The first week of 2026 at the Indian box office is painting a clear picture of winners and strugglers. The fourth day of the year, Saturday, January 4, 2026, saw a continuation of the trends established since the films' releases. While one major action spectacle held its ground firmly, another new release continued to face an uphill battle for audience attention.
Dhurandhar Maintains a Steady March
The Ajay Devgn-led action entertainer Dhurandhar has proven its mettle by showing strong legs at the ticket windows. On its first Saturday, which was January 4, the film managed to pull in a commendable sum. According to early estimates, Dhurandhar collected approximately Rs 7.50 crore nett in India. This performance comes after a solid opening day, indicating positive word-of-mouth and steady audience interest.
This collection is crucial as it represents the first major weekend day for the film. The fact that it held well and saw an increase from its weekday numbers suggests that the film is connecting with its target audience. The total collection for Dhurandhar now stands at an estimated Rs 28.50 crore nett in India after just four days of release. This positions the film for a healthy first-week total, provided it maintains its momentum through Sunday.
Ikki Faces a Tough Challenge
On the other end of the spectrum lies the new release Ikki, which has found it difficult to attract crowds to theatres. The film, which also released recently, recorded a meager collection on Saturday, January 4. Early trade reports indicate that Ikki earned only around Rs 25 lakhs nett across India on its fourth day.
This extremely low figure highlights the film's struggle for visibility and audience acceptance. The cumulative total for Ikki now stands at a paltry Rs 1.25 crore nett, painting a grim picture for its theatrical run. The lack of buzz and major star power seems to have severely impacted its box office prospects right from the outset.
Analysis of the Box Office Divide
The stark contrast between the performances of Dhurandhar and Ikki underscores several key factors driving success in today's cinema market. Star power, genre appeal, and marketing scale play decisive roles. Ajay Devgn's consistent draw as an action hero and the film's high-octane presentation have worked in Dhurandhar's favor, allowing it to command screen space and audience share.
Conversely, Ikki's low-key release and absence of a major promotional campaign have left it adrift in a competitive landscape. The film's collection of just Rs 25 lakhs on a Saturday, traditionally one of the best days for business, signals a near-total disconnect with the paying public. This scenario often leads to a rapid reduction in shows and screens by the second week.
The first weekend of January 2026 has thus set a clear hierarchy. While Dhurandhar is leveraging its strengths to build a respectable total, Ikki's journey appears to be nearing a premature end. The coming week will be critical for Dhurandhar to see how well it sustains after the initial weekend rush. For the Indian box office, the trend reaffirms the audience's preference for large-scale, star-driven spectacles, especially during the holiday season window.
