In a turnabout, The Diplomat, starring John Abraham, has managed to secure a reasonable niche at the box office despite its poor opening performances.
Being directed by Shivam Nair, the film was primed to flop after its pre-release hype failed to create a buzz.
But word-of-mouth support from viewers has helped keep it afloat and doing surprisingly well. The box office collections of the film have been steady with Rs 19.50 crore in Week One and Rs 9.00 crore in Week Two. Week Three will add Rs 5.50 crore to its aggregate, taking the total to Rs 34.00 crore.
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These amounts hardly represent the makings of a blockbuster but are nonetheless impressive performances by what was initially downplayed as a disaster.
The surge in exhibition for The Diplomat on its fourth Friday can be partly explained due to the dismal show of Sikandar, which was unable to attract crowds.
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As there were no buyers for the latter, the exhibitors turned their attention to John Abraham's thriller, upping its number of screens and providing it with a possibility of reaching the Rs 40 crore figure within the end of its run.
Though The Diplomat has not set the box office alight, its healthy performance and good buzz have saved it from sinking in oblivion.
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This unexpected shot in the arm illustrates how reception can change the fortunes of a film even under trying circumstances.