Bollywood may be the biggest producer of films in the world but the ratio of hits to flops in 2002 made depressing reading. In one of the worst years in the history of the local film industry, 2002 saw the release of 132 films out of which 124 failed to make an impact at the box office.

But now, Hindi film superstar Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Kaante has revived the Bollywood film industry from a dismal year which saw only one hit - Devdas, which took $8m

Kaante's estimated domestic box office gross for its first week was $3.25m . The overseas rights for Kaante were sold to Los Angeles based Film Club for $3m. Produced at the cost of $7m Kaante was released simultaneously on 20th December in India, the UK as well as in the US, Canada, Australia, Mauritius, Malaysia and Fiji.

In the US Kaante is approaching a gross of $1m to date, while in the UK it has grossed $432,000.

Bollywood's second hit in 2002 Kaante is breaking box office records across India. In Mumbai city it took $150,000 from the first three days. At Mumbai's Fame Adlabs, ticket prices have doubled from $2 to $4 -with 36 shows in three days. In Jodhpur, it set new city records at Kohinoor and Nasrani theatres on the first day. More records tumbled around the country where the film was screened to packed houses as early as 6 a.m.

Kaante was the first ever Indian film to be shot completely in Los Angeles with a Hollywood production crew. It was coproduced by Hollywood-based producer Raju Patel and Mumbai-based film production company Pritish Nandy Communications.

Billed as Bollywood's homage to Hollywood Kaante is about a group of Indians living on the periphery of Los Angeles society who are constantly harassed by cops. In retaliation, they plan the heist of a bank, which services these police officers. A mastermind criminal, Major (Amitabh Bachchan), assembles a group of six strangers to pull off a perfect crime. Kaante features a star-studded cast, including Bollywood actors Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Kumar Gaurav, Mahesh Manjrekar and singer-turned actor, Lucky Ali.