Unsurprisingly, the Rakesh Roshan sci fi bonanza Krrish 3 took a flying start when it opened at theatres across India this morning. If early indications are anything to go by, the Hrithik-Priyanka-Kangana-Vivek starrer is all set to be a huge blockbuster at the box office.

The film which has opened to mainly positive reviews all round, is the third instalment in the franchise that began with Koi... Mil Gaya in 2003.

Deepak Sharma, COO of PVR Pictures (a chain in Mumbai), says that the film has got "great opening and it's going to be a blockbuster".

"The advance booking is as good as it was for Chennai Express and opened like that all across India. Once the holiday starts it will do amazing business. It can be in the league of Rs.200 crore. Going by morning show, it's looking good," Sharma said to IANS.

Reportedly made on a whopping budget of about Rs.100-Rs.150 crore, Krrish 3 which hit approximately 3,500 screens Friday, not only scored in the larger cities, but seems to be doing well in smaller centres like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan too.

"The pre-Diwali period is always considered dull by the industry. But a film like Krrish 3 can change the mindset," tweeted analyst Taran Adarsh.

Another trade pundit Komal Nahta posted similar opinion on the microblogging site.

"Krrish 3 opening in Bihar circuit crazy. Most cinemas report, all shows full in advance. Such madness rarely seen. And this is pre-Diwali!," posted Nahta.

R.K. Mehrotra, general manager, Delite cinemas, said that on the first day mostly children accompanied by their parents came to watch the film.

"The opening was extraordinary. It’s housefull till Wednesday. Kids were seen applauding while watching it. The special effects and action sequences are wonderful. Krrish is at par with Hollywood films,” said Mehrotra.

Krrish 3 has hit about 700 screens down south and trade analyst Trinath said Krrish did good business in Tamil Nadu when it released in 2006.

"It was an instant hit in the state, collecting approximately Rs.1.2 crore in first two weeks. It was huge for a Hindi film and it was received very well. Krrish 3 was approximately released in about 700 screens in the south," Trinath said.

"In Andhra Pradesh, since there are no Diwali releases, the film released in over 300 screens. Despite mixed reviews from critics, audiences are watching it because it's the only big theatre in cinemas this weekend," he added.

There was limited release in Tamil Nadu, but the movie’s performance is positive.

“We could manage to get nearly 60-65 screens in Tamil Nadu because most of theatres are playing Ajith Kumar’s Arrambam. Hrithik has a good market here, but unfortunately we couldn’t get more screens. But the overall response to the film has been positive since morning,” a spokesperson of Thameens Films, who released the film in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, said to IANS.

It seems that the hard work put in by the Roshans seems to have paid off despite the film being a rip off of several Hollywood superhero films. 

Have you seen the film? Do let us know what you thought of it by commenting below.  And can we also take this opportunity to wish our readers a very safe and prosperous Diwali and the very best for the upcoming year.