When the first trailer of ‘Shivaay’ was released, it brought the internet to a standstill. The Ajay Devgn produced, directed and acted was given a mammoth reception by both the cine buffs and the trade pandits.
All said in unison that the action-adventure would easily take one of the biggest openings of 2016 and emerge victorious in the big Diwali clash with Karan Johar’s film.
Till then, Karan had not released a single unit of ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’, not even the poster or a still. And with Ranbir Kapoor’s dull run at the box office in past two years, ‘Shivaay’ was already said to have an edge over the love triangle.
But, the opinion didn’t take much time to change as the day Karan released the teaser of his film, people went gaga over it. Apart from the infectious screen presence of its leading cast, it was Arijit Singh’s voice that worked as magic.
Soon, the tunes of ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ and Ranbir-Aishwarya’s sizzling chemistry became talk of the town and generated more buzz than ‘Shivaay’.
Till the release date neared, it was pretty clear that ADHM would take a better start at the box office and it did.
In fact, it turned out be Karan Johar’s and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s biggest opener till date. The film collected Rs 13.30 crore on Friday, 28th October.
The good start of the film, in spite of a big clash, has come as a respite for the lead actor Ranbir Kapoor as his last few releases failed to leave any mark at the box office. The film, which happens to be the 15th project of Ranbir and Anushka, has become their third biggest opener.
On the other hand, ‘Shivaay’ fared lower than what Ajay Devgn must have expected. It earned Rs 10.24 crore on the first day.
However, it is still early to pronounce a winner from between the two as both the movies have received mixed reviews and it is to be seen how they fare in the upcoming days at the box office.
