[publication.samachar.com]

New Delhi: The Indian - Films Studio18 released Singh is Kinng took home the box office gold internationally, emerging as the biggest Bollywood film of 2008 and the numero uno in the career of its protagonist and superstar Akshay Kumar.

In addition to the key overseas markets, US/Canada, UK and UAE, Singh is Kinng saw a wide day-and-date release by Studio18 in Trinidad and Tobago, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Mauritius, Fiji, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Australia and New Zealand, among other countries.

Distributed on 275 prints in international markets, Singh is Kinng mopped up more than INR 12 cr (approx. US$ 3 million) just in its opening weekend.

In North America, on 112 prints — including 28 prints in Canada where it's the widest release for a Bollywood film ever — Singh is Kinng popped open to a thunderous response ringing up an estimated $1.2 million.

In UK and Ireland, on 70 prints, the movie grossed £62,533 on its previews and notched a solid £430,748 over the weekend. Taking its total to a gigantic £493,281 and placing it at number seven in the UK Top 10 chart.

In terms of per theatre average for the weekend, Singh is Kinng devoured the prevailing Hollywood blockbusters in the UK, much the same as the US, where it was ranked at number15.

In the Middle East, on 33 prints, the gross was in excess of 2.02 million AED.

The movie also features a much-hyped collaboration on the title track with legendary rapper, Snoop Doggy Dogg.