‘3 Idiots’ to rake it in, set to get additional prints   

December 29, 2009

Following the overwhelming response for the film ‘3 Idiots’ across the globe, its distributor Reliance BIG Pictures and producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra, have decided to add 12 more prints in the US market by Friday. They may even add six to seven more prints in India, say industry sources.

During the first four days of its release, ‘3 Idiots’, starring Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor, has garnered more than Rs100 crore from box-office collections.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the producer, said, “We have got reports from places like Australia that they have reduced 'Avatar' shows and increased those of ours (‘3 Idiots’).”

During its opening weekend, ‘3 Idiots’ collected more than $2.14 million in North America, $1 million in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), about $700,000 in the UK, $300,000 in Australia and New Zealand and $310,000 from the rest of the world.

The film, produced by Mr Chopra and directed by Rajkumar Hirani, was released in 2,126 screens, including 378 screens in the overseas market.

With the success of ‘3 Idiots’, Bollywood star Aamir Khan has proved himself once again. Earlier, there were reports that the production house was facing problems in striking a deal with distributors as the actor was demanding Rs100 crore for distribution rights.

Last year, Mr Khan sold the distribution rights of his blockbuster ’Ghajini’ for Rs93 crore. However, distributors were shying away from investing such a large sum this time because they were not sure about the box-office fate of Mr Khan’s latest release.

Producer Mr Chopra has reportedly signed a minimum guarantee deal worth Rs34 crore for the film in collaboration with Reliance BIG Pictures, the movie distribution arm of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group (ADAG). Reliance BIG Pictures said that it had bought the distribution rights of the movie from the producers for an undisclosed amount.

— Pallabika Ganguly