Residents leave Regent after a screening of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Rain flooded the city but movie buffs did not mind stepping out to catch the most-awaited film of the year — Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.

The Ranbir-Deepika starrer hit the screens with the biggest opening in Patna since Dabangg 2 in January.

It broke all records of the high and the mighty of Bollywood, including Salman “Dabangg” Khan. Opening with 23 shows in the city, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani made Rs 7.2 lakh on Friday.

As the rain continued to wash the streets, fans poured in at the cinemas armed with umbrellas and wrapped in raincoats. When they left, they were full of smiles — director Ayan Mukerji had given them all the masala the residents had expected of his second flick. Mukerji made his directorial debut with Wake up Sid in 2009. The cinema management too had excitement, and success, writ large on their faces.

With 13 shows in Cinepolis and five shows each in Regent and Mona, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani broke the first-day records registered by heavy-hitters Dabangg2 (Rs 6.9 lakh), Ek Tha Tiger (Rs 5.2 lakh), Bodyguard (Rs 4.9 lakh) and Agneepath (Rs 5.1 lakh).

In the past one-and-a-half months, several films released in Patna but none did too well commercially with the exception of Aashiqui 2, which crossed Rs 4.5 lakh on its first day.

The high collection of this Friday’s release was also because of the hike in the Cinepolis ticket prices. Against the earlier Rs 220, the ticket rate has gone up to Rs 250 this time. But the cinegoers were not complaining.

Saurabh Vyas, a resident of Jaipur in Patna for work, went to Cinepolis to catch the film. He said: “The film reminds me about the value of friendship and togetherness. It is entertaining and worth Rs 250. I did not find it boring at any point.”

Regent owner Suman Kumar Sinha commended the leading man.

“Ranbir Kapoor is the combination of Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor. He has got the glamour of Dev Anand sahab, innocence of Raj Kapoor sahab and acting skill of Dilip sahab. It is a superb commercial film and every theatre owner will cash in on it. It reminds me of the business I did with Hum Aapke Hai Koun…! and Baghban.”