Leo's Dream Run!

By Hindustan Times

New Delhi, July 21 -- Despite big banner releases such as Bipasha Basu- Sanjay Dutt starrer Lamhaa, and the much-hyped Tere Bin Laden, it is a Hollywood flick that has walked away with the moolah at the box office. Leonardo DiCaprio-starrer Inception registered a 70 per cent collection over the opening weekend, beating Bollywood competitors.

The Leonardo DiCaprio starrer has opened better than all three Bollywood films that released over the weekend put together - Lamhaa, Tere Bin Laden and Udaan.

Exhibitors are confident that Inception will continue to hold good in its second and third week, too. "It has done exceptionally well. It saw a 65 to 75 per cent occupancy over the weekend, while Bollywood saw about 40 per cent footfall," says Devang Sampat of Cinemax. Vishal Kapur, CEO, Fun Cinemas agrees, "It will continue to attract audiences."

Even without any publicity blitzkrieg, industry experts feel it is the concept of Nolan's film that is attracting audiences. "The collections prove it. In comparison to Inception's 70 per cent opening figure, Lamhaa picked up 35 per cent and Tere Bin Laden about 25 per cent occupancy in its first weekend," says Amod Mehra, trade analyst.

Last week, too, Tom Cruise's film Knight and Day raked in more than much-anticipated Kareena Kapoor-Shahid Kapoor starrer Milenge Milenge.

• Hollywood News