with 325 prints sold before release. The director duo held a special screening of the film two days prior to its release for the senior brass of the Mumbai Police, to fulfill a promise made earlier in order to prove that no objectionable content appeared in the film, as could have been projected. Certified U (suitable for all age groups) by the Central Board of Film Certification, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke opened to a wide audience and emerged a commercial success and one of the highest-grossing films of 2001. Still, despite a strong opening, the film gradually lost public interest; it eventually grossed against its budget, with additional $1.4 million earned overseas, leaving its worldwide gross in 2001 at . Box Office India concluded the film's final commercial performance with the verdict "semi hit". Reception Critics praised the uniqueness of the film for dealing with the rarely touched subject of surrogacy, but disliked the execution. Preity Zinta's performance in what was seen as an unconventional role was especially noted by a number of critics, with particular praise for her portrayal of the gradual change her character goes through over the course of the story. Film critic Sukanya Verma, who was left with "mixed emotions" after seeing the film, noted Zinta's role as "the meatiest part of all", finding her transformation throughout the film "amazingly believable". Padmaraj Nair of Screen called Zinta the film's "real scene-stealer" for having delivered "a stunning performance". Vinayak Chakravorty of Hindustan Times hailed Zinta's "admirable zest" as the "trumpcard of the film". Dinesh Raheja of India Today credited Zinta with giving the film "its electric charge". Likewise, Nikhat Kazmi of The Times of India noted Zinta for keeping "the adrenalin gushing" and wrote of "riveting moments" where she "shows flashes of a fine performance". Ziya Us Salam of The Hindu, though similarly fond of Zinta for putting "life into her character of Madhubala", found the actress less convincing in "mouthing the inanities used by the women of the street". M. Shamim, writing for the same publication, believed Zinta had "put her body and soul into the streetwalker's flaming-red dress". The duo of Salman Khan and Rani Mukerji faced some criticism from Sukanya Verma, who lamented their underdeveloped roles. She considered Mukerji to be "handicapped with a role that doesn't give her much scope besides weeping and sobbing" and stated that Khan's performance lacked substance. Raheja described