This Independence Day, the box office is set for a high-stakes clash as three major films—’Stree 2,’ ‘Khel Khel Mein,’ and ‘Veda’—are gearing up for release. With advance bookings underway, the buzz around these films is reaching fever pitch. While ‘Stree 2,’ starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor, is leading the pack, the race for second and third place between Akshay Kumar-Taapsee Pannu’s ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and John Abraham-Sharvari Wagh’s ‘Veda’ is heating up.
‘Stree 2’ Dominates Advance Bookings
‘Stree 2,’ a horror-comedy directed by Amar Kaushik, has emerged as the frontrunner in advance bookings. By Monday morning, the film had already sold over 1.27 lakh tickets, translating to a revenue of ₹4.19 crore. With three days left for advance bookings, industry experts anticipate that the film could garner ₹10-15 crore in pre-release sales. This strong start suggests that ‘Stree 2’ could earn between ₹25-30 crore on its opening day, bolstered by the Independence Day holiday and on-spot bookings.
‘Khel Khel Mein’ and ‘Veda’ Struggle for Attention
While ‘Stree 2’ is poised for a grand opening, ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and ‘Veda’ are locked in a close contest for the second spot. Despite featuring a star-studded cast including Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu, Vaani Kapoor, and Fardeen Khan, ‘Khel Khel Mein’ is trailing behind ‘Veda’ in advance bookings. As of Monday, ‘Khel Khel Mein’ had sold only 2,215 tickets, earning ₹9.38 lakh, whereas ‘Veda’ had sold 6,065 tickets, raking in ₹18.34 lakh.
Potential for a Last-Minute Turnaround
With three days left for advanced bookings, there’s still time for ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and ‘Veda’ to catch up. The trailer for ‘Khel Khel Mein’ has received a positive response, which could lead to a surge in ticket sales. However, ‘Veda,’ an action-drama, has its own appeal, particularly among fans of the genre. Traditionally, comedy films like ‘Khel Khel Mein’ perform well during festive periods, but Akshay Kumar’s recent box office track record raises questions about its potential success.
The Battle for Screens: ‘Stree 2’ Takes the Lead
A crucial aspect of this box office clash is the competition for screens. According to market experts, ‘Stree 2’ is likely to dominate, securing 50% of the screens in theatres across the country. The remaining 50% will be split between ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and ‘Veda.’ The demand for screens is intense, with Zee Studio, the distributor of ‘Veda,’ pushing for six out of ten shows in multiplexes. Meanwhile, Panorama Studio, which is handling ‘Khel Khel Mein,’ is also fighting for maximum screen space. This battle for screens is expected to continue until the last minute.
The Wild Card: ‘Double Smart’ Joins the Fray
Adding another layer of complexity to the Independence Day box office is the release of the South Indian film ‘Double Smart,’ starring Ram Pothineni and Sanjay Dutt. This film is expected to secure 3-4 screens per day, further tightening the competition for screen space. However, the true impact of ‘Double Smart’ on the box office landscape will become clearer by the first weekend. Single-screen theatres are likely to prioritize ‘Stree 2’ from day one, while the screen allocation for ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and ‘Veda’ will depend on their weekend performance.
As the release date approaches, the excitement is palpable. ‘Stree 2’ seems set for a grand opening, but the fortunes of ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and ‘Veda’ remain uncertain. The outcome of this box office battle will hinge not only on advanced bookings but also on how well these films resonate with audiences during the crucial Independence Day weekend.
