Bollywood booming in Pakistan

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Bollywood booming in Pakistan

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Pakistan is now one of Bollywood's top five overseas markets.

22 January,2012 10:30 am

The three Khans of Bollywood not only rule the Indian box-office, they are also the kings of Pakistan. Aamir Khans 3 Idiotscollected Rs 5 crore across the border and the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer My Name Is Khanraked in Rs 5.25 crore.The Salman Khan-starrerBodyguard outdid them both by earning Rs 6 crore. Another Shah Rukh-starrer, Don 2, meanwhile, is expected to pull in Rs 7.25 crore. In fact, some experts say Pakistan is now one of Bollywoods top five overseas markets and could soon rival the business done in Australia.The ban on Indian films was lifted in 2006, but things began really hotting up a year later. Riffat Siddiqi, a well-known distributor in Pakistan, said, From the time the market opened up in 2007, Indian films became the source for rebuilding cinema in the country. Within just four years, the entertainment business grew by 300% at the box office.Bollywood cant ignore Pakistan now as an overseas market. Trade pundits said the business pattern in Pakistan is similar to that of the Punjab territory in India.