Bollywood star Salman Khan's latest movie Antim collected nearly Rs 2.5 crore at the box office on Wednesday, remaining the top choice of the mass audience. The film opened to a decent response on November 26, raking in Rs 4.5 crore on day 1. It witnessed good growth over the weekend, edging out John Abraham's Satyameva Jayate 2. The flick ended its extended first weekend at nearly 18 crores. It subsequently passed the 'Monday Test', raking in around Rs 3 crore, a respectable figure for a working day.
Antim has, not surprisingly, done well in Maharashtra and the mass centers. Its performance in the multiplexes, however, isn't as good as expected. Markets such as Bengaluru and Chennai have not contributed much to its collections.
The perception is that the overall performance is satisfactory as this isn't a conventional 'Bhai' film. Salman has an extended cameo in the actioner while Aayush Sharma, who made his debut with the forgettable Loveyatri, is the proverbial 'hero'. Moreover, it wasn't promoted as aggressively as Race 3 or even Radhe.
The film has, either way, received rave reviews for its realistic presentation and engaging storyline. The word of mouth is better than expected, which should help it stay strong in the coming days. It will, however, face competition from Tadap when it hits theatres on December 3. That said, it is likely to end its opening week with a respectable Rs 30 crore.
Antim, directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, revolves around the clash between a gangster and a Sikh cop. The film takes a strong stand against violence and has shades of the classic gangster drama Vaastav. It stars TV actor Mahima Makwana as the female protagonist and marks her Bollywood debut. The Mosagallu star, who plays the role of a feisty tea-seller, has impressed fans with her work in the movie. The cast includes Nikitin Dheer, Sachin Khedekar, and Sharad Ponkshe.