Salman Khan starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which is being called Little Lolita Monkey God Uncle in China, is turning out to be a blockbuster in the country, having amassed over Rs 150 crore in the country since its release.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan released in India more than two years back, but it was only on March 2 that Chinese audience got a chance to watch the movie. This is Salman Khan’s first movie to release in the country, where Aamir Khan is already an established superstar.
“Eros International and Salman Khan Film’s ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ has an outstanding second Saturday in China, collecting $3.35 million. Running Total: $23.11 million (Rs 150.70 crore),” a statement issued by the makers read.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan has also become the first Salman movie to enter the Rs 200 crore club in overseas markets.
The Kabir Khan directed movie revolves around the attempts of a Hindu man, played by Salman, to reunite a young dumb-mute Pakistani girl with her parents.
Some religious and political outfits had initially objected to the film’s title, but Salman was sure his role would win over critics.
“It’s a positive title; it’s the most positive title ever,” he told The Hindu. “No religious group will object because how can anyone, particularly someone who is devout, object to the positivity expressed in this film’s title? All religious groups teach their disciples to respect other faiths. Each one is a path to God. Look around you — don’t you see how secular we are? People in skull caps dance at Ganpati Visarjans, Hindus visit Dargahs to pray for Mannats.”
The film’s director Kabir also defended the title saying Hanuman does not belong to one single community.
“I wanted Bajrangi to stand for what he is—the most fun god,” Khan told Indian Express. “I was not going to let the right-wingers appropriate Lord Hanuman as their own. Hanuman doesn’t belong to only one community. Bajrangi is a symbol of our ethos. And the way the audience has taken to the film, it proves that he belongs to entire India.”
The film also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Harshaali Malhotra and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in lead roles.
