Advance bookings for Ustaad Bhagat Singh in the United States have started on a slower note. The film stars Pawan Kalyan and is directed by Harish Shankar.
The current booking trend in the USA indicates that the film is tracking below Hari Hara Veera Mallu in premiere advance sales, which has surprised trade observers.
Huge Overseas Expectations After OG
Pawan Kalyan’s previous overseas performance with OG set very high expectations. The film recorded $3.14 million in premiere collections in North America, becoming one of the biggest Indian film premieres in the region.
Because Ustaad Bhagat Singh marks the reunion of Pawan Kalyan and Harish Shankar after the blockbuster Gabbar Singh, many expected the film to open with strong advance bookings overseas.
USA Premiere Bookings: Current Trend
Advance bookings for Ustaad Bhagat Singh opened a few days ago in the USA. With six days left for release, the film has collected around $160K in premiere advance bookings.
At the same stage during its sales window, Hari Hara Veera Mallu had already crossed $200K in premiere bookings.
Later, Hari Hara Veera Mallu went on to register around $800K in premiere collections.
Promotional Content Yet to Boost Momentum
Industry observers believe the promotional content released so far has not fully matched the massive anticipation surrounding the project.
Given Pawan Kalyan’s strong overseas market, trade analysts initially predicted that Ustaad Bhagat Singh could aim for around $1.5 million in premiere collections.
However, based on the current trend, even crossing the $1 million premiere mark may require a major jump in bookings over the coming days.
Trailer Release Could Change the Trend
The official trailer of Ustaad Bhagat Singh will release on March 14. Trade circles believe the trailer response could significantly boost advance bookings, especially in overseas markets where Pawan Kalyan enjoys a massive fan base.
The next few days will be crucial in determining how strongly the film opens at the box office.