'This is the magic of Aamir sir. He is popular'

Months after his low-budget Diwali release set box-office cash registers ringing, debutante director Advait Chandan is aware that chatter around Secret Superstar is still growing louder. With the film having released in 73 cinema halls in Taiwan on Friday - a record for a Bollywood project in the Chinese-speaking territory - Chandan rests all the credit on the shoulders of actor-producer Aamir Khan. "He is expanding the market for the films that are being made in India," says Chandan.

Aamir Khan

His drama garnered a decent Rs 56 lakh in 18 theatres of the capital city of Taipei, which isn't far behind the Rs 67 lakh that Khan's Dangal (2016) earned over its opening weekend there. "This is the magic of Aamir sir. He is popular [globally]. His overseas audience is growing with every film. He is a torchbearer of Indian cinema in the eastern province." The actor, says Chandan, is enabling the world to notice that Bollywood is increasingly delivering soul-stirring content. "The doors have opened for our films."

Advait Chandan

Chandan dismisses discussion around the movie's earnings ahead of its release in Chinese cities, where Khan enjoys abundant attention. "I don't understand numbers, but, I hope people love the film. They connected with [Khan-starrers] 3 Idiots (2009) and Dangal. I want the same reception for my film too." Secret Superstar is set to release in Russia next month, and has hit screens across UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Pakistan.

Rs 56 lakh
Approx earnings of Secret Superstar in Taiwan in 3 days

Rs 67 lakh
Approx earnings of Dangal in Taiwan in 3 days