The much-anticipated reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in 'Haiwaan' has resulted in a slow start at the box office, crossing the Rs 5 crore mark on its second day.

  • 'Haiwaan' earned Rs 2.5 crore on its second day.
  • Total two-day net collection stands at Rs 5.5 crore.
  • The film is among Akshay Kumar's lowest openers in the post-pandemic era.

The highly anticipated reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in the film 'Haiwaan' has faced a sluggish start at the box office. Following mixed reviews from both critics and audiences on its Friday release, the film earned Rs 2.5 crore on Saturday, bringing its total two-day net collection in India to Rs 5.5 crore. The domestic gross for the film currently stands at Rs 6.6 crore.

Box Office Performance Breakdown

According to industry tracker Sacnilk, 'Haiwaan' recorded an overall Hindi occupancy of 16.02% across 5,759 shows in India on Saturday. While the evening and night shows saw a slight uptick in interest, the morning shows remained largely empty. Regional performance showed Delhi-NCR recording 21% occupancy, while Mumbai registered a lower 14.3% occupancy.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the underwhelming opening of a star-studded film like 'Haiwaan' highlights a shifting trend in Indian cinema. Audiences are becoming increasingly selective, prioritizing strong narratives over mere star power, especially when faced with high-quality OTT-style content released in theaters.

The film's struggle to gain momentum suggests that the tonal inconsistencies noted by critics are impacting the theatrical turnout.

Comparing this to their previous collaboration with director Priyadarshan, the film 'Bhooth Bangla', which earned Rs 28.7 crore on its opening day, 'Haiwaan' appears to be underperforming significantly. Furthermore, the film is facing stiff competition from the devotional drama 'Hanuman Ansha' and the massive success of 'Mirzapur: The Movie', the latter of which has already amassed around Rs 245 crore.

Historical Context

In the post-pandemic era, Akshay Kumar has seen several low-performing openers. 'Haiwaan's' collection closely aligns with films like 'Sarfira' (Rs 2.50 crore), 'Selfiee' (Rs 2.55 crore), and 'Mission Raniganj' (Rs 2.80 crore), indicating a period of commercial volatility for the veteran actor.

Did You Know?: This film marks the first time Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan have shared the screen in a major production since the film 'Tashan' 18 years ago.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What is the total collection of Haiwaan after two days?
Answer: The film has earned a total net collection of Rs 5.5 crore in India over two days.

Question 2: Is the film performing well in Mumbai?
Answer: No, Mumbai registered a relatively low occupancy of 14.3% on its second day.