This Independence Day will see three big-ticket Hindi films locking horns at the box office: Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor’s Stree 2, Akshay Kumar’s Khel Khel Mein, and John Abraham and Sharvari’s Vedaa. According to trade reports, the second installment in the Stree franchise is leading the race. Sacnilk reports that its day one advance booking figures are close to Rs 10 crore, surpassing the presales of Salman Khan’s Tiger 3 and Ranbir Kapoor’s Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva. The buzz around Vedaa and Khel Khel Mein isn’t as strong.
Interestingly, this is the third time that Akshay and John’s films will clash on August 15, following Gold-Satyameva Jayate and Mission Mangal-Batla House. According to BookMyShow, over 2,40,000 users have expressed interest in watching Stree 2, around 30,000 for Vedaa, and 38,000 for Khel Khel Mein. Will it be a stiff competition or a one-sided win at the box office this time? News18 Showsha speaks exclusively with trade experts who weigh in on which film will soar and which will falter this weekend.
Producer and film business expert Girish Johar places his bet on Stree 2. He says, “The advance booking has opened to a fantastic response. They started it earlier, giving the other two films less room to negotiate. They’re starting paid previews on the night of August 14, which not only capitalizes on the nation’s fervor but also demonstrates the makers’ confidence. They want to maximize every possible release option.”
Johar believes the chances of Stree 2 getting off to a ‘good start are very high’. “It has a lot of advantages over the others. It has franchise value, belongs to a genre that’s enjoyed by all, and boasts a fabulous trailer. The music has also done quite well. If it meets audience expectations, the day one numbers should be Rs 20-25 crore. It could be higher too,” he points out.
Trade guru Atul Mohan doesn’t view the simultaneous releases of Stree 2, Vedaa, and Khel Khel Mein as a clash. “Stree 2 will have a landslide win. It’s a one-sided situation. It almost feels like a solo film is releasing. It will attract audiences in both multiplexes and single screens. In fact, Stree 2 controls 50 percent of the multiplex screens and shows. I’m expecting it to garner Rs 25 crore on day one. I wouldn’t be surprised if it even hits Rs 30 crore,” he opines.
A Sacnilk report states that Vedaa’s advance booking is close to Rs 49 lakh and Khel Khel Mein’s nearly Rs 45 lakh, indicating both are lagging far behind the horror-comedy. Mohan feels that while Vedaa is targeting single screens, Khel Khel Mein has better chances in multiplexes. Johar adds that though Stree 2 remains the top choice, Vedaa has a ‘slightly bigger advantage’ over Akshay’s film. “Vedaa is an action film, unlike Khel Khel Mein, which is a niche comedy. So, the former may have an edge in attracting the tier-two mass audience,” he says.
Down south, two other big films are set for release this Thursday: PA Ranjith and Chiyaan Vikram’s Thangalaan (Tamil) and Puri Jagannadh’s Double iSmart (Telugu), starring Ram Pothineni and Sanjay Dutt. These actioners will release in five languages: Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. Chennai-based trade analyst Ramesh Bala believes all films will get a fair chance due to ‘a long weekend’.
Providing insight into the southern market, Bala predicts, “Thangalaan is a huge film. Stree 2 is a very popular franchise and is looking strong, as are the two Telugu releases – Double iSmart and Mr Bachchan. This year has been quiet across industries, with big-ticket films releasing mainly in the second half. This weekend will be crucial for theatre owners and distributors to gauge if these movies succeed.”
When asked about his expectations for the first day numbers of Thangalaan, Bala states, “It’s a big-budget movie that has been in production for some time. I believe it’s the most prominent among all the southern releases. The film should clock Rs 20 crore on day one across all languages in India.” But will it compete with Stree 2, Vedaa, and Khel Khel Mein in other territories? “Thangalaan doesn’t have a buzz in the Hindi belt, but you never know. If the film is exceptionally good, it may perform well here,” Mohan tells us.
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