"I have tried to present Salman Khan as a totally new hero" - Ali Abbas Zafar on the huge opening of Bharat "I have tried to present Salman Khan as a totally new hero" - Ali Abbas Zafar on the huge opening of Bharat Salman Khan and Ali Abbas Zafar are the biggest actor-director combination of today. After delivering two back to back blockbusters with Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai, the duo have collaborated again seeking a hattrick of blockbusters with Bharat. The film which also starred Katrina Kaif, released on the national holiday of Eid and became the highest opener ever of Salman Khan and also of Ali Abbas Zafar as it recorded a humongous Rs 42.30 crore on day 1. A hugely ecstatic Ali says, “We always wanted to make a film for the entire country to come and celebrate the spirit of Eid and the first day only validates our intent and effort to make a film that India can be truly entertained by.” Ali is the youngest director to boast of two back to back 300 crore blockbusters (Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai) to his credit. Only Rajkumar Hirani also has two 300 crore plus films (Sanju and PK) to his credit. Ali dared to present India’s favourite bhai in a different avatar that the muscle-flexing, gun-totting avatar that he is loved for and looks like audiences have given two big thumbs up for his vision. He says, “It is humbling to be showered this kind of love by audiences. I have tried to present Salman Khan in a totally new light and as a totally new hero with Bharat and I’m ecstatic that audiences have liked our attempt to make Bharat a thoroughly entertaining joyride that also has its soul in the right place.” For Hindi film industry that’s been battling Hollywood to put up big opening and lifetime numbers, Bharat’s opening is a huge result for the homegrown industry. Ali says, “Bharat is a true blue Hindi film that we all love to see and enjoy with our friends and families and it gives me immense joy seeing the lovely reactions of people in our theatres.” Also Read: Bharat Box Office Collections Day 1 – The Salman Khan-Ali Abbas Zafar-Katrina Kaif film defies all predictions, takes a very huge opening on Eid http://bit.ly/2MuNEBz