'Zero', despite its starcast, seems to have failed to impress film critics
Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif starrer 'Zero' opened to mixed reviews. It got released across 5,965 theatres all over the world, including a total of 1,585 international screens, on December 21. The film recorded an average occupancy of 45-50% in the morning shows, which is comparitively lesser than Rajinikanth's '2.0', Salman Khan's 'Race 3' and Aamir Khan's 'Thugs Of Hindostan'.
As per the initial trends, 'Zero' is expected to make somewhere around Rs 25-27 crore on the day one of its box office collection. Shah Rukh's last release 'Jab Harry Met Sejal' had raked in around Rs 15 crore on its first day and Rs 57.63 crore in the first week.
The Aanand L Rai directorial is expected to pick up pace over the Christmas weekend if negative 'word of mouth' doesn't play spoilsport.
1. Shah Rukh Khan loses round one to Aamir and Salman
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As per film critic and trade analyst Sumit Kadel, 'Zero' registered an average occupancy of up to 45-50% in the morning shows. Salman Khan's 'Race 3' and Aamir Khan's 'Thugs Of Hindostan' may have been rated among the worst films of 2018 but they recorded better occupancies on Friday than SRK's content-driven 'Zero'. According to Box Office India, 'Race 3' had opened to 50-55% occupancy in the morning shows while 'Thugs' was further ahead with 70%.
2. A lot is riding on Aanand L Rai's shoulders
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'Zero' showcases the story of a vertically-challenged man named Bauua Singh, who falls in love with a specially-abled scientist named Aafia Yusufzai Bhinder (played by Anushka Sharma). The film also stars Katrina Kaif as an alcoholic actress named Babita Kumari, who is described as "Hindustan ka sapna" in the film's trailer.
Considering the VFX-heavy film has been made on a hefty Rs. 2 billion, a lot rides on Aanand L Rai's shoulders. 'Zero' was expected to be another blockbuster after Aanand's back-to-back hits - 'Tanu Weds Manu', 'Raanjhanaa' and 'Tanu Weds Manu Returns'. However, despite its starcast, 'Zero' seems to have failed to impress the film critics.
"Expected so much from this collaboration [SRK and director Aanand L Rai]... Sadly, the flawed writing - especially the second hour - takes the film downhill... EPIC DISAPPOINTMENT," tweeted film business analyst Taran Adarsh.
3. Will 'Zero' do better business than 'Jab Harry Met Sejal'?
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King Khan's last release 'Jab Harry Met Sejal' (2017) suffered losses and collected a total amount of only Rs 64.33 crore in India. Rahul Dholakia’s 'Raees' did enter the Rs 100-crore club with a collection of Rs 137.51 crore but failed to match up to the success of SRK’s earlier films.
4. Here's a look at the overseas collections of 'Zero' on Day 1
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Australia box office
52,353 USD [Rs. 36.69 lacs] from 35 screens
New Zealand box office
30,677 USD [Rs. 21.50 lacs] from 23 screens
5. 'Zero' might witness a pump in footfall on Tuesday
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The actual Day 1 figures are awaited but considering the film has released on a usual Friday, it's fate will heavily rely on the word of mouth. It may however see a pump in footfall on Tuesday because of the Christmas holiday.
6. Should Shah Rukh be scared of Ranveer Singh's 'Simmba'?
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While 'Zero' may not be able to overtake Thugs of Hindostan's historic opening collection of Rs 50 crore, it is expected to earn in the range of Rs 25-30 crore on Day 1 (Friday).
Rohit Shetty's 'Simmba' starring Ranveer Singh and Sara Ali Khan is scheduled to release next weekend, leaving only a week for 'Zero' to make the most of it. Shetty's action-packed films usually tend to do well at the box office.
It remains to be seen whether Aanand L Rai will actually be able to 'rectify' Shah Rukh's relation with his fans with 'Zero', as promised.
