MUMBAI — Film audience has once again demonstrated that it has a mind of its own and has asserted again that they are not swayed much by the views of a few pseudo-intellectual critics on whether to watch or not to watch a commercial potboiler. This time it is Rohit Shetty's Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone starrer Chennai Express, which has opened to a mammoth response, not only in India but also overseas, starting on a record-breaking note. The first record that has been broken is for the paid previews, where Chennai Express has bettered Aamir Khan's 3 Idiots total of Rs.2.75 crores by about Rs.3.75 crores, netting Rs.6.50 crores on Thursday. Chennai Express has seen a humongous first day and is all set to shatter the 3-day weekend record of Ranbir Kapoor's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. While that was about India, King Khan has reiterated that he is still unchallenged in the overseas territory by grossing unbelievable receipts in the UK from the Thursday paid previews itself, and one can only fathom what figures Friday, Saturday and Sunday will throw up! In the Gulf CE has grossed well in excess of AED 500,000. Well, as they say in trade parlance, a good start is half the battle won, and so CE is all set to zip past the magical Rs.100 crores mark. — Agencies
