Bharat Director Ali Abbas Zafar On The Bumper Opening, 'Have Tried To Present Salman Khan As A Totally New Hero With Bharat'

Salman Khan has had the best Eid this year as his film Bharat which released in theatres on the auspicious festival became his highest opener ever. Released on a Wednesday, Bharat also stars Katrina Kaif and will enjoy a long weekend as it is expected to enjoy a great run going by the opening numbers.

Prior to Bharat, Sultan was his highest Eid opener which was also directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and earned 36 crores on day one. If we put Salman’s Eid releases aside his high opener has been Prem Ratan Dhan Payo which earned 40 crores on day one. Bharat has been both these films and has become the second highest Bollywood opener of all time after Thugs of Hindostan.

Salman took to Twitter to thank his fans for the big box office opening for Bharat and wrote, "Big thk u sabko fr giving sabse bada opening mere career ka par what made me the happiest & proudest is ki during a scene in my film jab national anthem is recited ev1 stood up as a mark of respect. There could be no bigger respect for our country than this... Jai Hind #Bharat "

 On the bumper opening of the film the director of the film Ali Abbas Zafar said, “We always wanted to make a film for the entire country to come and celebrate the spirit of Eid and the first day only validates our intent and effort to make a film that India can be truly entertained by.”

If we talk about Ali then he is the youngest director to boast of two back to back 300 crore blockbusters( Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai, both starring Salman). This is his third collaboration with Salman Khan and it is well on its way to becoming a blockbuster soon. The director has also managed to break Salman’s macho avatar with Bharat and has received a thunderous response for it too.

On the praises being showered on the film the director said, “It is humbling to be showered this kind of love by audiences. I have tried to present Salman Khan in a totally new light and as a totally new hero with Bharat and I’m ecstatic that audiences have liked our attempt to make Bharat a thoroughly entertaining joyride that also has its soul in the right place.”

For Hindi film industry that’s been battling Hollywood to put up big opening and lifetime numbers, Bharat’s opening is a huge result for the homegrown industry. Ali says, “Bharat is a true blue Hindi film that we all love to see and enjoy with our friends and families and it gives me immense joy seeing the lovely reactions of people in our theatres.”