Kalki: Two Biggest Hurdles For 1000 Cr

Kalki 2898 AD has crossed Rs. 600 crore worldwide, with Rs. 441 crore coming from the domestic market, bringing its global gross to Rs. 614 crore by Wednesday.

These figures mark Kalki’s first-week performance as the sixth highest for an Indian film, after Baahubali 2, KGF 2, RRR, Jawan, and Pathaan. The film eyes Rs. 700 crore by this Saturday and Rs. 750 crore by Sunday, with a potential to reach Rs. 1000 crore depending on its long legs and upcoming releases.

The Hindi version has to hold extremely well to touch the 1000-crore mark. Two formidable competitors are set to release in Hindi next week, posing potential challenges to Kalki 2898 AD’s journey towards the 1000 crore mark.

Indian 2, starring Kamal Haasan and directed by Shankar, holds some pan-India appeal. The first part’s Hindi version was a blockbuster in 1996 and has decent recall value. It would be interesting to see how this factor works out for Indian 2.

The current buzz for Indian 2 in Hindi is so-so, aiming for an opening of around 5 crores. However, with strong positive word of mouth, it could potentially dent Kalki’s business, particularly in Maharashtra (Mumbai) where Kamal Haasan enjoys considerable popularity.

Another challenge for Kalki is Akshay Kumar’s Sarfira, a remake of Suriya’s OTT hit Soorarai Pottru. Akshay Kumar is currently facing a slump in his career, with very less expectations for Sarfira at the box office. Yet, a surprise hit could divert audiences from Kalki.

These two releases will also grab a lot of screens from Kalki which would mean a loss of revenue for Kalki in its third week.

As the competition unfolds, it remains to be seen how Kalki 2898 AD will fare in the long run.