Brad Pitt's "F1" Speeds to Box Office Victory in India, Outpacing Kajol's "Maa" in Debut Weekend

Brad Pitt's high-speed racing drama, "F1", has surged into the Indian box office with a powerful debut. The film, marking Pitt's return to the action genre within the thrilling world of motorsport, has garnered an impressive Rs 15.12 crore net over its initial two days, according to early estimates from Sacnilk.

The American sports drama premiered with an estimated Rs 5.5 crore on Friday and experienced a remarkable 75% surge on Saturday, amassing Rs 9.62 crore. Notably, a significant portion of the film's earnings originated from its English version, contributing Rs 13.97 crore to the overall sum—Rs 5 crore on Day 1 and Rs 8.97 crore on Day 2. The film has also been released in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu versions.

With these figures, "F1" has eclipsed Kajol's Hindi horror-thriller, "Maa", which garnered Rs 10.30 crore in two days. Pitt's film is now leading the box office race as it heads into Sunday.

Internationally, the film is projected to make a splash, with an estimated $140 million global debut. However, this falls short of the film's substantial $200 million production budget.

Directed by Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Joseph Kosinski and written by Ehren Kruger, "F1" was created in collaboration with the FIA, the governing body of Formula 1. The film stars Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Lewis Hamilton (who also serves as co-producer), Javier Bardem, and Sarah Niles, alongside Pitt.

Adding to the excitement, Bollywood star Deepika Padukone gave Pitt a shoutout on social media. In a late-night Instagram story on Sunday, she posted, “Brad Pitt. That’s It. That’s The Post. IYKYK (If You Know You Know).” The cryptic yet enthusiastic message sparked a flurry of reactions from fans, with many speculating that the actress had watched "F1" and was impressed.

As the weekend continues, all eyes are on whether "F1" can maintain its momentum and surpass the Rs 25 crore mark by the end of Sunday.