Response to Alia Bhatt-starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi STUNS exhibitors; Mumbai multiplex holds a show at 1:00 am due to TREMENDOUS demand

The Alia Bhatt-starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, was released yesterday and has opened to a fine response. The word of mouth is quite positive and even the collections have been very encouraging. Despite the pandemic restrictions, the opening has gone beyond Raazi (2018), which also starred Alia Bhatt and which opened at Rs. 7.53 crore.

However, the trade and even the makers were not prepared for the fact that cinema halls will be compelled to hold shows post-midnight! The demand for the film was so huge at Maxus Cinemas, Borivali, Mumbai that the management decided to play a show at 1:00 am! Early morning shows, at 6:00 am, 7:00 and 8:00 am were also held in this theatre to keep up with the demand.

A source from the exhibition sector said, “We all knew that Gangubai Kathiawadi would attract audiences but we didn’t expect such kind of response. Mumbai, moreover, is operating at 50% occupancy. As a result, shows were sold out in no time. Hence, Maxus Cinemas, Borivali, must have decided to organize a show at 1:00 am and then also from 6:00 am onwards. Their last show on Friday was at 11:55 pm and it was house full. Interestingly, many viewers came to see the Alia Bhatt-starrer for the 1:00 am show too, which is why the same show is also scheduled on Sunday, February 27. Since there’s no night curfew in many places of Maharashtra, exhibitors are taking advantage and why not if viewers have no qualms.”

Today, Maxus Cinemas, Borivali is running 20 shows of Gangubai Kathiawadi. Maxus Cinemas, Bhayander, meanwhile is running 26 shows of Gangubai Kathiawadi in a day with the earliest show at 7:00 am. The source continued, “Many cinemas have increased the shows of Gangubai Kathiawadi. The shows of Valimai – The Power version have been replaced as the response to the Ajith starrer in Hindi is not encouraging. Nevertheless, Maxus Cinemas, Borivali is the only cinema to have shows as late as 1:00 am. We won’t be surprised if a few other cinema halls might follow suit as the demand for the film is tremendous at present.”

Bollywood Hungama had reported in November 2021 that several cinema halls also held post-midnight shows of the Akshay Kumar-starrer Sooryavanshi. The Rohit Shetty actioner was played not just at 1:00 am, but even at 2:00 and 4:00 am. A month later, Spider-Man: No Way Home’s shows were similarly played throughout the day.

The source stated, “Both Sooryavanshi and Spider-Man: No Way Home were big films. Hence, we were surprised with these late night and early morning shows but not that much. We never expected that something of this sort would happen for Gangubai Kathiawadi. It proves that Alia Bhatt is one of the biggest or arguably the biggest female star at present.”

Also Read: Karan Johar shares his “unbiased” review of Gangubai Kathiawadi; says, “Alia Bhatt, what are you?”

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