India, Jan. 27 -- It was in 2023 that Republic Day became a legitimate 'festive' weekend in Indian cinema's release calendar. Shah Rukh Khan returned from his hiatus with Pathaan, and Bollywood breathed again as the film broke box office records. Since then, a patriotic film has released every year on the Republic Day weekend, formalising it as a big event weekend. Till now, no film had come close to what Pathaan had managed. But Sunny Deol's Border 2 came close this year, almost threatening to knock the SRK blockbuster off its perch

Pathaan released on a Wednesday, the eve of Republic Day, giving itself a massive five-day extended weekend. The film broke new ground for Bollywood, minting Rs.280 crore net in five days, including a stagge...