Kabhi Khushi Kabhie
Gham was released during Eid 2001 and it smashed all opening records across the
world for an Indian movie.
In UK it actually featured among the top three
openers of the week including all Hollywood releases.
Despite skepticism in the
trade as to whether it will work outside big centres, the film opened to around
7 crore nett collections on its first weekend (a figure which only 5-6 films
till then had managed in the whole week) in India with the week finishing
around 14.38 crore nett.
The domestic opening week collections were 70% higher
than the previous record and never before had opening records been smashed by
such big margins, infact even till now opening records have never been smashed
by such huge margins.
In Delhi city its opening week collections were touching
2.5 crore nett while the previous record was just 1.10 crore nett and it was
five years later that any film got close to 2 crore nett in Delhi city again.
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham also set record new records for second and third week
business by grossing 10.50 crore nett and 8 crore nett respectively.
It
went on to be The Highest Grossing Indian Film Of All Time Worldwide beating
Gadar Ek Prem Katha which released 6 months before.
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
also found a place in Top Three Domestic Grossers of All Time and the second
biggest Grosser of 2001.
In the Overseas it was a sensation and is still
probably the biggest hit ever in the Overseas market even though films today
are crossing $30-40 million while Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham did around $9
million in 2001. The big difference is print count, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
release on around 125 prints while today films are releasing on 8-9 times more
prints and in many more territories. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is one of the
true Worldwide All Time Blockbusters of Hindi cinema. For the Overseas market
it is what Sholay is to the Domestic market.
