Om Shanti Om' Outroars 'Lions for Lambs' Overseas

Bollywood stole the spotlight from Tom Cruise's "Lions for Lambs" at the international box office over the weekend, with a pair of socko launches for Shah Rukh Khan's "Om Shanti Om" and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Saawariya."

"Lions for Lambs" launched with a $10.3 million take from 2,681 playdates in 45 foreign markets -- but that number was easily topped by "Om Shanti Om" and "Saawariya," both of which bowed in India taking advantage of the Diwali holiday.

Eros Intl.'s "Om Shanti Om," a tribute to the 1970s era in Bollywood, took in roughly $17 million in India while Sony's musical-romance "Saawariya" finished with $14.4 million at 754.

"Om Shanti Om" also took in $1.5 million at 114 the United States while "Saawariya" generated $600,000 in the U.S., $340,000 in the U.K. and $100,000 in Australia.

The stunning numbers for both pics comes two months after Sony pacted with Eros -- the leading Indian movie group -- for a multipicture production and distribution deal that encompasses six to eight movies in the first year of the agreement (Daily Variety, Sept. 19).

Dave McNary, Variety.com