Director Sanjay Gupta's upcoming movie Mumbai Saga, slated to hit the screens on Friday (March 19), is expected to open on a good note at the box office despite the recent rise in Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra.
According to trade analyst Sumit Kadel, the day 1 (net) collection is likely to be between Rs 4.5 crore and Rs 5.75 crore.
If these estimates hold, the biggie will outperform Roohi -- the first major Hindi film to release under the 'new normal'-- with ease. The Rajkummar Rao-starrer had raked in nearly Rs 3 crore on the opening day despite receiving negative reviews. This, however, is not a big surprise as Mumbai Saga is a much bigger movie than the 'crazier sister of Stree'.
Also read: John Abraham in gangster mode to Emraan Hashmi's brave cop act: 5 key takeaways from the 'Mumbai Saga' trailer
The gangster drama is, either way, unlikely to beat or even match the opening day collection of leading man John Abraham's previous mass movies Satyameva Jayate (Rs 19 crore) and Batla House (Rs 14 crore). The general perception is that Mumbai Saga's collection would have been in the same range had it been released in pre-Covid times.
Its fate will ultimately depend on whether state governments impose more curbs in the coming days in view of the increase in Covid-19 cases in several cities.
Mumbai Saga is inspired by real-life events and highlights the clash between the underworld and the police. It has plenty of action scenes and punch dialogues, which makes it a treat for the masses. The cast includes Emraan Hashmi, Rohit Roy, Suniel Shetty and Kajal Aggarwal.
It comes at a time when the Murder actor is going through a difficult phase on the work front.
Most of his recent films have tanked at the box office and he desperately needs a hit to revive his career. It remains to be seen whether Mumbai Saga revives his career. Its fate will, either way, affect the response to his upcoming movie Chehre, which marks his first collaboration with Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan.
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