Ghajini receives overwhelming start overseas

Love stories and musicals rule the roost in the international markets, while action films are a strict no-no. But Ghajini has fetched an overwhelming start in America and Australia and despite a 15 certificate, is impressive in U.K.... The combined total of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi from U.K., U.S.A. and Australia, after 17 days, is approx. Rs. 17.75 crores.

Weekend: December 26 - 28, 2008.

U.K. BOX-OFFICE

* Ghajini has debuted at No. 7 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 3,18,538 [approx. Rs. 2.24 crores] on 49 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 6,501.

* Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi [last weekend: No. 8, this weekend: No. 12]: In its third weekend, the film has collected £ 1,67,392 on 55 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 3,043. Total: £ 12,13,641 [approx. Rs. 8.52 crores].

* Silambattam [Tamil film; last weekend: No. 31, this weekend: No. 24]: In its second weekend, the film has collected £ 5,525 on 3 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 1,842. Total: £ 18,361 [approx. Rs. 12.88 lacs].

* Dostana [last weekend: No. 41, this weekend: No. 41]: In its seventh weekend, the film has collected £ 1,810 on 3 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 603. Total: £ 9,77,427 [approx. Rs. 6.86 crores].

THIS WEEKEND IN U.K.
[Based on screen averages]

U.S.A. BOX-OFFICE
* Ghajini has debuted at No. 21 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected $ 13,87,534 [approx. Rs. 6.72 crores] on 82 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 16,921.

* Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi [last weekend: No. 20, this weekend: No. 31]: In its third weekend, the film has collected $ 1,56,871 on 54 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 2,905. Total: $ 15,88,714 [approx. Rs. 7.70 crores].

AUSTRALIA BOX-OFFICE
Weekend: December 25 - 28, 2008.

* Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi [last weekend: No. 11, this weekend: No. 16]: In its third weekend, the film has collected Aus. $ 29,453 on 14 screens, with the per screen average working out to Aus. $ 2,104. Total: Aus. $ 4,52,512 [approx. Rs. 1.51 crores].

Official statement from BIG Pictures [Overseas distributors of Ghajini]: Following its Christmas day debut across 22 countries, Ghajini has grossed USD 4 million outside of India over the weekend. Distributed by BIG Pictures, the film opened with USD 0.92 million in the Middle East, the highest opening weekend for a Hindi film, followed by North America with USD 1.4 million and Australia raking in Australian $ 2,54,000.

The film will open in four additional countries that include Myanmar, Uganda, Malaysia and Morocco in the coming weeks. Ghajini also opened simultaneously in Ireland, Norway, Germany, Denmark, Holland, Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, New Zealand, Fiji, Mauritius, Hong Kong and Singapore.