Bhoot Bangla Opens Average at Box Office; Dhurandhar 2 Holds Strong While Dacoit, Project Hail Mary Struggle

Mumbai, India — April 18, 2026

The Indian box office saw a mixed performance on Friday, April 17, as new releases and holdover titles competed for audience attention. Actor Akshay Kumar’s latest release Bhoot Bangla opened with a moderate response, while Dhurandhar 2 continued its strong theatrical run even after a month.

Meanwhile, films like Dacoit and the Hollywood release Project Hail Mary showed declining momentum at the domestic box office.

🎬 Bhoot Bangla Opening Day Collection

Directed by Priyadarshan, Bhoot Bangla recorded an opening day collection of ₹12.25 crore on Friday. The film had already earned ₹3.50 crore through paid previews on Thursday, taking its total India net collection to ₹15.75 crore.

Despite achieving a double-digit opening, the performance is being classified as average considering its reported budget of approximately ₹120 crore. Industry benchmarks suggest that a film needs to collect at least 20% of its budget on opening day for a strong start.

All eyes are now on the weekend performance, which will be crucial in determining the film’s long-term trajectory.

🎥 Dacoit Sees Decline in Week 2

Starring Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur, Dacoit, which released on April 10, is witnessing a gradual decline in collections.

• Thursday collection: ₹1.40 crore
• Friday (Day 8): ₹1.02 crore

The film’s total India net collection now stands at ₹29.47 crore, indicating an average box office run so far.

🌍 Project Hail Mary Slows Down in India

The Hollywood sci-fi film Project Hail Mary continues its downward trend in India.

• Thursday collection: ₹1.26 crore
• Friday (Day 23): ₹0.94 crore

The film has accumulated a total India net collection of ₹60.88 crore, with earnings now dropping into the sub-₹1 crore range.

🏆 Dhurandhar 2 Remains Unstoppable

Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar 2 continues to dominate the box office even after nearly a month in theaters.

• Thursday (Day 29): ₹3.40 crore
• Friday (Day 30): ₹2.70 crore

The film’s total India net collection has reached a massive ₹1105.84 crore, cementing its status as a blockbuster.

📊 Box Office Overview

Friday’s box office trends highlight a clear divide:

• Dhurandhar 2 maintains exceptional momentum
• Bhoot Bangla delivers an average opening
• Dacoit continues a steady but modest run
• Project Hail Mary is nearing the end of its theatrical cycle

The upcoming weekend will play a decisive role, especially for Bhoot Bangla, as it looks to gain traction and improve its overall performance.