'Rustom' ahead of 'Mohenjo Daro' in box office race

Mumbai:  Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar's latest release "Rustom" seems to have had a better start at the box office as compared to the Hrithik Roshan starrer "Mohenjo Daro". According to trade pundits, the Akshay Kumar starrer courtroom-drama is getting better reviews from the audience than the Ashutosh Gowariker-directed period-drama. "Rustom' is leading.. It is performing better than 'Mohenjo Daro'. It got decent reviews and people are liking this film more. 'Mohenjo Daro' did not seem to be appealing to the audience, while there was curiosity and hype around 'Rustom'," film distributor Rajesh Thadani told PTI. According to Thandani the opening day figures of "Rustom" can touch the Rs 12-13 crore mark and for "Mohenjo Daro" it will be around Rs 7-8 crore. "There is a holiday period ahead and it seems both the films will benefit from it. I think over the weekend 'Rustom' should do Rs 40 crore and 'Mohenjo Daro' will do Rs 20-25 crore," he added. Distributor Akshay Rathi says the average occupancy of Akshay Kumar-starrer for day one stands somewhere around 45-50 per cent, which is better than the Hrithik-Pooja Hegde's movie, which is around 35 per cent. "Number of screens for 'Mohenjo Daro' are higher than that of 'Rustom,' but the average occupancy is lower. It's like there are 100 people who want to watch both the films, but 'Mohenjo Daro' is playing at 150 screens while 'Rustom' is at 100. That way the occupancy is better for 'Rustom'." "Rustom" is based on K M Nanavati case, while "Mohenjo Daro", helmed by Gowariker, is set in the Indus Valley civilisation.