‘Bodyguard’ shatters Shah Rukh’s overseas record!

The King of overseas Shah Rukh Khan now has reason to worry for ‘Bodyguard’s stupendous success has rocked his throne real hard.

The craze of SRK’s diehard fans overseas can challenge any of the A-list Hollywood star, but Salman’s ‘Bodyguard’ has come as a big blow to the hero’s monopoly and unconditional adoration that SRK enjoys internationally.

Even as the collection of Salman Khan starrer `Bodyguard` has left mouths wide open, film has surpassed the record of Shah Rukh Khan in the overseas market.

As per box-office reports, Salman has broken his archenemy Shah Rukh’s overseas record by minting 194,000 pounds with his latest outing ‘Bodyguard’, on its opening day in UK, and this is apparently 3000 pounds more than what SRK’s ‘My Name Is Khan’ had grossed on its release day in UK.

Reportedly, SRK’s “my name Is Khan’ collected 191,000 pounds on its first day in UK.

‘Bodyguard’ is also on its way to becoming the highest grosser in the Middle East. It has collected $1.6 million in the first two days, just a little behind the previous highest grosser ‘Dabangg’ which collected $1.7 million.

With the Salman-starrer entertainer fetching such a mind-blowing box-office collections abroad, King Khan, who till date ruled the international market, has apparently descended to the second slot.

Meanwhile, Salman’s much talked nerve surgery was a success in US, but his health continues to be a subject of worry. The star said that while he was being operated, the doctors detected an aneurysm, so he might have to be back for another procedure around January in the States.

On Day 1 Salman Khan's Bodyguard grossed Rs20 cr

Salman Khan has done it again. After Wanted and Dabangg, both of which released around Eid in 2009 and 2010 respectively and were box office hits, the actor’s third straight Eid release, Bodyguard, has struck box office gold too. Beating all estimates, which pegged the film to open in the Rs16-18crore range, Bodyguard grossed around Rs20crore on Wednesday, the highest ever for a film on a single day.

“It’s unprecedented. Even hardcore optimists could not have imagined the film would cross the Rs20crore mark,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh, adding that according to the collections tracked by him, the first day net collections should be around Rs20.25crore. “This is not just a record for the biggest opening-day gross, but also the biggest gross for a single day ever.”

The previous record, he says, was held by Dabangg, which had grossed Rs18 crore on Eid last year, on a Sunday. What this means is that there are chances that Bodyguard might better its opening day collection this Sunday.

Prakhar Joshi, head of programming at PVR Cinemas, says the film opened well in all of the multiplex chain’s 35 properties.

“Dabangg had grossed Rs1.42 crore on a single day from all our properties, the highest ever. We expect Bodyguard to have easily grossed over Rs2 crore,” says Joshi, adding that the film might perform even better over the weekend.

Interestingly, critics don’t seem to have been too kind to the film, while the response among audiences has been mixed.

Manoj Desai of G7 multiplex in Bandra says that all shows of the film are booked right till Monday, which is unprecedented. “The film has obviously benefited from the long weekend, with Eid on Wednesday and Ganesh Chaturti on Thursday, but even then it’s quite a feat. Sadly, reactions have been mixed. So, it remains to be seen if the collections hold up after Monday,” says Desai.

Bodyguard, directed by Siddique, is a remake of the director’s 2010 Malayalam film of the same name. The film had then been remade in Tamil as Kaavalan. Both the earlier versions were hits.

The film co-stars Kareena Kapoor and has music by Himesh Reshammiya.

Yuvraj dating Salman Khan’s sister Arpita?

Chandigarh boy Yuvraj Singh, who chose to shift his base to Mumbai a couple of years back, has been successful in bowling over maidens from the Tinsel Town. And the latest to share the headlines with him is none other than Salman Khan’s kid sister Arpita.

The flamboyant star was spotted at a Delhi 5 star restaurant with Arpita a few days back.

Narrating how comfortable the two were in each other’s company, a source revealed to a tabloid, "Yuvraj and Arpita were seen together at a five star hotel in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi on Sunday evening. The hotel has a new club, which opened recently. Yuvraj and Arpita spent a lot of time in the club that day. They were not accompanied by others."

Apparently, Singh has close associations with the Khan family and he happens to be a regular feature in all their private celebrations.
A close friend of sister Khan said, "Arpita knows Yuvraj for some time now. They are very close friends. Yes, they were together at the five star hotel in south Delhi on Sunday. They were there for quite sometime, actually."

However, Yuvraj had a very different story to tell. Denying this news, Yuvraj said, “This is absolutely baseless and I request everyone to stop spreading rumours about me. Arpita is a friend and I know her for many years now. As a matter of fact, I wasn`t at the hotel at all lately. There is not an iota of truth in what you are trying to write."

Looks like Yuvraj fears turning Salman’s Jeeja for he knows its not a good idea to mess with this DabanggKhan

Salman to head to the US today

The actor, who travels to America for treatment, will miss the festivities for the first time in years

It's undoubtedly the most important time of the year for Bollywood's Dabangg Khan. It's the end of Ramzan, the beginning of Ganeshotsav and the release of his much-awaited film Bodyguard. But unfortunately, for the first time in years, Salman will not be around to celebrate the festivals or his film release with friends and family.

Contrary to reports that Khan has cancelled his trip to America, he is definitely travelling abroad for his treatment today. "He was initially landing via New York, but since the airport there is shut, he is now taking an alternative route," confirms brother-in-law and Bodyguard producer Atul Agnihotri.

The actor, who has been diagnosed with a facial nerve disorder, has been in pain for the past six months. While he continued shooting for Bodyguard despite the illness, the last few days have been very tough on him. Adds the film's director Siddiqque, "Salman is very good at concealing his pain. There were times when we wouldn't even realise that something's wrong with him. He'd continue working as if everything is normal."

Of course, no one can deny that Eid has been the most auspicious time for a Salman film since the past four years. Despite all efforts, unfortunately, Sallu won't be around to witness the release of his film on August 31, and also to bring home the Ganpati idol on September 1.  "We are going to really miss him, but we cannot take any chances. Health comes first and the doctors have strictly asked him to complete treatment as soon as possible. So he is going to be there for as long as required. Everything else can wait," says Atul.

His absence most definitely will slow down the publicity of the film as well, but we guess a Salman Khan release on Eid doesn't need too much of it, anyway

Salman and Shah Rukh's paths cross again

On August 16 Karan Johar started the shooting of his film Student of the Year with newcomers Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt and Siddharth Malhotra at Mumbai's Yashraj Studio.

Socialite Parmeshwar Godrej switched on the camera for the mahurat shot that was directed by veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra.

Rishi Kapoor who does the role of a gay dean in the film broke the coconut. Farah Khan will choreograph the songs. Aditya Chopra dropped by to wish his erstwhile assistant Karan.

Many well-wishers dropped by to wish Karan. Since the film is a Dharma and Red Chillies Production, Shah Rukh Khan,

who is also Karan's best friend and the producer came over to wish the filmmaker and the youngsters in the cast.

Salman Khan who was shooting next door for Aditya Chopra dropped by too. So did the two warring Khans meet? Apparently not.

No. Instead sources say Salman came and charmed Karan's staff. He was accompanied by his lead actress Katrina Kaif.

Imran Khan also dropped by as did some of the directors who are working with Dharma like Karan Malhotra and Punit Malhotra.

David Dhawan and his wife Lali dropped by to wish their younger son and so did Soni Razdan, whose daughter Alia plays the female lead.