Post-pandemic, it is a rare sight to see trade experts and exhibitors all smiles and optimistic. However, the upcoming release of Pathaan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, has generated an excitement that is unprecedented. Though the advance bookings have only just opened, everyone we spoke to is certain that the movie will have a successful start on January 25.

The film is expected to earn over Rs 50 crore on its opening day, and is likely to break box office records. The hype for the film is huge, and the expectations are even higher. The film stars top actors such as Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, and Sonakshi Sinha. With such a star-studded cast and a huge budget, the film is expected to be a blockbuster.

Raj Bansal, the owner of Entertainment Paradise in Jaipur, expressed his enthusiasm, predicting that Pathaan would have "the biggest non-holiday opening ever" with a first-day collection of "Rs. 45-50 crores." He went on to say that the craze for the film had been increasing rapidly, with "each passing hour." Furthermore, he noted that the interest had not been as high the week before. If Raj Bansal's prediction is correct, Pathaan could potentially break the record set by Baahubali 2 – The Conclusion (2017) of being the biggest non-holiday opener. This would be a remarkable achievement, as Baahubali 2 collected Rs. 41 crores on its first day of release.

Trade analyst Atul Mohan predicted that Pathaan would open around Rs. 35-40 crores, while producer and film business analyst Girish Johar stated that he would be happy if the film opened at least at Rs. 35 to 38 crores on its non-holiday release date. Taran Adarsh added that due to the five-day weekend, Wednesday, January 25 would be huge, and on Thursday, January 26, the sky would be the limit for the potential success of the movie.