RACE completes 50 days

2008's biggest hit so far, RACE would be completing 50 days at theatres tomorrow.

Whether it is Saif Ali Khan (a consistent run though recently released TASHAN has been a minor blot), Akshaye Khanna (Mr. Dependable as always), Anil Kapoor (second big success in a row after WELCOME), Bipasha Basu (back in the big league), Katrina Kaif (the lady hasn't put a foot wrong ever since she got out of the BOOM fiasco) or Sameera Reddy (two back to back successes with ONE TWO THREE hitting the bull's eye as well), RACE has been a 'thrilling' saga for each of them.

For Abbas Mustan too, the project has managed to resurrect their standing in the industry when it seemed to be going downhill after universal panning of NAQAAB, 36 CHINA TOWN and TARZAN - THE WONDER CAR.

Biggest money spinner ever for Abbas Mustan, the film has been going strong for last 7 weeks and has already earned more than 63 crores just from the Indian box office. Even in overseas market, the film is a universal success.

50 crores in two weeks for RACE

Now this is what you call instant money.

What seemed to be milestone is the kind of money which movies today are capable of making in two weeks flat. 50 crores, the overall total for a film till a few months back, is what a big film is making in two weeks flat these days. OM SHANTI OM, DHOOM 2 and WELCOME have done this in the past. Now RACE too has followed suit as it has achieved the feat in a fortnight's time.

After cashing in 35 crores+ in the first week, the film has done well even in the second week with more than 15 crores coming in. This has made a RACE a 51 crores earner even as it continues to rake in moolah for third week succession.

A superb score like this has made RACE the first suspense thriller ever to enjoy such a great time at the box office. While the above mentioned three biggies have been popcorn entertainers/family films, RACE is mainly an adult drama/thriller. Taking this factor into account, it is indeed quite some feat for this Abbas-Mustan directed flick, which has 'raced' ahead of its contemporaries!

Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network

RACE - Next only to OM SHANTI OM

After OM SHANTI OM, RACE has turned out to be the biggest money spinner ever in its opening week. In the process, it is has broken records of WELCOME and DHOOM:2.

Though this Abbas Mustan film also benefited from the fact that it saw the biggest release ever (900+ cinemas), what matters in the end is that the gamble paid off as patrons filled up the auditoriums in spite of the film arriving at so many screens.

With 35.6 crores coming from week one, the film has surpassed the first week collections of WELCOME (35.3 crores) and DHOOM:2 (34.9 crores). However, OM SHANTI OM still stands tall at 40 crores plus, though with the way big films are being pitched in the market today, it should be a matter of weeks before this record is quashed too. TASHAN looks the closest contender with its release less than a month away.

Coming back to RACE, the film has done fantastic business all over with each of the territories spelling big money for the distributors. With the film super strong in week two as well, the film is all set to be SUPER HIT at the box office. Now one waits to see till what distance the race continues in weeks to come!

Joginder Tuteja

'Race' storms international markets

RACE has fetched a thunderous start in the international markets. In its 4-day weekend in U.K., the film has surpassed Saif Ali Khan's previous big openers like TA RA RUM PUM [£ 231,835], EKLAVYA [£ 163,783] and SALAAM | NAMASTE [£ 208,365]. KAL HO NAA HO had collected £ 436,790 in its opening 3-day weekend. RACE is also Akshaye Khanna's biggest opener to date, having crossed SALAAM-E-ISHQ [£ 293,809] by a comfortable margin. For Anil Kapoor too, it is his biggest opener ever, having crossed WELCOME [£ 369,321] and SALAAM-E-ISHQ [£ 293,809], both multi-starrers. In the U.S. too, RACE is off to a staggering start, nearing the $ 1 million mark in its first 3 days. It has had a fantastic first weekend in Australia as well… Meanwhile, JODHAA AKBAR has crossed £ 1 million mark in U.K.

U.K. BOX-OFFICE
Note: 4-day weekend: March 21 - 24, 2008.

* RACE has debuted at No. 10 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 457,303 [approx. Rs. 3.66 crores] on 46 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 9,941. Includes Thursday previews. Tuesday collections: £ 42,966. Total so far: £ 498,924


* JODHAA AKBAR [last weekend: No. 26, this weekend: No. 31]: In its sixth weekend, the film has collected £ 13,036 on 7 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 1,862. Total: £ 1,001,460 [approx. Rs. 8 crores].


* BLACK & WHITE [last weekend: No. 38, this weekend: No. 70]: In its third weekend, the film has collected £ 1,466 on 10 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 147. Total: £ 50,706 [approx. Rs. 40.51 lacs].

THIS WEEKEND IN U.K.
[Based on screen averages]

RANK: 1 | FILM: Race | Average: £ 9,941
RANK: 2 | FILM: Jodha Akbar | Average: £ 1,862
RANK: 3 | FILM: Black & White | Average: £ 147


U.S.A. BOX-OFFICE
Note: 3-day weekend: March 21 - 23, 2008.

* RACE has debuted at No. 18 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected $ 802,254 [approx. Rs. 3.22 crores] on 96 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 8,357.


* JODHAA AKBAR [last weekend: No. 44, this weekend: No. 51]: In its sixth weekend, the film has collected $ 42,606 on 20 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 2,130. Total: $ 3,397,218 [approx. Rs. 13.63 crores].

AUSTRALIA BOX-OFFICE
4-day weekend: March 20 - 23, 2008.

* In its opening weekend [No. 15], RACE has collected $ 167,970 [approx. Rs. 67.47 lacs] on 14 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 11,998.

Taran Adarsh

Rs. 22.06 cr. - First weekend nett business of 'Race'

RACE has stormed the domestic box-office and the first weekend results are out. The all-India first 3-day nett business is Rs. 22.06 crores, which places it in the big league. The break-up is as follows:-

Mumbai + circuit 9.50 cr.; Delhi + NCR 3.05 cr.; U.P. 1.50 cr.; East Punjab 1.45 cr.; Mysore 1.20 cr.; Nizam & Andhra 1.12 cr.; Tamil Nadu + Kerala 40 lacs; C.P. 75 lacs; C.I. 50 lacs; Rajasthan 90 lacs; West Bengal 1.15 cr.; Bihar 40 lacs; Assam 7 lacs; Orissa 7 lacs. Fantastic!

Taran Adarsh

B.O. update: 'Race' takes fantastic start

The much-awaited RACE has opened to a fantastic response [90% +] across the nation. The film has had an extensive release in India [1300 screens, of which 450 are digitals], with some multiplexes playing as many as 24 shows a day [Cinemax Versova in Mumbai].

Saturday is a holiday [Holi] and Sunday being a holiday, the first weekend is expected to be huge. The reports are extremely positive and one expects the business on weekdays to be strong as well. With such strong business on hand, the film is expected to emerge a major success story in days to come.

Meanwhile, UTV organized the paid previews in India on Thursday night and the response was fabulous everywhere. Paid previews were also held in U.K. and the collections were £ 34,283 on 33 screens.

In the meantime, the first hit of 2008, JODHAA AKBAR, is nearing the £ 1 million mark in U.K. The total has reached £ 988,424 till Thursday night.

Taran Adarsh

Premiere of Race

RACE's 'Sexy Lady' to generate more heat!

With just about a week left for RACE to hit the screens with a predictable thumping start, the makers are naturally upbeat about the Abbas-Mustan multi starrer. Pritam's catchy audio scores are already occupying the top slots amongst the audience as well as the charts. The Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu, Sameera Reddy and Katrina Kaif starrer is so hot that it is ticking like a time bomb that is about to explode!

The much talked about freshly recorded track, 'Sexy Lady', which has replaced 'Mujh Pe Toh Jaadu', was recently picturised on Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif in Goa. The song, choreographed by Bosco-Caesar, has shaped up so well that producer Ramesh Taurani is really excited and says, ' Once we air the promo of this song, the film will generate even more heat!'

While on the replaced track, 'Mujh Pe Toh Jaadu', it will stay in the CD and, who knows, it might just be picturised for promotional purposes.

Abid, Bollywood Trade News Network

'Race'... to get autographed RACE CD's!

One of the much awaited movie of 2008 with Flashy gadgets and gizmos, enthralling car chases, sweltering hot babes, daredevil stunts...and hotshot rollicking soundtracks, RACE, is already topping the charts with its electrifying music and songs. Apparently RACE seems to be year's musical blitzkrieg. Because of its tantalizing & groovy soundtracks RACE has become talk of the town. From Discotheques to car, all music systems are going crazy with the 'racy' songs. Even you can enjoy the vivacious energized vocals by winning the CD's and that too autographed CD's by the RACE cast - Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif, Sameera Reddy, Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna

So hurry up to participate in the RACE contest and win the autographed CD's of RACE by the star cast!

Bollywood Trade News Network

“I would just keep my personal feelings to myself,” said sameera

Presently actress Sameera Reddy is single. The sultry actress recently said in an interview that there's no man in her life now. At the same time she reminded that she's not willfully denying her relationship. “I would not deny if I have any relationship,” she asserted. “But a relationship is a very personal emotion and I can't flaunt it but at the same time I wouldn't deny it also,” quipped Sameera.
“I would just keep my personal feelings to myself,” said the sexy lady with a rose-red glow on her face.

No time to love, Sameera

Bollywood hottie Sameera Reddy has huge penchant for knitting. “I find knitting to be the best stress-buster. I can knit a full sweater in just a day,” says Sameera.
While you take your own sweet time trying to accept this Bollywood bombshell doing what is otherwise considered the pastime of a housewife, the lady springs yet another one. “Earlier, I used to really get bugged when I was a linked to my co-stars, but now, my worry is different. I get worried if I am not linked with them and I guess I can see the fun part of it all now,” she says.
And a hearty laugh is all we get after mentioning the Sameera-Vivek Oberoi link up. “I read it one fine morning and laughed a lot, that's just about it. Otherwise, my situation is pretty simple and easy to explain; earlier there was no guy to love, now there is no time to love!” she adds.