An overdose of sex and exposure in "Neal 'N' Nikki" and "Kalyug" has eclipsed the Amitabh Bachchan starrer "Ek Ajnabee" which opened to a poor response at the box office in comparison to the other two.

Concern for Bachchan's health among millions of his fans has not translated into a good opening for his film.

Commenting on the film's poor performance, Sanjay Dalia, general manager, Cineline theatres, said: "The film got a very good response at the paid previews held a day before its release. But the film has got a surprisingly dismal opening at the entire chain of Cineline theatres all over."

Dalia, however, is not surprised like other exhibitors.

He said: "It is not necessary that the emotions we witnessed in the past few days for Amitji translate into box-office collections for his film. The public always thinks before it decides to endorse a film. In this case, both 'Neal 'N' Nikki' and 'Kalyug' catered to the youth."

"In the case of 'Neal 'N' Nikki', the name of the Yash Raj banner and the film's popular music worked in its favor but the biggest factor that made the difference was the sex appeal and the exposure which was seen in the promotional campaign of the film.

"Likewise, in the case of 'Kalyug', the Vishesh films banner has the reputation of making a certain genre of films."

But "Ek Ajnabee" may just pick up in the next few days, Dalia said. "It may just pick up the way Prakash Jha's 'Apaharan' did after a lukewarm response."