The horror comedy Stree 2, starring Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao in lead roles, seemed to have spellbound audiences on its first day of release as per early reports. According to trade sources, the film has surpassed many prestigious box office records held by some of Bollywood's biggest hits from the past.
Stree 2 had held exclusive previews late on Wednesday evening which collected massive revenue, setting a new benchmark. Estimates suggest the previews alone garnered close to Rs 8 crore, breaking the record previously held by Shah Rukh Khan starrer Chennai Express from 2013.
Advance bookings were highly favourable for the film as well. As per data from leading cinema chains, over 3.92 lakh tickets were sold a day in advance, comfortably crossing figures by large-budget blockbusters like Tiger 3, Brahmastra and Thugs of Hindostan. In terms of pre-release bookings, Stree 2 ranks seventh on the all-time list.
Cumulatively, total pre-bookings across India for the first day were a whopping 8.24 lakh tickets amounting to estimated collections of Rs 23.36 crore. This impressive performance is all the more noteworthy since the film released amidst two other high-profile movies – Akshay Kumar's comedy Khel Khel Mein and John Abraham's action flick Vedaa, both headlined by top stars. However, both these films received underwhelming initial ticket sales in comparison.
Early trade projections suggest Stree 2 may collect around Rs 40 crore on opening day, and could even surpass Rs 50 crore if one includes revenues from the previews. In contrast, Khel Khel Mein and Vedaa are estimated to make Rs 5-7 crore each on their first day.
It seems the sequel has certainly managed to hold audiences in thrall, emerging as a resounding success, if the blockbuster opening day figures are anything to go by. With positive reviews as well, Stree 2 appears primed to continue its dream run at the box office.
