Salman Khan pinned Aamir Khan to the mat, as Dangal wrestled to reach the box-office number the similar-themed Sultan clocked on first Friday.
Dangal that released on Friday for the Christmas crowd and Salman Khan's Id blockbuster Sultan have pahalwani (wrestling) as the theme. Though Dangal released amid anxiousness, it couldn't break the record of Sultan, which collected Rs 28,27,523 on its first day in Patna. Aamir's film collected Rs 26,54,897.
However, Salman doesn't believe in numbers and has credited Dangal to be better than his Sultan.
Salman tweeted on Friday: "My Family saw #Dangal today evening and thought it was a much better film than #Sultan. Love u personally Aamir but hate u professionally !"
Dangal was slotted 32 shows, eight lesser than Sultan in Regent Fun Cinemas, Cinepolis, Mona, Elphinstone and Sushil Plaza.
The film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, in which Aamir essays the role of a wrestler, Mahavir Singh Phogat, received good opening in single theatres.
Theatre owners believe Dangal will bring good business but have serious doubts whether it will be able to beat Sultan - the biggest grosser of 2016.
After watching the film on the first day, BJP parliamentarian Shatrughan Sinha termed it to be Aamir's best so far and demanded that the film be made tax-free.
Sinha tweeted: "Saw the beautiful, thought provoking & most deserving award winner movie Dangal. Must watch. Brilliant performance by the girls & Amir Khan. Dangal - film deserves tax exemption. Will inspire younger generation. All time best performance by dear Amir Khan. Beautiful & patriotic."?
Sinha also tweeted: "Dangal left audiences, including my family spellbound. Speaks volumes about Women's empowerment & in support of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao."?
Dangal has done extremely well compared to Aamir's last PK, which had collected Rs 23,78,350 on the day of release.
"There is magic in Aamir's acting but in terms of business Salman still rules the theatres. People will enjoy watching Aamir's film after a gap of two years and all shows will be houseful," said Suman Kumar Sinha, the chairman-cum-managing director of Regent Theatre Pvt Ltd.
