Padmaavat, Padman and Tiger Zinda Hai to fight it out at box office this week

With only one big banner release this year in January, 2017's last release Tiger Zinda Hai and the controversial Padmaavat have raked in all the moolah from the cinegoers. While Padmaavat lapped up collections worth Rs 200 crore past weekend, Tiger Zinda Hai has moved beyond Rs 350 crore. But all that is possibly going to change in the coming weekend as Bollywood's arguably the most bankable star Akshay Kumar's big-ticket release - Padman - hits the floors.

“The way Akshay Kumar has been taking up movies that are based on relevant topics makes him a socially responsible actor and that wins him some extra points,” said film trade analyst Atul Mohan.

According to Mohan, this would be Akshay’s latest addition to his list of Rs 100 crore club movies.

His films in the last year that have been a part of Bollywood’s coveted Rs 100 crore club include Toilet: Ek Prem Katha that made close to Rs 135 crore and Jolly LLB 2 that made Rs. 117 crore.

Akshay's Airlift made Rs 128.10 crore in 2016, Rustom in the same year brought in Rs 127.49 crore, Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty in 2014 made Rs 112.45 crore and Rowdy Rathore in 2012 clocked Rs 133.25 crore. There were others like Housefull 3 and Housefull 2 as well that are also a part of this Rs 100 crore-club.

According to experts, his latest offering, Padman will touch Rs 100 crore in the first week itself.

However, the path for Padman won't be easy. “There will be fresh competition from Padmaavat because in a day or two states that had not been running the movie will now finally release it,” said Mohan.

Padmaavat that collected Rs 166.50 crore in its first week followed by Rs 46 crore in the second week will now enter a strong third week with at least 200 more screens in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The film that has already got the box office Rs 212.50 crore worth of business will now change gears to make some more money and proceed to make Rs 300 crore.

The week is all set to see some cut-throat competition at the box office with Padman bringing in fresh content along with a social message and Padmaavat entering newer markets as a fresh release.

Tiger Zinda Hai, however, might take a back seat because it would no longer enjoy being the only film running in theatres in states that stopped Padmaavat's release. Though this doesn't mean there is not going to be any business from the film.

The weekend should see no less than Rs 70 crore-Rs 80 crore worth of collections from the trio- Padman, Padmaavat and Tiger Zinda Hai. The weekend, however, is set to tell a happier tale bringing in better numbers to the box office.