Mirzapur The Movie Box Office Day 8: Pankaj Tripathi film to surpass Dhamaal 4, earns Rs 226 cr
Source Entity
The Indian Express
The Priyadarshan-directed thriller 'Haiwaan', starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, has opened to a modest Rs 3 crore in India. Despite the star power, the film faces stiff competition from the breakout hit 'Hanuman Ansh', which continues to dominate the box office.
A Lukewarm Start for Haiwaan
The Hindi film Haiwaan, a crime thriller directed by the veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan and featuring prominent stars Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, has experienced a challenging debut at the domestic box office. Despite its high-profile cast and the director's reputation for commercial success, the film opened to a net collection of approximately Rs 3 crore across India. While some initial reports cited varying figures, data from the trade tracker Sacnilk confirms a domestic net of Rs 3 crore, complemented by Rs 1 crore from overseas, bringing its worldwide gross to Rs 4.60 crore.
Comparing Performance to Historical Benchmarks
This opening performance places Haiwaan among the lower-tier starters for Akshay Kumar in the post-pandemic era. The actor, who has historically been a reliable box office draw, has seen a recent string of modest openers, including Sarfira (Rs 2.50 crore), Selfiee (Rs 2.55 crore), and Mission Raniganj (Rs 2.80 crore). With 7,224 shows allocated on its opening day, the film's inability to capitalize on its wide release suggests a significant gap between the expected star-driven momentum and actual audience turnout.
The Shadow of Hanuman Ansh
Further complicating the debut of Haiwaan is the continued dominance of the spiritual drama Hanuman Ansh. Directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, the film has defied industry expectations, maintaining strong momentum even into its 36th day of release. While Haiwaan struggled to gain traction, Hanuman Ansh earned Rs 10.5 crore on the same Friday, showcasing a 5% growth from its previous day's collection. With a total domestic gross of Rs 205.15 crore, Hanuman Ansh has become an unlikely blockbuster, proving that content-driven narratives can overshadow traditional star-led vehicles.
The Impact of Market Dynamics
Industry analysts note that Haiwaan, a remake of the Malayalam film Oppam, faced a difficult climate. With 7,224 shows available, the film's low occupancy rate reflects a tepid audience response. In contrast, Hanuman Ansh achieved an occupancy rate of 38% across 5,743 shows, demonstrating higher efficiency per screen. This contrast highlights a shifting trend in Indian cinema where established star power is no longer a guaranteed metric for immediate box office success.
Future Trends and Implications
Looking ahead, the performance of Haiwaan will likely serve as a case study for the industry regarding the viability of star-heavy remakes in a post-COVID landscape. The success of Hanuman Ansh, which has returned over 100 times its budget, underscores a growing appetite for distinct, narrative-focused cinema. For major stars like Kumar and Khan, the performance of Haiwaan necessitates a re-evaluation of script selection and release strategy to regain the commercial dominance they once enjoyed in the pre-pandemic market.
Multiple Citing Sources