In a startling turn of events, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal's much-anticipated Christmas release, Vrusshabha, has crashed at the box office on its opening day. The fantasy action film has recorded an embarrassingly low collection, failing to even cross the Rs 1 crore mark and registering what is arguably the actor's weakest opening in years.
Disastrous Opening Day Numbers
According to data from industry tracker Sacnilk, Vrusshabha managed to earn a paltry Rs 61 lakhs net in India on its first day. Early trade estimates for the gross collection are only slightly better, pegging the figure at around Rs 70 lakhs. This is a shockingly low number for a major Mohanlal film releasing on a holiday weekend.
The film was released in three languages – Malayalam, Hindi, and Telugu – in a bid to capture a pan-Indian audience. However, this strategy failed miserably. The Hindi version contributed a negligible Rs 2 lakhs, while the Telugu version added approximately Rs 13 lakhs. The bulk of the earnings, Rs 46 lakhs, came from its home market in Kerala, which itself fell short of the Rs 50 lakh mark.
Mohanlal's Worst Opening in Recent Memory
The Day 1 collection of Vrusshabha stands in stark contrast to Mohanlal's other releases in 2025. The veteran actor had a stellar year with films like L2: Empuraan (Rs 24.5 crore opening), Thudarum (Rs 5.25 crore), and Hridayapoorvam (Rs 3.25 crore). Even his recent box office failures opened to significantly higher numbers.
Vrusshabha's opening is lower than the disastrous Barroz 3D (Rs 3.45 crore), which Mohanlal himself directed last December. It also trails behind other underperformers like Big Brother (Rs 1.8 crore), Monster (Rs 1.8 crore), and Aaraattu (Rs 3.62 crore). The only film it manages to surpass is the 2023 mystery thriller Alone, which opened at Rs 45 lakhs.
Critical Pan and Future Prospects
The trade disappointment is compounded by poor critical reception. The film has been widely panned by reviewers, who have criticised its archaic storytelling and failure to engage audiences, even on a spoof level. This lack of positive word-of-mouth casts a dark shadow over its prospects for the crucial opening weekend.
All eyes are now on whether Vrusshabha can witness any recovery over Saturday and Sunday, or if it will continue its downward spiral at the ticket windows. The film's performance is a major setback for Mohanlal, who was hoping to end a remarkably successful year on a high note.
