The action-thriller “Jaat,” starring Sunny Deol and Randeep Hooda, has completed its ninth day at the Indian box office, encountering a predictable downturn in its earnings on its second Friday. This drop comes amidst the strong arrival of Akshay Kumar’s “Kesari Chapter 2,” which has captured a significant number of screens nationwide.
According to early estimates from industry trackers, “Jaat” managed to collect approximately ₹4 crore net on its ninth day. This marks a decrease of roughly 3.61% compared to its earnings of ₹4.15 crore on the previous day (Thursday). While a drop on the second Friday is typical for most films due to the dissipation of initial hype and the arrival of new releases, “Jaat” has shown resilience in maintaining steady collections, particularly in regions with a strong single-screen presence and mass appeal.
The film’s total domestic net collection now stands at approximately ₹65.65 crore after nine days. This figure indicates a decent performance for the Gopichand Malineni directorial, especially considering it was reportedly made on a budget of around ₹100 crore. The film has shown strong performance in certain circuits, with Jaipur recording the highest occupancy rate of 27.25% on its ninth day.
The primary reason for the dip in “Jaat’s” earnings is the release of “Kesari Chapter 2” on April 18th. The Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, and Ananya Panday starrer, a historical courtroom drama, opened to positive reviews and managed to secure a strong opening day collection of around ₹7.75 crore net, drawing a considerable portion of the audience. The clash of these two films, belonging to different genres, has inevitably impacted the box office performance of “Jaat.”
Despite the competition, “Jaat” has maintained a respectable occupancy rate of 15.21% across India on its ninth day. The breakdown of occupancy across different show timings indicates a consistent audience flow throughout the day, with night shows recording the highest occupancy at 18.36%.
It is worth noting that “Jaat” has also faced some headwinds due to a recent controversy surrounding certain scenes that allegedly hurt religious sentiments. This led to the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) and subsequently, the makers issued an apology and removed the contentious scenes from the film. While the immediate impact of this controversy on the box office numbers appears to be minimal, it remains a factor that could have influenced audience perception in certain regions.
Looking ahead, the performance of “Jaat” over the second weekend will be crucial in determining its long-term success at the box office. Trade analysts suggest that the film’s strong hold in mass circuits could help it sustain its earnings. Furthermore, the announcement of a sequel, “Jaat 2,” might also generate renewed interest in the film.
In conclusion, while “Jaat” witnessed a drop in its box office collection on its second Friday, this was largely anticipated due to the arrival of a significant competitor. The film’s overall performance remains steady, and its performance over the weekend will provide further insights into its potential to recover its production cost and achieve commercial success.
