The Indian Films-Studio 18 released Singh Is Kinng took home the box-office gold internationally, emerging as the biggest Bollywood title of 2008 and the numero uno in the career of its protagonist and superstar Akshay Kumar. (Interestingly, Kumar’s all-time No.2 performer, Welcome, was also released by Studio 18 in December 2007.)

In addition to the key overseas markets, US/Canada, UK and UAE, Singh Is Kinng saw a wide day-and-date release by Studio 18 in Trinidad & Tobago, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Mauritius, Fiji, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Australia and New Zealand, among other countries.

Distributed on 275 prints in these markets, Singh Is Kinng mopped up more than INR 12 cr (approx. US$ 3 million) just in its opening weekend.

In North America, on 112 prints (including 28 in Canada - the widest release for a Bollywood film ever), Singh… popped open to a thunderous response ringing up an estimated $1.2 million.

In the UK & Ireland, on 70 prints, it grossed £62,533 on its previews and notched a solid £430,748 over the weekend, taking its cum. to a gigantic £493,281 and placing it at No.7 in the UK Top 10 chart. In terms of per theatre average for the weekend, Singh Is Kinng devoured the prevailing Hollywood blockbusters in the UK, much the same as the US, where it was ranked at No.15.

In the Middle East, on 33 prints, the gross was in excess of 2.02 million AED.

Singh Is Kinng, produced by Vipul Shah’s Blockbuster Movies, features the hit duo, Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, ably supported by Neha Dhupia, Om Puri, Kirron Kher, Sonu Sood, Javed Jaffrey and others. It features a much-hyped collaboration on the title track with legendary rapper, Snoop Doggy Dogg.

After the super success of Jab We Met, Welcome & now Singh Is Kinng, Indian Films - Studio 18 has an impressive slate of international releases in 2008, which include Sanjay Gadhvi’s Kidnap, starring Sanjay Dutt and Imraan Khan, Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal Returns featuring Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Shreyas Talpade, Celina Jaitly and Tusshar Kapoor, and Anil Kapoor Productions’ Shortkut, toplining Akshaye Khanna, Amrita Rao and Arshad Warsi.

Akshay Kumar & Snoop Doggy Dogg swapped Los Angeles for Chicago as they shot the keenly awaited video of the title song of Singh Is Kinng last week. The king of Bollywood and the king of rap got on like a house on fire and even went on a major shopping spree for the shoot, running up a ‘kingly’ bill!

Akshay succeeded in convincing Snoop to don Indian clothes and accessories in the song! The rapper graciously went beyond his contract and agreed to don a sardar look, which promises to be an absolute delight for his fans the world over.

Remarks producer Vipul A. Shah, “Snoop wants to do a Hindi movie with Akshay, as he is really keen on wooing the Indian audiences. The most interesting aspect of the song is that one gets to see two very different styles - Hip Hop with Snoop and Bhangra with Akshay. Their chemistry was worth seeing as they’re superstars from two different worlds. To say the least, the video is looking brilliant!”

Singh Is Kinng releases internationally on Thursday, August 7 by Studio 18.

The Vipul Shah-produced SINGH IS KINNG is getting bigger by the day. The latest on the film, according to industry sources, is that legendary rapper, Snoop Doggy Dogg will rap with superstar Akshay Kumar in the keenly anticipated film!

The sources add that the celebrity rapper is likely to render a verse for the song and shoot a music video with Kumar very soon that will go on air well before the release of the film on August 8.

The film’s main composer, Pritam is not connected with the song, which is being handled independently by Akshay and Vipul. The Snoopy track is likely to form a part of the film’s soundtrack, to be released by Junglee Music.

Officials close to the film will not comment now but are likely to make a formal announcement soon.

SINGH IS KINNG is an Indian Film Company-Studio 18 worldwide release.