varun Dhawan's eagerly awaited action thriller, Baby john, helmed by Kalees and produced by Atlee, premiered in theaters today, december 25. Despite the festive christmas launch and considerable financial backing, the film has had difficulty making a significant impact with advance sales, having sold only 126,446 tickets and grossing Rs 5 crore by morning on its release day.
The film is scheduled for 9,916 screenings across India, yet it managed to earn merely Rs 3.52 crore on its opening day—a disappointing outcome for such a high-profile movie.
Compounding its challenges, Baby john is up against stiff competition from Sukumar’s hit, pushpa 2: The Rule, which has dominated the box office, pulling in over Rs 1,560 crore within just 19 days. Another hurdle for the film is Mufasa, which has already been attracting viewers and continues to be a strong presence in the industry.
Barry Jenkins' film featuring Shah Rukh Khan, aryan Khan, and ABram Khan's voiceover has proven to be a success in India, accumulating over Rs 53 crore in five days.
For varun Dhawan, Baby john represents a significant risk, as his recent releases, including Bhediya and Bawaal, were not successful. His last major box office success was Jugjugg Jeeyo in 2022, and fans are hopeful that this film will herald his return to form.
The cast also includes Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Rajpal Yadav, and Jackie Shroff, with production being handled by Murad Khetani, priya Atlee, and jio Studios. Directed by Atlee, who achieved great success with the blockbuster Jawan, the movie carries high expectations.
While initial forecasts indicated an opening in the range of Rs 12-15 crore, and possibly reaching Rs 18 crore if small cities perform well, the film's success will depend on audience reception and consistent collections in the days ahead. Only time will reveal whether Baby john can turn around its tepid start and emerge as a box-office success.
click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel