Ajay Devgn‘s highly anticipated sequel, Raid 2, has already made waves at the box office before its official release. According to early trade estimates, the film’s advance bookings have crossed an impressive Rs 10 crore for Day 1 alone, signalling a good opening for the crime thriller.
Directed by Rajkumar Gupta, Raid 2 continues the story of fearless IRS officer Amay Patnaik as he takes on a powerful new adversary in the world of black money and corruption. The buzz around the film has been steadily building, with fans excited to see Devgn in action.
According to a report on sacnilk.com, the film scored an estimated Rs 6.51 crore on Day 1 from the sale of around 2,32,134 tickets for an estimated 12,212 shows. In addition to the blocked seats, the film’s overall total with blocked seats is estimated at Rs 9.67 crore.
With the film almost touching the Rs 10 crore mark, it remains to be seen if it has what it takes to score a box office win over the extended May 1 weekend.
The movie has been passed with a U/A certificate with an approved runtime of 2 hours and 30 minutes, and is carrying positive buzz.
Multiplex chains and single-screen theatres alike will see a higher footfall on the film’s opening day, considering that it is a holiday. Industry analysts are optimistic about Raid 2’s performance after films like Jaat, Kesari 2 and Ground Zero underperforming at the box office.
‘Raid 2’ sees Devgn’s character of Amay Patnaik go head-to-head with Riteish Deshmukh, who essays a politician in the film. Speaking about Riteish’s casting, the director shared, “I have liked Riteish’s work for some time. We know he is a fabulous actor in comic roles, in Marathi films as the protagonist, and even in villainous roles. He truly is a fantastic performer. Last year I worked with him on a series where he played the lead, since then he was on my mind, I had decided I will work with him in future again”.
With positive buzz trickling in from industry insiders who attended preview screenings, expectations for a strong opening weekend are high. All eyes are now on the box office to see whether Raid 2 can convert its stellar advance numbers into sustained box office success.
