A New Contender for Christmas Box Office
Over the years, Christmas has been a prime release period in Bollywood, often dominated by big-name stars, especially the Khans. This holiday season has typically been synonymous with Aamir Khan’s blockbuster releases. However, with Sitaare Zameen Par postponed, the stage has been set for Varun Dhawan’s Baby John to make its mark. The film’s unexpected entry into the festive slot brings a fresh dynamic to the box office race.
The Team Behind Baby John
Baby John, directed by Kalees and produced by Atlee, showcases Varun Dhawan in the intense role of a fierce father. The film also features Wamiqa Gabbi, Keerthy Suresh, and Jackie Shroff in pivotal roles, adding star power to the cast. With just a few days remaining for its release, the film’s advance booking figures suggest a modest start. So far, 44,782 tickets have been sold, signaling an uphill battle for the film at the box office.
Advance Booking Insights
Industry tracker Sacnilk reports that Baby John has generated Rs 1.32 crore gross through advance ticket sales. Including blocked seats, the total advance booking collection stands at Rs 2.05 crore. The film is scheduled to run across 6,150 shows nationwide, with Gujarat hosting the highest number of screenings at 1,256. Maharashtra follows with 1,148 shows, while Delhi has listed 833 screenings so far.
Regional Performance Analysis
Advance booking data highlights that Delhi has contributed approximately Rs 33.11 lakh, making it the top-performing region. Mumbai comes next with a collection of Rs 24.33 lakh. Despite these figures, the overall advance booking numbers are not as strong as anticipated. With less than stellar pre-release traction, the film’s opening day performance will depend heavily on word-of-mouth and same-day ticket sales.
Varun Dhawan on the Christmas Release
Speaking at a recent press event in Mumbai, Varun Dhawan emphasized the importance of strong production support for a film like Baby John. He remarked, “In today’s scenario, releasing a film requires robust backing, especially given the dominance of larger-than-life projects.” Highlighting the challenges, he added, “Securing a Christmas release date was a struggle, as this slot has historically been Aamir sir’s domain. We’re grateful he allowed us this opportunity.” With these words, Varun expressed his hopes for the film’s success during this crucial festive period.
Top Advance Booking Post-Pandemic at India Hindi Box Office
1.Jawan: 50 Crores nett for weekend and 30 Crore nett for opening day
2.KGF 2: 43.5 Crores for weekend
3.Pathaan: 42.5 Crores for weekend and 27.12 Crore for opening day
4.Anima: 40 Crore for weekend and 24 Crore for opening day
5.Tiger 3: 18.85 Crore nett For Day 1 (25.55 Crore for Day 1 and Day 2)
6.Gadar 2: 29.9 Crores for weekend and 14.95 Crore for opening day
7.Stree 2: 14.6 Crore
8.Dunki: 25 Crore for opening weekend and 14 Crore for opening day
9.Brahmastra: 24.7 Crore for weekend and 12 Crore for opening day
10.Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3: 14.5 Crore
Final Advances in Tickets Sold at National Multiplexes
- Baahubali 2: 650,000 tickets
- Jawan: 557,000 tickets
- Pathaan: 556,000 tickets
- KGF 2: 515,000 tickets
- Animal: 425,000 tickets
- War: 410,000 tickets
- Stree 2: 375,000 tickets for opening day and 120,000 for paid previews
- Thugs of Hindustan: 346,000 tickets
- Prem Ratan Dhan Payo: 340,000 tickets
- Tiger 3: 310,000 tickets