By INVC News Desk | Updated: April 12, 2025 | New Delhi
As the weekend rush looms, Indian cinemas find themselves grappling with a common dilemma — declining footfalls. Despite the buzz and star power, Friday’s box office performance across major releases failed to meet expectations. Sunny Deol’s Jaat, Ajith Kumar’s Good Bad Ugly, and Salman Khan’s Sikandar have all witnessed varying degrees of slowdown in earnings, triggering concerns among trade analysts and distributors alike.
Sunny Deol’s ‘Jaat’ Slows Down After Decent Start
Riding on the legacy of his high-octane performances, Sunny Deol’s Jaat opened to a respectable ₹9.5 crore on Day 1. However, the momentum took a hit on Friday as collections dipped to ₹7 crore, bringing the film’s two-day total to ₹16.5 crore.
Directed by Deepak Sharma and produced on a budget of ₹100 crore, Jaat attempts to recreate the magic of the old-school masala entertainer with punchy dialogues and rustic action. But with the Gadar 2 benchmark looming large, Jaat may require a strong Saturday-Sunday surge to sustain its theatrical run.
🎯 Expert Take: “The opening wasn’t bad, but the content is being labelled as ‘dated’ by urban audiences,” said Mumbai-based trade analyst Rohit Nanda.
Ajith Kumar’s ‘Good Bad Ugly’ Sees Sharp Drop on Day 2
South superstar Ajith Kumar’s bilingual action-thriller Good Bad Ugly had a thunderous opening, raking in ₹28.5 crore on Day 1. But the second day’s collection plunged to ₹13.5 crore, marking a significant decline. With a total of ₹42.75 crore so far, the ₹190 crore mega-budget film now faces the test of consistency.
Ajith’s flamboyant avatar, stylised action, and pan-India appeal had built sky-high expectations. But as the numbers flatten, the onus now lies on the weekend push — especially in Tamil Nadu and Telangana circuits.
🧮 Box Office Math: With satellite and OTT rights already sold at a premium, the producers might still break even — but theatrical success remains crucial for prestige.
Salman Khan’s ‘Sikandar’ Dips Below Expectations
Touted as one of the most anticipated releases of the year, Sikandar had opened at ₹26 crore. But the action-drama has failed to sustain viewer interest. On its 13th day — Friday — the film earned a mere ₹35 lakh, taking its total domestic collection to ₹108.15 crore.
With a massive budget of ₹200 crore, this underperformance puts Sikandar in a tight spot. Both critics and audiences have cited lack of originality, inconsistent screenplay, and fatigue with formula-driven narratives as reasons for the film’s fading momentum.
❗️“Salman fatigue is real. Sikandar needed more than swag,” tweeted entertainment columnist Priya Desai.
🎟️ The Big Picture: What Do These Numbers Say About Bollywood’s Current Mood?
The tepid performance of these marquee films suggests a larger trend — the Indian audience is becoming increasingly selective. While star power still matters, content and relatability now take precedence. A big name on the poster no longer guarantees big returns at the box office.
