Chandni Chowk to China to have widest U.S. opening of any Bollywood film

Warner Bros. will be releasing the Indian martial arts comedy Chandni Chowk to China today in the U.S. The film will open on more than 125 screens in over 50 markets, making it the largest-ever opening of any Bollywood film in the United States and Canada. In addition, Chandni Chowk to China will also be released in 40 international markets, opening day-and-date with North America in 25 markets.

Chandni Chowk to China stars the heartthrob of Indian Cinema and current reigning king of Bollywood, Akshay Kumar. The cast also includes stunning model-turned-actress Deepika Padukone, Bollywood veteran Mithun Chakraborty, Ranvir Shorey, and cult martial arts film icon Gordon Liu (Kill Bill: Volumes One and Two). Nikhil Advani (Kal Ho Na Ho) directed the film from a screenplay by Shridhar Raghavan. The film also features stunts choreographed by veteran martial arts stunt coordinator Huen Chiu-Ku, whose credits include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Kill Bill: Vols. 1 and 2 and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

The first-ever Bollywood kung fu comedy, Chandni Chowk to China follows one man’s passage from simple cook to kung fu fighter, on a thrilling, madcap journey from the by-lanes of Chandni Chowk in Delhi, India, to the grandeur of the Great Wall of China and beyond. Akshay Kumar stars as Sidhu, a simple cook from Chandni Chowk who longs to escape his dreary existence. He sees his chance when two strangers from China claim him to be the reincarnation of a war hero from the past and entreat him to come back with them to their village in China. Dreaming of the princely existence that awaits him, Sidhu blissfully sets out for China, never suspecting that he is being set up to take on the vicious smuggler Hojo (Gordon Liu) and help his new friends reclaim their village.