Shehzada headed for ‘disastrous’ box office opening, latest numbers show Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania racing ahead

Kartik Aaryan's Shehzada is being routed at the box office by Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The film is expected to collect less than half of what Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 did on its opening day.

Kartik Aaryan in a still from Shehzada's new song Chedkhaniyan.

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Early box office estimates suggest that Kartik Aaryan’s Shehzada, which was an acid test for his stardom, is headed for a disastrous opening. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, Shehzada is expected to make just Rs 6 crore on its first day of release. The film was pushed by a week to avoid being steam-rolled by Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan.

A Rs 6 crore opening would be less than half what Kartik’s biggest hit, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, made on its opening day in 2022. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 delivered a Rs 14 crore opening, and eventually finished with over Rs 260 crore worldwide, cementing Kartik’s star status. “Shehzada is a disaster, the numbers are terrible,” trade analyst Komal Nahta told ETimes.

Also read | Shehzada movie review: It should be a crime to make such films in 21st century

Trade analyst posted early box office figures for the film on Friday. Reporting numbers from the three national chains — PVR, INOX and Cinepolis — he wrote in a tweet that the film has made only Rs 1.6 crore by 3 pm, as compared to the Rs 4.1 crore that fellow newcomer Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has posted at the same venues.

‘SHEHZADA’, ‘ANT MAN 3’ NATIONAL CHAINS UPDATE… Time: Friday, 3 pm…

⭐️ #AntMan
PVR: 2.35 cr#INOX: 1.05 cr#Cinepolis: 75 lacs
Total: ₹ 4.15 cr

⭐️ #Shehzada #PVR: 85 lacs#INOX: 48 lacs#Cinepolis: 30 lacs
Total: ₹ 1.63 cr

Nett BOC. pic.twitter.com/RfzLnUMTIb

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) February 17, 2023

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The film registered particularly low advance sales through the week, and to mitigate this, a buy-one-get-one-free deal was introduced in some centres. According to Box Office India, this will help only on day one, and Saturday being a holiday might give the film a little bump, but after that, it’s all down to public opinion.

And the reviews have certainly not been kind. The Indian Express’ Shalini Langer awarded Shehzada just half-a-star out of five, and wrote, “It should be a crime to make certain films in the 21st century.” Shehzada is directed by Rohit Dhawan and also stars Kriti Sanon. The film is a remake of Allu Arjun’s satellite hit m Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo.

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