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One of Bollywood’s biggest releases of the year, Dhoom 3, is closing out 2013 with a blast, living up to the meaning of its name in Hindi. The third installment of the high-octane action franchise from veteran Bollywood banner Yash Raj Films crossed the 1 billion rupee ($16.7 million) mark in India during its opening weekend following its Dec. 20 worldwide release. According to YRF, Dhoom 3 has grossed 1.07 billion rupees, said to be a new record for an opening weekend in India.
Internationally, Dhoom 3 cleared $10.17 million during its opening weekend, making it the biggest opening ever for any Bollywood film abroad. The film’s total worldwide box office stands at $28.11 million, as per figures released late Monday by YRF. Given the film’s timing during the holiday season and with no major competing film opening this week, Dhoom 3 is expected to maintain its strong run well into the new year.
PHOTOS: Indian Talent Going Global
In North America, the movie opened to a record-breaking $3.43 million from 236 theaters, making it the biggest opening of all time for a Bollywood title and coming in No. 9 for the weekend. In the U.K., Dhoom 3 collected $ 1.45 million, which YRF claims is the highest non-festival/holiday opening ever on a three-day weekend for a Bollywood title.
The film also set opening records for an Indian film in Australia, grossing $765,360.
Most notably, Dhoom 3 managed to release in Pakistan despite that country’s recent ban against Indian films and TV content following a court order. In Pakistan, Dhoom 3 set a record for the highest opening ever for any film, with a gross of $630,500.
In the United Arab Emirates and other markets in the region, the film touched $2.8 million.
STORY: Box Office: ‘Dhoom 3’ Early Global Hit, Eyeing $25 Million-Plus Opening
The film is set to roll out soon into other overseas markets, including Morocco, Maldives, Rwanda, Lebanon, Egypt, Germany, Peru, Romania, Japan, Russia, CIS, Turkey and others.
Writer-director Vijay Krishna Acharya’s story follows the exploits of a pair of Indian buddy cops (Abhishek Bachchan, Uday Chopra), although the main spotlight falls on superstar Aamir Khan (Lagaan, Talaash) in a flashy turn as Sahir, a modern acrobat and illusionist working in Chicago. He is joined by the seductive Aliya (actress Katrina Kaif).
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