Raees box office collection day 1: Shah Rukh Khan film earns Rs 20.42 cr, races ahead of Kaabil

Rahul Dholakia’s film Raees, starring Shah Rukh Khan as a bootlegger, started its box office run at a sprint. With around 80% occupancy being reported in cinemas on Wednesday, Raees has managed a blockbuster opening. Even internationally, the film is doing well.

Watch | Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees gets thumbs up from audience

A few reports also mention about the overseas collections of Raees on Day 1. Raees Australia box office collection reads as: 3,984 USD [Rs. 2.71 lacs] from 1 screen, while its New Zealand box office collection stands as 16,069 USD [Rs. 10.93 lacs] from 11 screens.

See Raees box office collection day 1 here:

#Raees has a FANTASTIC Day 1… Wed ₹ 20.42 cr… Today [Thu; Republic Day] will witness HUMONGOUS biz again.

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) January 26, 2017

Raees clashed with Hrithik Roshan-starrer Kaabil at the box office. While Shah Rukh Khan’s star power and the different character he is playing has ensured a good opening, the film’s performance during the next few days depends on the word of mouth the film gets.

Also read | Raees movie review

WATCH VIDEO | Hrithik Roshan, Rakesh Roshan Angry Over Kaabil Getting Less Screens Than Raees

It seems earthiness of Shah Rukh’s character has connected with the audience while Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s turn as a cop is also getting a lot of appreciation. After Parzania, Raees is Rahul’s one big commercial film. Talking about the prep that went into it, the director said in a recent interview, “Five years of life. I have done nothing else during this period. I rarely go to parties. When I did and the host asked who are you bringing with you? I used to say: ‘I am bringing Raees’. The research of the movie, its writing, location scouting, production design and shooting had taken over my life.”

Check out Shah Rukh Khan’s pictures from Raees promotions: 

The film tells the story of bootlegger Raees Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) whose business is challenged and eventually thwarted by a police officer played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Mahira Khan, the Pakistani actor, plays the love interest of SRK in the film and their compatibility reminds of all the romantic songs of the actor you have ever seen so far.