Bajirao Mastani box office collections jump to Rs 105.63 cr by day 6 as Deepika Padukone, Ranveer ‘chemistry’ works its charm

1/11

Bajirao Mastani box office collections: The reason behind the film not doing better than this is that it was released on the same day as megastar Shah Rukh Khan's Dilwale and therefore, its take suffered tremendously due to the competition – SRK is a megastar and will monopolise a large chunk of the theatre going public. Also, Bajirao Mastani was allotted a lesser number of screens than Dilwale. Reports also indicated that the divide between both is also seen in terms of multiplexes for 'Dilwale' and single screens for 'Bajirao' – the equation is twisted in Dilwale's favour to a large extent. When two big films like Bajirao Mastani and Dilwale clash, box office collections also depend on the number screens they manage to lock-in for themselves.

2/11

Bajirao Mastani box office collections: This Deepika Padukone starrer's collections on day 2, which was a Saturday were Rs 15.52 crore – much higher than its Friday take. The total 2-day take in India rose to Rs 28.32 crore. Overall, by day 2, Bajirao Mastani box office collections reached Rs 29.48 crore. The film was not receiving a boost from the international audience and that too is hurting the score.

3/11

Bajirao Mastani box office collections: The earnings were rising through each passing day as more and more people took advantage of the weekend holiday to see the movie. As such, on Sunday (day 3) the film's earnings rose to its best total at Rs 18.45 crore, for an India tally of Rs 47.77 crore. With the foreign take added, the tally rises to Rs 61.17 crore. Clearly, it shows that word of mouth is working in its favour, but not enough to draw the Shah Rukh Khan fans away from Dilwale.

4/11

Bajirao Mastani box office collections: For all intents and purposes, Bajirao Mastani leads Dilwale in word of mouth respect, at least as its take has been rising from first day itself – Bajirao Mastani collections have been heading north since Friday as can be seen here – Rs 12.80 crore on day 1, Rs 15.52 crore on day 2 and Rs 18.45 crore on day 3. On day 4 (Monday), Bajirao Mastani collections earned Rs 10.25 crore (higher than what SRK starrer earned on same day). Overall, Bajirao Mastani collections by fourth day in terms of India collections were Rs 57.02 crore and when we add the foreign take, the tally jumped to Rs 87.02 crore.

5/11

Bajirao Mastani box office collections: On days 5 and 6, the sales of the movie held steady as theatregoers continued to stream into offices in strong numbers, indicating that it packed enough punch to convince those who were prevaricating to head for cinemas too. In terms of numbers on Tuesday the movie picked up Rs 9.40 crore and on Wednesday, Rs 9.21 crore. The total in terms of India collections were Rs 75.63 crore and overall the take jumped across the Rs 100 crore mark at Rs 105.63 crore.

6/11

Bajirao Mastani box office collections – some points to note: 1. Controlled hysteria is what Sanjay Leela Bhansali whips up with panache in this historical epic. The director, with his sweeping narrative touches, blurs the line between fact and fiction in his quest for the grand dramatic moments. Bajirao Mastani has no dearth of sequences designed to dazzle the eye. The pace of the film, especially in the first half, is somewhat sluggish. But thanks to the strong central performances by Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, the impressive sets and costumes, and the power of the visuals rustled up by cinematographer Sudeep Chatterjee, Bajirao Mastani is never less than watchable and that should help in giving the audience its money's worth, which in turn may well power the word of mouth to keep the audiences streaming in to watch the movie as the weekend starts, keeping the box office collections register ringing.

7/11

Bajirao Mastani box office collections – some points to note: 2. The film gathers momentum in the second half and Priyanka Chopra, playing Bajirao Peshwa's first wife Kashibai, gets her due in the drama. The CGI-enhanced battlefield action is impressive Bajirao Mastani is after all the tale of an 18th century warrior who never lost a battle in a short but eventful life. It is, however, the love story of the Peshwa and the half-Muslim Bundelkhandi princess Mastani that takes centrestage for the most part. The principal conflict point in the film hinges on the stiff opposition that that the married Peshwa faces from Pune's Hindu clergy and his own deeply offended family when Mastani arrives and lays claim on the man she believes she is betrothed to, having received his personal dagger as a gift.

8/11

Bajirao Mastani box office collections: 3. The two women in Bajirao's life his wife Kashibai and his true love Mastani are at odds with each other, but in Bhansali's universe, neither is allowed to lose her feminine calm and composure in the face of the severest of provocations. The film has another very strong female character Bajirao's widowed mother Radhabai. Tanvi Azmi invests the figure with great force. Even when she plots brazenly to humiliate and hound Mastani, Radhabai does not turn into a heartless manipulator. She is seen only as somebody who is compelled by her conditioning to uphold tradition.

9/11

Bajirao Mastani box office collections – some points to note: 4. Music is supposed to play a key role in Bajirao Mastani in enhancing the dramatic impact of the tale, but the songs do not appear to be organically linked to the narrative. A restrained but laboured confrontation scene between Kashibai and Mastani sets the stage for the Pinga number in which the two women come together in an unlikely dance routine. Bajirao Mastani is riddled with several such flights of fancy and Bhansali admits as much in a long disclaimer at the film's outset.

10/11

Bajirao Mastani box office collections – some points to note: 5. Bajirao Mastani might not be reliable history, but it certainly is pure entertainment of the kind that only Bhansali can deliver. So, notwithstanding its flaws and avoidable detours, this is a film that stays on course right down to the bitter end. Bajirao Mastani is an exquisitely, if not accurately, crafted epic designed for those for whom history might not be a big draw.