Kangana Ranaut vs Diljit Dosanjh: Battle moves from X to box office, but who’s winning?
Years later, Kangana Ranaut and Diljit Dosanjh find themselves in a face-off once again—this time at the box office, where audience verdict will determine the winner between Main Vaapas Aaunga and Bharat Bhagyaa Vidhata.
After Emergency, actor-politician Kangana Ranaut is set to return with yet another film inspired by real-life events. Her upcoming release, Bharat Bhagyaa Vidhata, is gearing up for a box office clash with Diljit Dosanjh’s Main Vaapas Aaunga, which also stars Naseeruddin Shah, Vedang Raina and Sharvari Wagh. What makes the clash particularly intriguing is the long-standing public feud between Kangana and Diljit, which dates back to their highly-publicised social media spat during the 2020 Farmers’ Protest. However, despite the history between the two stars, neither film appears to be generating significant pre-release buzz.
According to trade experts, both films will rely heavily on audience reception and word-of-mouth rather than star power or advance bookings.
Speaking to SCREEN, Akkshay Rathi, Director of Ashirwad Theatres Pvt Ltd, said, “Main Vaapas Aaunga and Bharat Bhagyaa Vidhata are films that have the ability to grow from strength to strength due to word of mouth. Neither of the two is designed to be a front-loaded opener or entertainer. Both these films, along with Haunted and Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai from the previous week, can co-exist at the box office because all of them cater to very different audiences. Together, they have the ability to find an equilibrium in terms of showcasing across cinemas.”
‘Cannot predict box office numbers’
Rathi further noted that predicting opening-day collections would be premature.
“To predict the opening day collections would be very tough and unfair because both of these are word-of-mouth films. There have been instances where films have completely transformed their prospects by evening shows. We are hoping audiences turn up in big numbers for all of these films,” he said.
Unlike many major releases, neither Bharat Bhagyaa Vidhata nor Main Vaapas Aaunga is currently trending on ticket-booking platform BookMyShow, reflecting relatively muted pre-release excitement.
Kangana’s previous release, Emergency, had opened to Rs 2.85 crore gross in India across 5,748 shows and went on to collect just Rs 23.81 crore in its lifetime run. The actress has been searching for a major box-office success since Tanu Weds Manu Returns in 2015.
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Diljit Dosanjh, on the other hand, has enjoyed stronger momentum in recent years. His last Hindi release, Border 2, opened to positive reviews and Rs 36 crore opening, while Crew emerged as a commercial success with a lifetime collection of Rs 151 crore.
Meanwhile, some fans have claimed that Main Vaapas Aaunga has not received an adequate number of screenings, although official screen counts are yet to be announced.
Adding to the competition at the box office is Manoj Bajpayee’s Governor. Directed by Chinmay D Mandlekar, the film is inspired by events surrounding India’s 1990 economic crisis and explores the institutional dynamics between the Reserve Bank of India and the Government of India. Bharat Bhagyaa Vidhata, meanwhile, is directed by Manoj Tapadia and is based on the heroic events that unfolded at Mumbai’s Cama Hospital during the 26/11 terror attacks.
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When Kangana-Diljit locked horns for the first time
Kangana and Diljit’s rivalry first grabbed headlines in 2020 during the Farmers’ Protest. The controversy began when Kangana mistakenly identified an elderly woman at the protest as Bilkis Bano, one of the prominent faces of the Shaheen Bagh anti-CAA demonstrations. Diljit publicly challenged her claim and shared evidence showing that the woman was actually Mahinder Kaur, a 73-year-old farmer from Punjab.
The disagreement quickly escalated into a war of words on social media. Kangana referred to Diljit as “Karan Johar’s chamcha,” while Diljit accused her of lacking “tameez” (basic courtesy). The episode sparked widespread debate, with several members of the entertainment industry voicing support for Diljit. Kangana also reportedly received legal notices from multiple parties in connection with the controversy.
Years later, the two stars now find themselves facing off once again—this time at the box office, where audience verdict and word-of-mouth may ultimately determine the winner.
Jyothi Jha is an incisive Copy Editor and multi-platform journalist at The Indian Express, where she specializes in high-stakes entertainment reporting and cinematic analysis. With over six years of diverse experience across India’s leading media houses, she brings a rigorous, ethics-first approach to digital storytelling and editorial curation.
Experience & Career
Jyothi’s career is characterized by its breadth and depth across the media landscape. Before joining the editorial team at The Indian Express, she honed her expertise covering the entertainment beat for premier national broadcasters, including NDTV, Republic Media, and TV9. Her professional journey is not limited to digital text; she has a proven track record as an on-air anchor and has successfully managed production teams within the high-pressure segments of Politics and Daily News. This 360-degree view of newsroom operations allows her to navigate the complexities of modern journalism with veteran precision.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Guided by the Orwellian principle that "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want you to do," Jyothi focuses on transparent, accountability-driven reporting. Her core areas of expertise include:
Cinematic Deconstruction: Analyzing the social subtext of mainstream Bollywood and South Indian cinema (e.g., Kantara, Masaan, Dabangg).
Toxic Masculinity & Gender Studies: A vocal critic of regressive tropes in Indian cinema, she often highlights the industry's treatment of women and social progress.
Box Office & Industry Economics: Providing data-backed predictions and analysis of film performance and superstar fee structures.
Exclusive Multimedia Coverage: Conducting deep-dive interviews and long-form features that bridge the gap between archival history and modern pop culture.
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Jyothi Jha has established herself as a trusted voice by prioritizing substance over PR-driven narratives. Her background in hard news and political production provides her with a unique lens through which she views the entertainment industry—not merely as gossip, but as a reflection of societal values. Readers rely on her for "Journalism of Courage," knowing her critiques are rooted in a deep respect for the craft and a refusal to settle for superficiality. Her ability to pivot between daily news and specialized entertainment analysis makes her a versatile and authoritative pillar of The Indian Express newsroom.
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It is Kangana vs Diljit at box office. (IMDb)