'Life of Pi' Gives Fox Unit Its Second-Highest Opening Weekend in India

NEW DELHI – Ang Lee's Life of Pi collected $3.5 million (Rupees 195 million) at the Indian box office during its opening weekend, drawing the second-best opening weekend ever for a unit of News Corp.'s Fox here.

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It stars Indian actors Irrfan Khan and Tabu.

The film, which was also dubbed in Hindi and regional languages, became the second highest opening weekend grosser for distributor Fox Star Studios India behind Avatar, which grossed Rupees 220 million during its opening weekend.

So far, the highest opening weekend ever by a Hollywood film in India has been recorded by this summer's The Amazing Spiderman, which grossed $6.2 million (Rupees 340 million). That film was released by Sony Pictures India. The studio's latest release, Skyfall, set the second highest opening weekend gross for a Hollywood release in India, collecting about $5.1 million (Rupees 275 million).

Life of Pi premiered at the ongoing International Film Festival of India held in Goa ahead of its theatrical release here on Nov. 23.

“The film has resonated quite well with Indian audiences and we are adding more screens given the strong opening,” said Fox Star Studios India managing director Vijay Singh.