Yash Raj Films’ Ek Tha Tiger, starring Salman Khan, has grossed $18m (Rs1bn) on its opening five-day weekend, becoming the fastest Hindi film to reach this milestone.

The film also scored the biggest opening day in Indian cinema history, racking up $6m (Rs330m) when it was released on India’s Independence Day last Wednesday (August 15). The previous record-holder was Agneepath, starring Hrithik Roshan, which was released this January.

Ek Tha Tiger’s massive 3,300-screen release should also benefit from the Eid holiday yesterday (Monday, August 20).

Directed by Kabir Khan (Kabul Express, New York), the globe-trotting action thriller stars Khan as a spy who is racing to stop the sale of top-secret missile techology to Pakistan. Katrina Kaif also stars. 

The film also grossed $4.5m (Rs250m) from overseas markets over the long weekend and has the potential to outgross the biggest Hindi film of all time, 3 Idiots starring Aamir Khan, which grossed $70m (Rs3.85bn) in 2009.