Deepika-Imran jodi a hit

Bollywood heartthrob Imran Khan starrer Break Ke Baad has drawn more eyeballs than Sharman Joshi's grungy avatar in Allah Kay Banday, industry insiders said.

Break Ke Baad has grossed Rs16 crore during its first weekend in the domestic market, said the film’s publicist.

Industry insiders said that Break Ke Baad opened with an average occupancy of 40 per cent over the weekend, while Allah Kay Banday received poor response and swung between 15-20 per cent with almost negligible initial. Both the movies hit the screens together.

"Break Ke Baad has been good with close to 70 per cent weekend occupancy. Youngsters are liking it. It is a very contemporary movie and they are associating with it," RK Mehrotra, manager, Delite Diamond, told IANS.

RK Mohan, an executive from Sathyam Cinemas, Chennai, added: "Break Ke Baad is going well and the shows are going on in full swing. Allah Kay Banday, on the other hand is not doing that great."

Co-produced by Kunal Kohli Productions and Reliance Big Pictures for Rs18 crore, Break Ke Baad released across 750 screens in India and recovered its production and marketing costs much before its release by selling satellite rights.

Directed by debutant Danish Aslam, the romantic comedy talks about modern day relationships and features Deepika Padukone in the female lead.

Allah Kay Banday, on the other hand, is also made by first time director Faruk Kabir. Produced by Ravi Walia on a budget of Rs5.5 crore, it was distributed by PVR Pictures. It also stars Naseeruddin Shah and Kabir in the lead alongside Sharman.

"Break Ke Baad has been good, however, Allah Kay Banday has done average business. Both have been Ok on the whole," Kaushik Gachha, operations associate, INOX cinemas, City Center, Kolkata, told IANS.

An executive from City Pulse multiplex, Ahmedabad, said: "Break Ke Baad is doing good and the footfall is really impressive here with about 40 per cent occupancy over the weekend. Allah Kay Banday on the other hand is going cold and not that great."

Alpana from Cinemax, Mumbai also said: "We have had an Okay Okay response for both the movies. If compared between the two, Break Ke Baad is being appreciated more than Allah Kay Banday."