Dulquer Salmaan’s much-anticipated pan-Indian magnum opus, Kaantha, is struggling to pass the crucial weekday test after a fiery opening weekend. The period action-drama witnessed a significant drop in its box office collection on its first Wednesday, Day 6, casting doubts on its long-term theatrical performance.
According to early estimates, Kaantha‘s box office collection on day 6 was approximately ₹1.5 crore in India. This represents a steep decline of nearly 50% from its Tuesday earnings of ₹3 crore. The film’s total domestic collection now stands at an estimated ₹38.5 crore.
Kaantha‘s Day-Wise Box Office Breakdown
Kaantha launched last Friday amidst incredible hype, leveraging Dulquer Salmaan’s nationwide appeal. This initial buzz resulted in a powerful opening weekend collection of ₹30 crore. However, the collections have been on a downward trend since Monday.
- Day 1 (Friday): ₹8 crore
- Day 2 (Saturday): ₹10 crore
- Day 3 (Sunday): ₹12 crore
- Day 4 (Monday): ₹4 crore
- Day 5 (Tuesday): ₹3 crore
- Day 6 (Wednesday): ₹1.5 crore (early estimates)
Why Did Kaantha‘s Collections Drop? Mixed Reviews and Competition
While the film opened strongly, the audience’s word-of-mouth has been mixed, which is now impacting the Kaantha box office collection. Critics have widely praised Dulquer Salmaan‘s career-defining performance and the film’s grand scale. However, general audience reception has been more divided.
Many viewers have pointed to the film’s complex narrative and slower-than-expected pacing as drawbacks for a commercial entertainer. The dark, unconventional storytelling, while lauded by cinephiles, seems to have not connected with a segment of the mass audience expecting a straightforward action film. This disconnect is the primary reason for the sharp weekday fall.
Additionally, stiff competition from a surprise-hit Hindi family comedy and a regional blockbuster in Tamil Nadu is further dividing the audience and reducing Kaantha‘s screen count in key markets.
What’s Next for Kaantha? The Crucial Second Weekend
For a film reportedly made on a budget of over ₹80 crore, the sharp drop in weekday earnings is a cause for concern. The collections from its dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu have also slowed down considerably.
The upcoming second weekend is now critical for Kaantha. Its performance will determine if it can stabilize and push towards a respectable lifetime total or if it will struggle to cross the ₹50 crore mark in India. The makers are hoping that the positive reviews and Dulquer Salmaan‘s dedicated fanbase can provide the film with a much-needed boost.
