Akshay Kumar and Veer Pahariya’s Sky Force takes a confident start of Rs 18 lakh in advance booking

Akshay Kumar is all set to return to the big screen with Sky Force, directed by Sandeep Kewlani and Abhishek Anil Kapur, and produced by Dinesh Vijan. This time, he is joined by newcomer Veer Pahariya. The film, slated for release on January 24th, is strategically positioned to take advantage of the Republic Day weekend.

Sky Force is based on India’s retaliatory attack on the Pakistani airbase in Sargodha during the Indo-Pak war of 1965. On September 6th, 1965, Pakistani forces launched an assault on Indian airbases at Pathankot and Halwara. In response, Indian pilots carried out a daring attack on Sargodha the very next day, inflicting significant damage on one of Asia's most fortified airbases. This mission holds a special place in history as it marked the only instance where the Indian Air Force posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra to a fighter pilot.

Veer Pahariya plays the pivotal role of Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya, who was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his bravery and sacrifice in saving the lives of his team members. The film also features Nimrat Kaur and Sara Ali Khan in key roles.

The film's advance bookings have shown a promising start. Within a few hours, tickets worth Rs 18 lakhs were sold for the first day, with over 9,600 tickets booked. Including tickets sold through block bookings, the total collection jumps to ₹40 lakhs. States like Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Gujarat are leading in ticket sales.

Given the huge investment in the film, the film require to have a long run at the box office, trade experts are expecting the film to earn about Rs 7-Rs 8 crore on its first day.