"Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire," featuring Prabhas in the lead role, made an impressive debut at the box office, amassing a remarkable Rs 90 crore on its release day. However, the film witnessed a significant decline of over 60 percent on the second day, with estimates indicating a collection of Rs 55 crore on Saturday. This brings the total Indian box office collection to Rs 145.70 crores.
While the sharp drop in the box office numbers might be cause for concern, it is essential to note that the film enjoyed a remarkable opening, demonstrating a solid initial interest and a massive fan following for Prabhas and director Prashanth Neel. It is worth observing how the film performs in the upcoming days, as fluctuations in box office numbers are common in the industry.
The film starring Prabhas has surpassed Shah Rukh Khan's "Pathaan," Vijay's "Leo," and Rajinikanth's "Jailer" with an impressive global debut of Rs 179 crore. This outstanding opening figure highlights the immense popularity of "Salaar" and starkly contrasts Prabhas' previous release, "Adipurush," which earned Rs 140 crore globally on its opening day.
This remarkable success is a testament to Prabhas' resilience and ability to bounce back from setbacks. While "Pathaan" earned Rs 57 crore on its first day in India, "Jawan" and "Animal" reported openings of Rs 75 crore and Rs 63 crore respectively. "Salaar" surpassed these prominent Bollywood films and set a new benchmark for the industry with its exceptional opening.
After the underwhelming performance of 'Adipurush' at the box office, Prabhas' fans eagerly pinned their hopes on the highly anticipated release, 'Salaar.' The film encountered direct competition with Shah Rukh Khan's 'Dunki,' as it premiered in theaters on December 22, just a day after SRK's film was released on December 21.
Both films had a lot at stake, especially for Prabhas, whose previous film received criticism for not meeting box office expectations. The clash worked in Prabhas' favor, as 'Dunki' struggled to impact the box office. Despite Shah Rukh Khan's previous successful films like 'Jawan' and 'Pathaan,' 'Dunki' generated only around Rs 75 crore in domestic revenue during its initial three days.
Prabhas, who gained international recognition due to the tremendous success of the "Baahubali" series, has encountered a tumultuous journey in his career after the conclusion of "Baahubali." Despite the unprecedented triumph of the two blockbuster movies, he faced a string of disappointments with high-profile films such as "Saaho," "Radhe Shyam," and "Adipurush," which failed to replicate the earlier achievements.
With the release of "Salaar," Prabhas appears to be yearning for a significant triumph, and the initial figures from the box office suggest that this could be the comeback he has been eagerly anticipating. The film received attention for its record-breaking opening and placed Prabhas back in the spotlight.
After portraying Salaar, the actor is set to take the lead in Kalki 2898 AD, which is the most expensive Indian film ever. He will also feature in Spirit, a film helmed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Furthermore, the actor will reprise their Salaar role in an upcoming sequel.
Edited by: Kaiyah Ellison