The box office collections of Akshay Kumar ’s Welcome in the overseas have surpassed those of all erstwhile solo Akshay titles, creating a new record for the actor.

In the UK, the preview and opening weekend gross was a smashing 370,000 pounds (approx) from 40 locations.

In the UAE, Akshay grossed nearly the earnings of all his earlier hits in five days. The business to date is 1.8 million dirhams from 29 locations.

In the US, the first two days grossed $100,000 from the mainstream theatres alone, independents excluded. Watchers said it was “extremely impressive”.

In almost every mainstream location, ‘Welcome’ out-grossed major Hollywood openers like ‘War’, ‘I Love You’ and ‘Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story’.

“Three previous hits and with ‘Welcome’ setting records now, 2007 has been a year of box-office fortunes! I’m glad that I’m ending 2007 on a high note with ‘Welcome’, my highest overseas opener,” Akshay said.

But he may have churned out the maximum hits last year and is now charging more than Rs. 200 million (Rs. 20 crore) for a film but trade analysts feel despite his achievements and consistency, Akshay is far behind Shah Rukh Khan in the race for superstardom.

“Akshay has given three hits last year, but he hasn’t superseded Shah Rukh. As far as popularity and collections are concerned, Akshay has come a long way, but Shah Rukh is phenomenal. His Om Shanti Om has touched the Rs.900-million mark,” Vikas Mohan, editor of trade magazine Supercinema, told.

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