Karan Johar and Guneet Monga Kapoor’s Kill is literally killing it in the Overseas circuit. In home territory, while it may end up netting Rs. 25 crore (the first week closed at Rs. 11 crore), it must be emphasised that it is going great guns in Kerala territory. Believe it or kill yourself but the number of cinemas in Kerala, in which it is being screened in the second week, has been increased almost six times — from 10 in the first to 60 now! Such a jump in the number if screens has rarely, if ever, been witnessed for any earlier film.
Talking about Overseas business, the film has grossed $1.8 million from only five key markets in the first 11 days! To put things in perspective, let us tell you that this is higher than the lifetime collections of most of the Hindi films released this year so far. Given that the film boasts of no star names whatsoever, this is an enviable feat, no doubt.
Frankly, Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment not only recovered the entire cost of the film from sale of various territories Overseas (besides other rights) but also ended up making profits before the film’s release. In a manner of speaking, the revenues from India theatrical business was only going to add to the profits from the film. Looking to the craze evinced for the film when it visited various international film festivals, Dharma did a smart thing by selling the distribution rights for various small markets in the Overseas circuit, some of which could even be considered untraditional for Hindi films.
The film is yet to be released in several more key markets abroad. Let’s see what magic the movie creates in those Overseas markets. But meanwhile, Johar and Guneet are laughing all the way to the bank even as Nikhil Nagesh Bhat’s film is making the international film trade and Overseas audience sit up and take note of an Indian genre film.