My Name is Khan turns out to be a Box Office Monster

Makes Rs 250 million in one day

It was a case of unity triumphing over controversy, as fans from Maharashtra braved threats from the Shiv Sena and flocked to theaters on the very first day of My Name is Khan's release.

Moviegoers across the country made sure they dropped all plans to watch the new Shahrukh Khan flick - My Name is Khan, which is directed by Karan Johar grossed an astounding Rs 250 million on the opening day alone, breaking all kinds of box office records. The worldwide gross of $5.5 million is among the highest ever recorded for a Bollywood film.

The film is only expected to rake in more moolah over the next two months as it expands to more international markets. Next week Bollywood fans in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Oman and Lebanon get to watch the movie. In the US, 'My Name is Khan' distributed by Fox Searchlight and by 20th Century Fox International in other countries across the globe. The film grossed $9,727 in New Zealand and made 50 percent more money than any other Bollywood film in the Middle East. In the UK, MNIK scored $193,000 in just paid previews, which is another opening day record. However the film opened at the 11th spot all time stats in Australia.

"We are delighted with the performance and audience reactions across demographics. More so, because this is only phase one of the film release," Vsaid ijay Singh, CEO of Fox Star Studios India, the Indian distributors of the film, "In addition to the release across 45 countries, My Name is Khan will be rolled out in a phased manner across 25 non-traditional markets from April onwards."

Star Shahrukh Khan is ecstatic with the film's numbers, and is happy that the Shiv Sena could do little to damage the flick. "Power to u all and pray for our film and me. give our team strength to see us through this...let the love flow. hit us hard with it!!" he wrote on his Twitter account. "I am humbled by this show of love & kindness. So don't know what else to say. Overwhelmed & promise will make India proud with my hard work. I realise today...I am just a film hero...You all in the theatres are the real deal. God, feel so loved & humbled. Hats off to all heroes." he added. Have YOU watched My Name is Khan yet?

Shah Rukh Khan's TMI tweet

Shah Rukh Khan appears a lot more relaxed now that his film 'My Name Is Khan' (MNIK) is on a smooth run across the country.

It is showing to packed houses and reportedly raked in Rs 25 crore on its opening day.

Khan's happiness is evident from this recent sequence of his tweets, one of which seems to go 'two' far up between his legs!

found a lil stone in the garden of my house shaped like a heart. daughter has decided to paint it red & give it to me.daughters r beautiful.

son has learnt to catch me unawares by kicking me in the crotch.thinks its fun !! need to protect my manhood. sons r crotching tigers.

thanx again...am glad most of u liked the film. makes me very happy and relaxed.

MNIK sets new box office record in US and Canada

Shahrukh Khan starrer 'My Name Is Khan' has turned out to be the largest weekend grosser Bollywood film ever in North America, recording an estimated $1.86 million in the US and Canada.

The movie, directed by Karan Johar $15,500 from 120 theatres across the US and Canada.

The Fox Searchlight movie opened on Friday with $444,000 and rose 65 per cent to $734,000 on Saturday.

It is estimated to dip seven per cent to $682,000 today, celebrated across the world as Valentine's Day.

Monday's 'Presidents' Day' holiday in the US will lead to a four-day debit of more than $2 million, the firm handling promotion and advertising of the film claimed.

'My Name Is Khan' also generated the highest per-theatre average of any film in the Top 20 over the weekend.

The previous record was held by Shahrukh's musical extravaganza 'Om Shanti Om', which grossed $1.76 million from 114 theatres over Diwali weekend in 2007.

The American mainstream media is all praise for the movie which received rave reviews.

"This is a movie not built for subtlety, but it does tackle a subject American movies have mostly avoided -- that of racial profiling and the plight of Muslim-Americans.

It also allows Shah Rukh Khan to display his talent to an even wider audience. It's well worth the 162-minute journey," The Hollywood Reporter, an American trade publication of the entertainment industry, said in its review.

My Name Is Khan a smash hit in Karachi, Pakistan

Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘My Name Is Khan’ is turning out to be a hit big with the moviegoers in this Pakistani city with the film running to packed houses.

“Normally the 3 and 6 o’clock shows have reasonable attendance and the late night show is packed, but this time we have been witnessing a full house for all three shows which is remarkable,” Nadeem Mandviwalla, owner of Nishat cinema, said.

The movie was released on February 12 in two main cinema theatres and also at the only multiplex which is screening it on two halls with four daily shows to cope with the rush.

“The fact that the Shiv Sena made such a big issue of Shah Rukh Khan’s statement about Pakistani cricketers has also added to the interest in the movie,” Mandviwalla said.

It is also the first major Shah Rukh Khan movie to be released in Pakistan since the government allowed screening of Indian movies in cinema halls two years back.

“In the last two years this is the first proper Shah Rukh Khan starrer that has been released in Pakistan,” another cinema manager said.

Long lines and rows of cars can be seen parked on the busy M. Jinnah road outside the two big cinema halls that are screening ‘My Name Is Khan’, causing trouble for the traffic police who are finding it difficult to cope with the rush.

“Both cinema halls have limited parking space and the people coming to watch the movie are parking their vehicles outside on the main road and that is causing problems since this road is usually congested and has heavy traffic,” traffic police sergeant, Inamullah said.

“Definitely ‘My Name Is Khan’ has generated lot of interest in Pakistan and also contributed significantly to the cultural and arts scene, but overall I think the release of Indian movies is good for us as it means people have some entertainment to look forward too,” art critic, Muneeba said.

Famous television actor and writer, Talat Hussain, said that despite recent bomb blasts in Karachi, the people were still willing to come to cinema halls and theatres to watch movies and dramas.

“It is a good sign and it shows the never say die attitude of our people, and also that our cultural scene is vibrant despite the security issues,” Hussain said.

My Name Is Khan receives positive reviews from US media

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'My Name Is Khan', which hit as many as 119 theaters in the US and Canada has received some great reviews from American mainstream media.

"At its best 'My Name Is Khan,' set mainly in America, is an affecting fairy tale about the perils of goodness," said The New York Times in its review of the movie.

"Khan' is one of a handful of Hindi films ('New York,' 'Kurbaan') about Indians living in a paranoid, post-9/11 America, and there's something fascinating about looking at this country through a Bollywood lens, even when the story is a kind of fairy tale," the daily said.

"Skillfully directed by Karan Johar and with an evocative score by Shankar, Ehsaan & Loy, 'Khan' jerks tears with ease, while teaching lessons about Islam and tolerance," The New York Times added.

One of the most noted film magazines in US, Variety, in its review, said, "This riotously overstuffed and enormously enjoyable drama races forward with incredible drive."

Terming MNIK as "a sweeping epic in the melodramatic Bollywood manner", The Los Angeles Times said the movie emerges as a potent, engaging and timely entertainment.

'My Name Is Khan' is a potent, energetic heart-tugger and Khan and Kajol, major Bollywood stars, are highly appealing and equal to the demand of their emotion-charged roles," the daily said in its review of the movie.

Karan Johar to tour multiplexes

Director Karan Johar, who returns here Sunday from Berlin, plans to visit multiplexes here to see the audience response to his film My Name Is Khan.

"Karan Johar will go to Fun Republic in Andheri West at 2.45 p.m. and then he will visit Cinemax," said a source close to Johar.

He was in Berlin with his lead actors Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol for the red carpet premiere of My Name is Khan at the Berlinale Palast.

The film got into trouble when Shiv Sena launched a protest against it after Shah Rukh Khan's pro-Pakistan stance and tried to disrupt the screening in Mumbai and other parts of the country as well.

But Shah Rukh fans gave the thumbs down to the Shiv Sena by thronging cinema halls across India Friday to see My Name is Khan.