With less than a fortnight to go before Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan starrer Thugs Of Hindostan hits screens, trade is abuzz with speculation that the Vijay Krishna Acharya-directed film may rake in the highest opening figure for a Bollywood film to date. Word in the trade circles is that the Diwali offering may cross the Rs 50-crore mark on the first day. The action-adventure film is expected to benefit the most from its cast - the movie sees Bachchan and Khan unite on the big screen for the first time.

Trade pundit Amod Mehra says, "The combination of the two biggest stars makes it one of the most anticipated films of the year. Also, Yash Raj Films [the studio backing it] is strategically releasing the film on the second day of Diwali as the shows witness a drop [in footfalls] due to Laxmi Puja on the first day. It is also getting a wide release of about 4,500-plus screens. The film will easily have an R50-crore-plus opening."