My Name Is Khan is a hit in the UK and other counties

MINK1, originally uploaded by bookmyshow.

My Name Is Khan has kicked up a new frenzy in the UK where he is no less than a king among film goers, upon the release of the film there. In Australia the February 11 preview collections for the film were ranked at #11. In the Gulf countries the movie fared 50 per cent better opening collections than other competing releases. Middle East countries have an established fan base for King Khan. In Egypt, Syria, Oman and Lebanon, where also the film was released, the response was phenomenal.

My Name Is Khan sets new US box-office record

IMG_1023, originally uploaded by SpreePiX - Berlin.

Photo: Berlinale/Cinema for Peace. The photo shows Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol waving to fans during the Berlin International Films Festivals. The tickets for My Name Is Khan were sold out in five seconds flat in Berlin and each ticket was auctioned of at the rate of Euro 1000 or more on e-Bay.

My Name is Khan (MNIK), starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, overshot film industry trade analysts’ expectations in North America by becoming the biggest grossing Bollywood film ever in terms of the first week collections. The film, opened on February 12, has in its first weekend made US$1.94 million in three days surpassing a record set in 2007 by Om Shanti Om, another film with SRK as the lead actor. Fox Star Studios, the overseas distributor of MNIK, released it in 121 theatres in USA and Canada. Also MNIK earned $2,275,000 in four days crossing the $2 million mark faster than any other Indian movie in North America, beating the record of the Aamir Khan-starrer Three Idiots that grossed $2,149,227 over five days.

“We had sold-out shows during the weekend in a lot of theatres. There has been a buzz about MNIK - it has scored reviews in LA Times and CBS News which is unprecedented for an Indian movie,” said a rep of Reliance’s Big Cinemas which operates 181 screens in the US.

My Name Is Khan bags Rs 25 crores on opening day

Berlin International Film Festival 2010, originally uploaded by ραωαη ~.

At the Berlin International Film Festival: (L-R) Actor Shah Rukh Khan, actress Kajol and director Karan Johar attend the 'My Name Is Khan' Photocall during day two of the 60th Berlin International Film Festival at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on February 12, 2010 in Berlin, Germany.

IANS reported from New Delhi on Feb 14 that the 'My Name Is Khan', Bollywood's favourite onscreen couple Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol's first film together after eight years, has raked in around Rs.250 million (about US$5.3 million) across the globe on the opening day. Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox Star Studios India that distributes the film in India, said, “We are delighted with the performance and audience reactions across demographics. More so, because this is only phase one of the film release… In addition to the release across 45 countries, MNIK will be rolled out in a phased manner across 25 non-traditional markets from April onwards.”

In New Zealand the opening day collection for the film was about $9727. In the Middle East the movie is already 50 per cent higher than any other previous film in Bollywood with the earning estimated at $300,000. For paid previews ‘My Name Is Khan’ earned about $193,000 from 89 sites in Britain which is the highest for a single-day preview there. In Australia, on Thursday, paid previews collected around $34,000, ranking number 11.

Fox, the distributor, says the film will be released in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Oman and Lebanon in the coming week.

SRK and Kajol in My Name Is Khan

my-name-is-khan-7s, originally uploaded by VrajesH JanI.

My Name Is Khan, starring Shahrukh Khan and Kajol in the lead roles and directed by Karan Johar, is opening in Mumbai this Friday. Produced by Hiroo Yash Johar and Gauri Khan, the film is being distributed by Hollywood’s Fox Searchlight Pictures that purchased the distribution rights in India and worldwide for Rs 100 crores. With reports of rampage by Shiv Sena against the 63 theatres in Mumbai where the films are being released, the stakes are very high for both SRK and Karan Johar who are liable for the distribution as, generally Mumbai accounts for about 40 per cent of the collection.

The film is noted for the coming together of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in the lead roles after many years. Tanay Chheda, who portrays Shah Rukh Khan's character as a child, is internationally recognizable as he portrayed the "middle Jamal" in Slumdog Millionaire that won eight Oscars last year. Also, American actor Christopher B. Duncan, who portrays President Barack Obama, is known for his interpretation of Obama on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The film was shot in India and the United States.

Before the current trouble in Maharashtra, SRK already had some trouble in connection with the film on 14 August 2009 as he arrived in USA to promote My Name Is Khan and to participate in other events around the country including Indian Independence Day, at Newark Airport in New Jersey, he was pulled aside by Immigration Officers after his name popped up on their computers. He was questioned for over an hour -- Khan claims it was at least two hours -- about the purpose of his visit, and he was later released.

The present trouble relates to Shah Rukh Khan’s on his criticism of the fact that players of the Pakistani Cricket Team were not bought by the clubs that took part in the 2010 Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions of cricketers. On this, he was condemned by Shiv Sena, following which there have been protests and demonstrations against him and the party demanded that cinemas in India should refuse to screen My Name Is Khan. Shiv Sena also demanded that Khan (who owns the Cricket team ‘Kolkata Knight Riders’) apologise for his comments, but he said, "I have no idea what I am supposed to apologise for…” On Tuesday January 10, 2010 when theatres opened for advanced bookings there were attacks by alleged Shiv Sena cadres on theatres and booking centers in Mumbai.

My Name Is Khan - SRK and Kajol

my-name-is-khan-kajol-shahrukh-stills-4, originally uploaded by 143 to you.