In the Middle East, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi has set a new record altogether as the highest opening film of all-time. The previous highest was Dhoom:2, which grossed approximately $1.86 million across its entire run. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi has grossed approximately $1 million on its opening weekend alone.

The film has also received a grand opening across all overseas markets, including the UK, USA, Australia, Europe, Africa, and other territories in Asia.

The film has seen one of the best opening weeks of 2008; to be precise the fifth best when it comes to sheer collections.

While RACE is the biggest of all with 35.5 crores, JODHA AKBAR (25 crores), TASHAN (18.5 crores) and KRAZZY 4 (16.5 crores) have followed. The points to be noted are a) while all these films were mounted at a much bigger budget, b) they were also released at greater number of prints.

All of this does make JANNAT a much sweeter success and in the process makes it the biggest film ever for Emraan Hashmi where he played the central protagonist. While MURDER continues to be his biggest grosser, it had Mallika Sherawat holding center stage. In any case, the way this Kunal Deshmukh film is going at the moment, 20 crores total of MURDER too should be history in a matter of one more week.

This is how the break-up of collections over the opening weekend (Friday-Sunday) in some of the major markets looks:

UK – 50,000 pounds
US – 35,000 dollars
Abu Dhabi – 400,000 dirhams

The figures are also notable due to the fact that JANNAT was released at barely 21 prints in UK. Even though TASHAN was released at far greater number of prints, its opening day collections stood at 30000 pounds in the country. On the other hand JANNAT’s first day collections were an impressive 15000 pounds.

A strange thing is happening to Mahesh Bhatt. After spending years extracting creative juices from real- life all his life now when the cricket fever has touched an all-time high thanks to the IPL, producer Mahesh Bhatt plays down the cricketing karma of his new film Jannat.

“The cricketing world is only the wallpaper in Jannat. The cricketing field is the space in which the tale of this risk addict, played by Emran Hashmi, unfolds. .

He is a typical product of the 21st century who goes into shopping malls to look for new things to buy every day. Emran plays the kind of person for whom the end is more important than the means..

He then meets this girl who changes his life. When personal gratification becomes more important than the larger concern, then society is doomed. .

The film points out that there’s huge money in cricket. It’s a money-making industry. Everybody exploits this deity called cricket.So does my hero Emran.”.

He saves a special word of praise for his leading man. .

Directed by Ajay Devgan and Produced by Devgan Films, U, Me Aur Hum stars real life couple Ajay and Kajol in the lead and has received rave reviews from audiences all over. A mature and heart rending love story, U, Me Aur Hum released on April 11 and has been going strong in theatres and multiplexes according to box office reports.

Cast : Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Anurag Sinha, Aditi Sharma.

Director : Subhash Ghai.

Plus Point : Good intent, fine performances, restrained effort.

Minus Point : Awkward romantic track, some overdone cliches.

Number of weeks : New.

BO Verdict : Heading for disaster.

Overseas – Jodha Akbar had the widest release for a Bollywood movie ever! It was released in 26 countries in about 1500 prints!

United Kingdom (UK) – Jodha Akbar released on 70 prints and grossed 57,000+ pounds on the thursday night preview alone! The opening has been earth shattering and could end up just a tad below Shahrukh Khan’s Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and Om Shanti Om for the weekend, which would mean its the third biggest opening in the UK for a Bollywood movie! Now for a histrocial, its a HUGE achievement!

Unites States (US) – The movie had the biggest release for a Bollywood movie ever and the openning is even bigger opening here.. It has reportedly grossed $374,000 on Friday! SRK’s Om Shanti Om grossed $385,000 on the first day of its release. Jodha Akbar has surpassed all expectations. Never in the widest of dreams would anyone have expected it to open so big.

The poor promotion, delay, negativity around the movie prior to its release; absolutely nothing seemed to have affected the movie. This is by far the biggest opening for a Hrithik Roshan movie overseas. In short, Jodha Akbar looks like a winner all the way, at home and overseas!