'Slumdog' grosses ten times production cost; rakes in 800 cr

Economically, Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is going places where few Bollywood-connect movies ever dreamt of going. With an incredible BO retun, the profits are hitting the sky. Having already raked in more than ten times its production cost, the film is a goldmine! It is likely to hit the 170-million-pound mark in world-wide ticket sales, which is nearly 20 times the amount it cost to make, following the Oscar sweep, it has been predicted.

While foreign and subtitled films often struggle to make any inroads in American film market, the critically acclaimed film about an 18-year-old slum boy from rags to riches is expected to break records at the box office after its first nationwide release.

Slumdog opened in the US last November in just ten cinemas, but the Oscar sweep has caught the public's imagination and it will now get full nationwide release in the world's most lucrative film market.

The flick has already grossed over USD 163 million (about Rs 800 crore) – more than ten times the money that went into the making of the film.

Industry experts expect the movie to roar ahead on the box office with as many as eight Academy Awards in its kitty.

Made with a budget of USD 15 million (less than Rs 75 crore) by UK's ‘Film4’ and ‘Celador Films’ with a predominantly Indian cast and crew, the movie's worldwide business has exceeded USD 163 million through yesterday, it was reported on a website.

Among the movies currently running in US cinema halls, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is the fourth biggest grosser.

Best Motion Picture of the year has earned about USD 98 million in the US, while about USD 65 million have come from the other markets, Variety report said, adding that the box office observers believe it heading towards USD 200 million globally.

It is estimated to have done a business of about Rs 30 crore in India. The Delhi government declared tax-free status for the movie.