Akshay Kumar’s latest film Gold released today and is already garnering a whole lot of love from critics as well as fans. The Reema Kagti-directed film opened in approximately 3050 screens while its collection so far has been reported to be around 50-55 per cent.

Set in 1948, Gold casts Akshay as a hockey team’s manager Tapan Das, wherein he dreams of winning a gold medal at the Olympics for India as a free nation. Apart from Gold, John Abraham’s Satyameva Jayate also released on August 15 across 2500 screens in the country. Early reports suggest that its occupancy is around 40-45 per cent –similar to that of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ambitious project Padmaavat.

Meanwhile, Raj Bansal, a distributor from Jaipur said that the Gold vs Satyameva Jayate clash is benefitting both films. “If the films are good, the clash does not matter. In the case of these two films which are filled with patriotic spirit, I see the first day to be a total of Rs 36 crore. Akshay Kumar’s Gold will cross the Rs 22 crore mark and John’s Satymeva Jayate will be probably Rs 16 crore,” Bansal said.

When asked about the reason behind the decent opening, Bansal added, “It is good content and good publicity that has garnered such numbers for both the films. I had released Ghayal and that same week, Aamir Khan’s Dil was also there but both were superhits. Lagaan and Gadar too were examples of big clashes. Clashes affect the business if the content is bad. Consider Raees and Kaabil -  the numbers they made at the box office were not impressive.’’

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In Satyameva Jayate, John  plays a vigilante, who fights against corruption and social injustice. Manoj Bajpayee, Amruta Khanvilkar and Aisha Sharma co-star in the film.

Speculation is rife that the total opening day collections of both the films will create a record at the box office. Trade analyst Atul Mohan claims that the total business of the two films will touch Rs 40 crore on the opening day. “Both are neck to neck. There isn’t much of a difference in the screen count of the two films. Satyameva Jayate has mass-centric appeal and Gold is definitely a class film and high on a patriotic quotient. So there is something for every strata of the society.  It is after a long time that the clash at the box office will benefit both the films,” Mohan added.

Exhibitor and trade expert Akshaye Rathi said that there are housefull boards outside cinema halls which is a great sign. “Satyameva Jayate will do a business of Rs 15 crore and Gold, having a bit of higher ticket pricing and shows, is sure to cross Rs 20 crore,” he said.

“There is a high chance that this could be John’s (solo) highest opener. The business of this film might earn on day one, more than the lifetime of Milap Zaveri’s previous films. It is possibly one of the highest for an Excel film. It is possibly one of the highest for an Akshay Kumar film.  The mood at the box office is phenomenal. The August 15 effect and reasonably positive reports for both the films makes it look like a good extended week as there are about three more national holidays round the corner. This will benefit both the films. Each of the holidays will see that spike in the business of the two films,” Rathi added.