'Bhooth Bangla' box office: Akshay Kumar starrer earns Rs 3.5 crore in paid previews, eyes strong Rs 15 crore opening

'Bhooth Bangla', the all new horror-comedy directed by Priyadarshan and starring Akshay Kumar in the lead, has begun its box office run on a promising note. Early box office reports indicate that the film is set to register a good start at the ticket windows this weekend, after scoring solid numbers from its paid preview shows ahead of its official release.'Bhoot Bangla' paid preview collectionsAccording to early estimates on sacnilk, the film reportedly collected an estimated Rs 3.50 to Rs 3.75 crore net from screenings across India. As per the report, these numbers have seemingly exceeded initial expectations, which had projected its earning to range between Rs 2.50 to Rs 3 crore. 'Bhoot Bangla' eyeing Rs 15 crore openingAlthough a marginal difference from the early predictions, the collections are being attributed to positive early buzz and reactions from critics, ahead of the film's release on Friday, April 17. Trade analysts note that such numbers are particularly good for a non-holiday release, especially in the horror-comedy genre. The film also recorded a healthy response in key urban areas, with good spot bookings, besides advance bookings and blocked seats.Based on current trends, 'Bhooth Bangla' is now expected to score an opening day collection exceeding Rs 15 crore net. Prior to its preview shows, the film was expected to match the collections of Akshay's 'Jolly LLB 3', estimated at around Rs 12.50 crore. 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' box office collectionThis strong opening comes around four weeks after the relaese of 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge'. The sequel to 'Dhurandhar' has an undisputed 4-week run at the domestic box office, helping it earn an estimated Rs 1,100 crore net and score a worldwide gross total of 1,7380 crore. The film that is currently in its fifth week at theatres has shown a decline in collections, thus making way for newer film releases. Trade experts are already predicting that the film's opening day numbers could climb further depending on spot bookings and good word of mouth this weekend. 'Bhoot Bangla' castThe horror-comedy also features Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Mithila Palkar and Rajesh Sharma in leading roles.See More: 'Bhooth Bangla' Movie Review and Release Live Updates: Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan reunite after 16 years with horror comedy