Bharat: Salman Khan felt 'happiest and proudest' when audience stood up during National Anthem scene

Salman Khan has taken to Twitter to thank his fans for the overwhelming response to Bharat . However, he has added that he felt “happiest and proudest” when audiences stood up in a particular scene that had the National Anthem playing in the background.

Bharat, which released on 5 June on Eid, racked up a staggering Rs 42.30 crore on its opening day, making it Salman’s biggest opener so far in India.

Director Ali Abbas Zafar was ecstatic upon learning the opening day figures. “We always wanted to make a film for the entire country to come and celebrate the spirit of Eid and the first day only validates our intent and effort to make a film that India can be truly entertained by,” he said in a statement.

Describing Bharat as a true blue Hindi film, he added, “It is humbling to be showered this kind of love by audiences. I have tried to present Salman Khan in a totally new light and as a totally new hero with Bharat and I’m ecstatic that audiences have liked our attempt to make Bharat a thoroughly entertaining joyride, that also has its soul in the right place.”

Check out Salman Khan’s tweet here

Big thk u sabko fr giving sabse bada opening mere career ka par what made me the happiest & proudest is ki during a scene in my film jab national anthem is recited ev1 stood up as a mark of respect. There could be no bigger respect for our country than this... Jai Hind🙏 #Bharat

— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) June 6, 2019

Most shows were house full through the day, and according to some sources, the film opened with a whopping 65 percent theatre occupancy in early morning shows. Despite the numbers, the film has received unfavourable reviews from critics.

Bharat has been directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, produced by Atul Agnihotri’s Reel Life Production Pvt Ltd and Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series. The film also stars Disha Patani and Jackie Shroff in pivotal roles.