Pollywood
Box Office: Diljit Dosanjh's 'Sardaar Ji 3' Scored A Big Opening Overseas
BY SUNIT JANGIR
Mumbai, July 1 - Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh's much-anticipated horror-comedy Sardaar Ji 3 may have missed out on a domestic box office run, but it's making waves internationally following an excellent opening weekend. The film, which didn't release in India due to controversy, opened overseas on June 27 and has already delivered impressive numbers. ## Directed by Amar Hundal, Sardaar Ji 3 collected approximately ₹18.1 crore ($2.1+ million) in its first three-day weekend, as per an official update from the makers. This marks the second-biggest opening weekend for a Punjabi film ever, trailing only Jatt & Juliet 3, which also featured Diljit in the lead role. ## Breaking down the weekend earnings, the film grossed around ₹4.30 crore on Friday, followed by ₹6.75 crore on Saturday, and ₹7 crore on Sunday. North America emerged as the film's biggest market, contributing approximately ₹6.50 crore (around $760,000) to the weekend total. ## Interestingly, Sardaar Ji 3 also set a new benchmark in Pakistan, registering the highest opening ever for an Indian film in the country. The movie earned nearly ₹3.85 crore (PKR 12.75 crore / $450,000) over the weekend, surpassing the previous 3-day weekend record held by Salman Khan's Sultan, which had opened with approximately PKR 11 crore back in 2016. ## The controversy that led to the film's non-release in India stems from its casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. Her involvement sparked backlash, particularly in light of recent tensions following the Pahalgam terrorist attack involving Pakistani terrorists. Due to growing public outrage, the makers opted against a domestic theatrical release. ## With such a strong international reception, it's evident that Sardaar Ji 3 had the potential to perform exceptionally well in Indian theatres. At a time when the Punjabi film industry is reeling from a string of underwhelming releases, this film could have been a much-needed box office boost. ## Stay tuned...