Our Bureau
Mumbai
Sidharth Malhotra-starrer The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest has recorded the actor’s biggest opening weekend in 11 years, collecting Rs 33.25 crore net in India in its first three days. The folk fantasy thriller has registered the third-highest opening weekend of Malhotra’s career, according to industry tracker Sacnilk figures.
The film earned Rs 8 crore net on its opening Friday, followed by Rs 11.25 crore on Saturday and Rs 14 crore on Sunday. Its India gross collection stood at Rs 39.65 crore, while the worldwide gross reached Rs 43.15 crore. The film collected Rs 3.50 crore overseas during the opening weekend.
The Sunday collection represented a 24.4 per cent increase over Saturday, indicating stronger audience turnout as the weekend progressed. The film was screened across more than 7,000 shows on Sunday, with its domestic performance driven partly by centres in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
With its opening weekend, The Vvaan has moved ahead of Malhotra’s 2012 debut film Student of the Year in terms of three-day domestic collections. However, it remains behind Brothers, which opened with Rs 52 crore, and Ek Villain, which recorded Rs 50.7 crore.
Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra and Arunabh Kumar, the film follows Rishi, played by Malhotra, who returns to his ancestral village in Bihar to sell his land. After entering a forbidden forest despite warnings about the goddess Vandevi, he encounters supernatural forces and becomes involved in protecting the local community.
The film also stars Tamannaah Bhatia, Sunil Grover, Maniesh Paul, Anup Soni, Milind Gunaji and Shweta Tiwari. Produced by Balaji Motion Pictures and The Viral Fever, The Vvaan released in cinemas on September 25.