In the battle of the romantic comedies, Khoobsurat emerged the clear victor over Daawat-e-Ishq. During the weekend of September 19-21, 2014, Disney/UTV’s Khoobsurat earned $332,486 from 69 theaters in North America. It averaged an impressive $4,819 per screen.
By contrast, Yash Raj Films’ Daawat-e-Ishq earned $204,950 from 113 theaters for a per-screen average of $1,814.
2014 has been a dud of a year for Yash Raj Films in North America. Following the release of 2013’s massively successful Dhoom 3 — which earned $8,090,250 in North America — all of the Hindi films YRF has released since have looked comparatively anemic:
- Gunday: $887,675 total gross; widest release: 150 theaters
- Bewakoofiyaan: $106,800 total gross; widest release: 66 theaters
- Mardaani: $393,619 total gross; widest release: 86 theaters
Given that Daawat-e-Ishq opened in 113 theaters in the United States and Canada, YRF clearly expected it to perform far better than it did. YRF still has Kill Dil to release in November, but it looks too wacky to attract a wide audience. YRF’s other 2014 release —Titli — will likely be relegated to the festival circuit in North America (including three showings at the Chicago International Film Festival in October).
Other Hindi movies still in U.S. and Canadian theaters:
- Finding Fanny: Week 2; $124,165 from 114 theaters; $1,089 average; $739,370 total
- Mary Kom: Week 3; $12,210 from 17 theaters; $718 average; $629,322 total
- The Lunchbox: Week 30; $772 from two theaters; $336 average; $4,046,834 total
- Mardaani: Week 5; $59 from one theater; $393,619 total
Sources: Box Office Mojo and Rentrak, via Bollywood Hungama