Inside the Box: Shehzada’s Fall from Grace

Directed by Rohit Dhawan and starring Kartik Aaryan (who also co-produced the film) and Kriti Sanon, Shehzada is a Hindi-language action film released on February 17. The Times of India reported that the film collected Rs 1.50 crore in advance bookings, which is lower than the expectation considering Aaryan’s impressive fan base. Despite producers implementing a 'buy one, get one free’ scheme for tickets, the reception was muted, reported Hindustan Times. According to Box Office India, the movie collected approximately Rs 5.75 crore on its opening day, and Rs 6.50 crore on the day after that. 

Shehzada is a remake of the Telugu language film Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020), directed by Trivikram Srinivas and starring Allu Arjun and Pooja Hegde. Box Office India reported that the film earned approximately Rs 173 crore in Andhra Pradesh, and Rs 27 crore in the rest of the country. The film became the sixth from south India and the first without a Hindi version to collect Rs 200 crore domestically.

Aaryan’s last theatrical release, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, made Rs 55.96 crore over its opening weekend, reported Bollywood Hungama. His next, Satyaprem Ki Katha, is expected to release in June 2023. 

The other release last week was Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, directed by Peyton Reed, which earned Rs 8.50 crore on its first day and Rs 9 crore on its second, according to Bollywood Hungama. The last Marvel release was Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), and Box Office India reported that the film earned approximately Rs 11.75 crore on its opening day, and Rs 13.75 crore on its second and third days.