History in the making Salman Khan starrer Dabangg roared at the box office as it opened to a first day net collection of a whopping 14.40 crores - the highest till date at the box office.

As per official sources the film has created a record for earning the figure of 48 crores, which is a whopping 6 crores more than 3 Idiots which collected 41 Crores in the opening weekend.

The pulp entertainer directed by Abhinav Kashyup starring Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha has set a new benchmark –rightly predicted by trade insiders.

Says renowned trade analyst and critic Taran Adarsh "Salman fans, rejoice! You walk in DABANGG with 100% expectations and you exit with 200% gratification. Entertainment guaranteed. This film will create a pandemonium of sorts, a mass hysteria, crushing old records and setting new benchmarks at the box-office"

The festive season and inimitable star power of the lead actor had audiences queuing outside cinema halls the country over and grossed 15.75 crores on the second day at the box office.

Confirms veteran trade analyst Amod Mehra "Yes, Dabangg has surpassed the opening collections of 3Idiots"

While the movie opened to almost 97 percent occupancy at single screen theatres it ran into packed houses in several multiplexes across the country proving yet again that Salman Khan is the darling of the masses.

Dabangg has also surpassed Salman's previous film records in the Gulf, US, UK (£332, 673), North America ($628, 317), North America – ($628, 317 )and with 14 prints, it grossed 80, 000 dollars in Australia on Friday alone making Dabangg Salman's biggest hit overseas.

"Salman has bounced back with renewed vigour. He has proved, with Dabangg, that he has so much to offer to his fans and viewers of Hindi cinema. His star power is the biggest USP of Dabangg. It's the prime reason why Dabangg is shattering previous records and setting new records and benchmarks. He was the darling of the masses and continues to remain the unstoppable force with Dabangg."adds Taran Adarsh.

Breaking all records and bringing back mainstream "masala" cinema and how ! Dabangg released September worldwide Sept 10, 2010.