The Christmas holiday spirit has translated into a box office bonanza for one film while leaving another out in the cold. Aditya Dhar's spy thriller 'Dhurandhar', starring Ranveer Singh, is scripting history with an unstoppable run even in its fourth week. In stark contrast, the newly released romantic comedy 'Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri', featuring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday, is finding it difficult to attract audiences amidst the dominant hold of the action spectacle.
'Dhurandhar' Maintains Grip, Christmas Sees Massive Surge
The festive period of Christmas proved to be a major boost for 'Dhurandhar'. On its Day 21, which coincided with the holiday on Thursday, the film witnessed a tremendous spike in theatre attendance. It earned an impressive Rs. 26 crore, marking a substantial jump from its Wednesday collection of Rs. 18 crore. This phenomenal day pushed its total domestic net collection to a monumental Rs. 633.50 crore.
The film's dominance continued into Day 22 (Friday). Despite facing competition from last week's Hollywood giant 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' and the new Bollywood release, 'Dhurandhar' remained the first choice for moviegoers, particularly in mass markets and multiplexes. Early afternoon figures for Day 22 showed collections of Rs. 1.32 crore, taking the cumulative total to a staggering Rs. 634.82 crore.
New Rom-Com 'Tu Meri Main Tera' Faces Uphill Battle
Released on December 25, 'Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri' opened to early estimates of Rs. 7.50 crore on its first day, as per reports. While the film has received generally decent reviews from critics, it has faced criticism for its songs 'Saat Samundar Paar' and 'Sajanji Ghar Aye'. Its primary challenge, however, has been severe competition for screens. In major urban centres, the film was overshadowed by the continuing shows of 'Dhurandhar' and 'Avatar 3', leading to limited screen allocations.
Compounding its problems was the lack of strong advance bookings, which reportedly failed to cross the Rs. 1 crore mark before release. The film now desperately needs positive word-of-mouth from viewers to salvage its prospects over the crucial weekend. The early signs on Day 2 (Friday) were not encouraging, with afternoon collections at a mere Rs. 0.27 crore, bringing its two-day total to just Rs. 7.52 crore.
A Tale of Two Box Office Performances
The contrasting fortunes of these two films highlight the current audience preference and market dynamics. 'Dhurandhar's' day-wise collections tell the story of a blockbuster:
- Week 1: Rs. 207.25 Cr
- Week 2: Rs. 253.25 Cr
- Week 3: Rs. 173 Cr
- Total (Till Day 22 afternoon): Rs. 634.82 Cr
On the other hand, 'Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri' has had a tepid start, with its fate hanging in the balance as it heads into its first Saturday and Sunday. The film's performance underscores the immense challenge new releases face when going up against an established, record-breaking juggernaut like 'Dhurandhar'. The spy thriller's ability to draw crowds even in its fourth week, during a competitive holiday season, cements its status as one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.
