The Meghna Gulzar‑directed thriller earned just over five crore in its first three days, marking the weakest debut for Kareena Kapoor Khan in a decade and a half.
Daayra wrapped its first three days at the box‑office with a net of just over five crore rupees, a figure that places the film at the very bottom of Kareena Kapoor Khan’s opening‑weekend history.
On Friday the movie opened to a modest one‑point‑one‑five crore, nudging up to two‑point‑three crore on Sunday. The cumulative total after three days sits at about five‑point‑six‑three crore net across India. Those numbers are modest even by mid‑range standards, let alone for a star‑driven investigative thriller.
Box‑office numbers in context
When you line up Kareena’s releases over the last fifteen years, Daayra’s debut is eclipsed only by the 2017 mystery The Buckingham Murders, which managed six‑point‑seven‑five crore in its opening weekend. All other titles, from Jab We Met to Malaal, cleared the five‑crore mark on day one. In the past decade alone, the actress has consistently opened above six crore, making this dip all the more stark.
Industry watchers point to a crowded release window as a key factor. The film landed alongside two other high‑profile dramas and a big‑budget action sequel, splitting the Friday‑Saturday‑Sunday crowd. Also, early buzz suggested that the crime‑thriller’s pacing might appeal more to niche audiences than to the mass market that usually fuels Kareena’s box‑office runs.
Critics have praised the investigative angle and the chemistry between Kareena and Prithviraj Sukumaran, but those accolades haven’t translated into ticket sales. Social media chatter indicates that the promotional push felt muted compared with previous campaigns, and the trailer’s release only a week before the premiere left little room for word‑of‑mouth buildup.
The next few days will be crucial. If the film can pull in a steady stream of viewers from the capital and tier‑two cities, it could still cross the ten‑crore mark before the weekend ends. However, the current trajectory suggests that it may finish its theatrical run well below the expectations set by Kareena’s recent blockbusters.
For now, Daayra is a reminder that star power alone doesn’t guarantee a blockbuster, especially when the market is saturated and audience tastes shift. The film’s fate will likely be decided by its performance in the second weekend and any potential boost from television or streaming rights.
The industry will be watching closely to see whether the modest start forces distributors to rethink release strategies for mid‑budget thrillers starring top‑tier talent.
Be the first to comment
Join the argument. No password, just your email or a passkey.