Veer Pahariya's rom‑com steps onto the Gandhi Jayanti slate, needing just over nine crore rupees to outpace the Malayalam original's debut.
Veer Pahariya is back on the big screen this Gandhi Jayanti, but he isn’t sharing the spotlight with a quiet release. His new rom‑com, Prem Keetanu, hits theatres the same day Ajay Devgn’s crime thriller Drishyam – The Conclusion rolls out, a heavyweight expected to pull in more than forty crore on day one.
The Hindi version of the Malayalam hit Premalu arrives with a familiar ensemble – Aparshakti Khurana, Rakesh Bedi, Aafiya Sayed and Nikhil Vijay – under the direction of Apoorv Singh Karki. While the original Malayalam picture opened modestly, netting just ninety lakh, it later enjoyed a ten‑week run thanks to word‑of‑mouth. Prem Keetanu’s makers have set a clear benchmark: cross the ninety‑one lakh mark to claim a better opening than the source material.
Given the holiday crowd, expectations tilt heavily toward Devgn’s offering. The franchise pull of Drishyam, coupled with a star‑studded lead, makes it a natural first‑choice for families flocking to cinemas. Prem Keetanu, by contrast, is banking on a youthful, relatable narrative about college mates navigating love, friendship and the inevitable heartbreaks that follow.
Industry observers note that this is the second Malayalam‑to‑Hindi remake to land on screens within a month, following the quick‑fire release of Haiwaan starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, which fizzled out in under two weeks. The pattern suggests a cautious market for such adaptations, especially when they clash with big‑budget tentpoles.
Producer Gaurav Verma, who recently launched Avanika Films after stints on titles like Darlings and Jawan, hopes the film’s comic tone and nostalgic dialogues will spark chatter on social platforms. The promotional tagline – “Jinko college main na marks mile, na ummeed, na pyar, kuch mila to sirf dost aur khoob sare heartbreaks” – aims to strike a chord with both the current student crowd and older viewers recalling their own campus days.
Box‑office analysts say that even a modest opening of around ninety‑one lakh would be a win for Prem Keetanu, given its modest budget and the steep competition. However, the real test will be the second and third days, when the initial holiday rush settles and audiences decide whether the film’s humor and heart can sustain momentum.
For now, the numbers are still a question mark. Prem Keetanu’s performance will be tracked closely, especially as Drishyam – The Conclusion’s opening figures start to roll in. If the rom‑com can carve out a niche, it may prove that smaller, story‑driven projects still have a place in a market dominated by big‑scale franchises.
Watch the box‑office tallies over the next week to see whether Veer Pahariya’s gamble pays off, or if the Gandhi Jayanti crowd simply opts for the familiar thrill of a Drishyam sequel.
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