According to the trade pundits, Chhaava opened with a strong 28 crore net on its first day, with particularly outstanding numbers in the Mumbai circuit. Collections in CP Berar and Nizam/Andhra were also excellent.
Even in weaker territories like North and East India, the film performed decently, though its earnings were heavily skewed towards Western India.
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The Mumbai circuit alone contributed around 15 crore net, placing it among the top five openings in this region.
However, a significant portion of this figure (around 25% approximately) comes from bulk corporate bookings, which makes direct comparisons difficult, say trade analysts.
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Even without these bookings, the film’s Mumbai performance would still be impressive, just not at the same level. Other circuits outside Maharashtra lacked the same external push from these advance bookings.
The challenge with reporting a film like Chhaava is that while its real collections are strong and it has positive momentum, inflated numbers due to bulk bookings create complications.
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For instance, if Salman Khan’s Sikandar opens at 25 crores net organically, it might seem like a lower opening.
To counter this, Sikandar’s makers might also resort to heavy corporate bookings to claim a higher number just to beat Chhaava’s numbers, continuing a cycle that distorts actual box office performance.
This trend is becoming a serious issue for the Hindi film industry. Every week, box office numbers come with conditions due to these manipulated bookings, making it hard to gauge real audience interest.
However, Chhaava still has the advantage of genuine demand, and since it’s not a sequel, it holds promise for long-term success.
