Chalte Chalte, MPDKH among Top 15

Three films produced by Indian filmmakers have found a place among the top 15 films in Britain in the first week of July. It is arguably the first time this has happened. Two of the films, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon and Chalte Chalte, were made in India. Bringing Down the House was made in Hollywood and was distributed by Buena Vista, an arm of Walt Disney.

Though Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon did not do as well in Britain as it did in America and Canada in its opening weekend, it was still the eighth-highest grossing film in that lucrative market. According to International Movie Data Base, it grossed about $240,000 in three days on 34 screens for a decent screen average of $4,667.

In America, the film, which stars Hritik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan, minted $671,000 on 60 screens and was the 16th highest grossing film in the country.

The American box office will get a boost during the July 4

weekend, considered one of the highest grossing movie weekends in the country.

The initial reports on Monday had said the film had grossed about $600,000 in America, but when the final tally came out on Tuesday night, the film had grossed substantially more than the estimates and had a very impressive $11,215 screen average. Many people expect it to remain among the top 25 films of the week in America and among top 15 in Britain in the second week. 

Chalte Chalte, which is in its third week in Britain, grossed about $90,000 on four screens; its total reached $1 million. In America, the movie has reportedly grossed about the same amount. Shah Rukh is one of the few desi stars who is an instant draw in England and America.

Right below Chalte Chalte in England is another film carrying desi name. Ashok Amritraj's comedy film, Bringing Down the House, which was a big hit in America with a total gross of $135 million, is a modest success abroad. In Britain, it is ending its run with about $5.5 million. It is expected to gross at least $70 million abroad.