Shah Rukh Khan's spy film 'Pathaan' sees bumper Bollywood opening despite protests

The success of 'Pathaan', where Shah Rukh Khan plays a spy fighting a militant outfit, is crucial for the Indian film industry that has seen a spate of high-profile flops since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Photo: Reuters

Shah Rukh Khan's Hindi spy thriller opened to packed movie theatres in India on Jan 25 in one of Bollywood's top openings on record, despite protests from some religious groups over scenes they deemed obscene.

The success of Pathaan, where Khan plays a spy fighting a militant outfit, is crucial for the Indian film industry that has seen a spate of high-profile flops since the Covid-19 pandemic began, as Netflix and Amazon have provided varied, and much cheaper, content at home.