Indian Film Company's Hindi film Ghajini has earned more than $40m (Rs1.94bn) in less than two weeks.
Ghajini has grossed $33m (Rs1.62bn) in domestic markets and its gross collections in overseas markets (distributed by Big Pictures) stands at $8m (Rs390m) since it released worldwide between December 25 and 26.
Directed by A R Murugadoss and produced by Madhu Mantena and Tagore Madhu, the film explores the life of a rich businessman who suffers from short-term memory loss following a violent incident. It stars Aamir Khan and Asin.
Starring Aamir Khan and Asin, Ghajini was released with 1,200 prints in the domestic market and in 300 cinemas in overseas markets.
On those figures, a sustained run would mean that Ghajini looks likely to topple the $9m (Rs440m) overseas record of Karan Johar's 2001 Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, and the $35m (Rs1.7bn) domestic record of Anil Sharma's Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, which was also released in 2001.
However Ghajini's domestic performance will be helped by the explosion in Indian multiplexes over the past five years, which has seen them go from almost non-existent to the current total of 222.
Rajesh Sawhney, president, Reliance BIG Entertainment Ltd, said: 'The biggest hit in 2008 in overseas markets was Ghajini. We expect to gross a minimum $10m from overseas collections.'
Priti Shahani, senior vice president, Indian Films said, 'There were four contributing factors to the film's success - lead actor Aamir Khan and his brand equity; the action genre; the date of release which was timed with the Christmas holidays; and the marketing, promotion and distribution of the film.'
Ghajini is the biggest film yet for Indian Films which has previously distributed Singh is Kinng, Golmaal Returns and Kidnap.
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