The first Wednesday of 2026 brought a clear divide at the Indian box office. While one major action spectacle continued to pull in audiences, another saw a significant drop in its earnings. The seventh day of January proved to be a stronghold for Ajay Devgn's latest offering, while Sunny Deol's film struggled to maintain momentum.
Dhurandhar Maintains Strong Hold on Day 7
Ajay Devgn's high-octane action film Dhurandhar demonstrated impressive staying power on its first Wednesday in theatres. According to early estimates, the film collected approximately ₹5.50 crore on January 7, 2026. This figure indicates a healthy trend for a big-budget film post the extended New Year holiday weekend.
The consistent performance suggests strong word-of-mouth and audience approval for the Rohit Shetty-directed entertainer. The film's total collection now stands at a robust figure, cementing its position as a commercial success in the early days of the year. The steady weekday numbers are crucial for predicting its long-term run and ultimate box office verdict.
Ikki Faces a Steep Decline
In stark contrast, Sunny Deol's much-anticipated film Ikki experienced a worrying drop in its collections. The film, which opened to a mixed response, managed to garner only around ₹1.25 crore on Wednesday, January 7. This marks a sharp decline from its opening day figures and raises questions about its sustainability in the coming weeks.
The significant dip points towards weak audience retention and potentially negative reviews impacting its performance. For a film starring an action hero of Deol's stature, such a low weekday number is a cause for concern for its distributors and producers. The focus will now be on whether the film can stabilize over the second weekend.
What These Numbers Reveal
The box office dynamics of January 7, 2026, highlight a classic tale of two trajectories. One film is leveraging its star power, director's brand, and audience reception to build a solid total. The other is facing the harsh reality of the post-holiday slump and critical reception.
The key takeaways from the day's collections are:
- Genre and Execution Matter: Dhurandhar's mass-appeal action seems to be resonating more effectively than Ikki's offering.
- Weekday Test is Crucial: The first Wednesday separates films with genuine pull from those reliant on initial hype.
- Word-of-Mouth is King: The sustained numbers for Dhurandhar suggest positive audience feedback, while Ikki's drop indicates the opposite.
All eyes will now be on the second weekend, starting from Friday, January 9. This period will be decisive for Ikki to recover some ground and for Dhurandhar to prove it has the legs for a long and profitable theatrical run. The coming days will ultimately determine which of these two action giants wins the 2026 box office battle.
