Despite controversies, protests and ban threats, Aamir Khan’s PK has emerged the highest grossing Hindi film ever in the domestic market — within two weeks of its release.

Multiplex companies and trade analysts say the film is closing in on the ₹300-crore mark as it enters its third week, with no big releases in the offing.

If the movie earns ₹300 crore, it will become the first one to do so.

Credited with being the fastest to hit ₹200 crore, official estimates are that the movie has earned ₹278.52 crore net since its release on December 19.

The movie is running tax-free in UP and Bihar.

PK has beaten other top grossers, including Dhoom-3 , which also starred Aamir Khan (Hindi version collections; the movie was also released in Tamil and Telugu); Kick , with Salman Khan in the lead, and Happy New Year and Chennai Express, featuring Shah Rukh Khan.

PK has also topped the domestic box office collections of 3 Idiots .

The movie was released in around 4,000 screens in India and about 880 screens abroad. It has earned ₹124 crore in overseas markets, making it the highest grossing Hindi movie in some international territories.

Ashish Saksena, COO, Big Cinemas, said: “The movie has become the biggest grosser of all times at the box office and is still going strong in its third week in terms of occupancy. It is likely to touch the ₹300 crore mark.”

Devang Sampat, Business Head – Strategy, Cinépolis India, adds: “The movie has seen very high collections even during weekdays, just as on weekends, as it coincided with the Christmas-New Year season.”

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Published on January 2, 2015