in the film industry. The Janmashtami holiday gave an extra boost across the country. The action-packed spectacle has a truly national appeal with popular southern stars including Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi, along with an eclectic ensemble of stars, allowing the film to cater to a wider market with its releases dubbed in Tamil and Telugu. With the film also being screened in special formats like Imax, 4DX and Ice, audiences can enjoy a larger-than-life story in a more experiential way,” said Gautam Dutta, Co-CEO of the leading channel of Indian multiplexes, PVR Inox.

“The film was released at a time when the [Indian] the industry is enjoying its glory days with consumers heading to the movies in droves. Going by the unprecedented audience response, we are confident that ‘Jawan’ would not only be the biggest film of this year but would end up adding immense strength to the cinematic ecosystem,” added Dutta.

The success of “Jawan” is the latest chapter in what has been a remarkable and sudden resurgence of Bollywood in the Hindi language. box office, who had a bad year 2022 when South Indian films were ascendant. Bollywood has returned with a bang, starting with ‘Pathaan’, and hits also include ‘Gadar 2’, ‘The Kerala Story’, ‘Tu Jhoothi ​​Main Makkaar’, ‘Zara Hatke Zara Bachke’, ‘Satyaprem Ki Katha’ and “Rocky Aur Rani Kii”. Prem Kahaani.

South films also continue to do strong business, led by Rajinikanth’s ‘Jailer’ and Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan: Part Two’.