Happy Patel Khatarnak Jasoos box office collection day 1: Vir Das’ debut directorial opens with Rs 1.25 cr, overshadowed by Dhurandhar

Meanwhile, Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar continues to dominate the box office even in its seventh week. The Aditya Dhar directorial, now running for 43 days, earned Rs 1.65 crore (India net), outperforming the new releases with ease.

Notably, Happy Patel has recorded the lowest opening of Vir Das’ career so far, even compared to films where he played supporting roles. Badmaash Company opened at Rs 3.38 crore and saw growth over the following days, while Delhi Belly began with Rs 6.98 crore and followed a similar upward trajectory. Go Goa Gone opened at Rs 3.65 crore; though it ended its lifetime run with Rs 38.67 crore.

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Happy Patel is co-directed by Kavi Shastri and boasts an impressive technical team, including crew members who have previously worked on critically acclaimed projects such as Sacred Games, Homebound and Jigra. It is reportedly made on a budget of Rs 25 crore.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Vir Das reflected on the experience of working with such a seasoned crew. “After 15 years as a DIY (Do It Yourself) artist, it is nice to have a crew that helps you out. We got a crew that I don’t think we really deserved. They are all very serious film crews. My costume designer did Sacred Games, my colourist did Homebound, my DoP has shot legendary films, and my music directors did Jigra. It is validating that these people trust your vision. We are a tiny film, probably the smallest film this crew has done in a very long time,” he said.

It now remains to be seen whether Vir Das’ modestly mounted film finds momentum over the weekend or meets the same fate as several recent releases—Tu Meri Main Tera, Ikkis and the Sankranti releases—that failed to withstand the juggernaut that is Dhurandhar, a film that has broken records and rewritten its own box-office history.

Happy Patel also marks the return of actor Imran Khan to the big screen.