Bobby Deol's much-anticipated drama 'Bandar' has had a subdued start at the Indian box office. The film, which also opened with a low screen count, struggled to gain traction in a crowded market.
Released on June 5, the film collected an estimated Rs 50 lakh net in India on its opening day and earned approximately Rs 60 lakh gross domestically from 1,365 shows, according to a report on Sacnilk. The film recorded modest collections amid stiff competition from other major releases that hit theatres on the same day.
The film's relatively limited screen count and lower pre-release buzz were cited as key factors behind its slow start. 'Bandar' faced direct competition from Varun Dhawan's 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' and Ram Charan's multilingual action drama 'Peddi', both of which attracted significantly larger audiences on opening day.
Competition Dominates Box Office
Leading the Hindi box office race was 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai', which collected an estimated Rs 7.50 crore net across 9,081 shows on Friday. The film's India gross stood at approximately Rs 9 crore, while overseas markets contributed an additional Rs 2 crore, taking its worldwide gross collection to an estimated Rs 11 crore. The family entertainer has drawn considerable attention as the final directorial venture of veteran filmmaker David Dhawan, who reunites with son Varun Dhawan for the project.
Meanwhile, Ram Charan's 'Peddi' also enjoyed a strong opening weekend launch. The Hindi version of the film earned an estimated Rs 3 crore net on Friday, contributing to the film's overall India net collection of approximately Rs 51 crore. The Telugu version remained the primary driver of the film's performance, accounting for Rs 47.20 crore, while Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada releases collectively contributed around Rs 80 lakh.
Support from Family and Fraternity
Despite its slow start, 'Bandar' has received strong support from members of the film fraternity and Bobby's family. Sunny Deol took to Instagram on Friday to cheer on his younger brother following the film's release. Sharing the teaser of the film, he wrote, 'Loooking sooo gooood my Lord Bobby. #Bandar in cinemas on 5th June.'
Actor Esha Deol also praised Bobby's performance in the film. Sharing a photograph with Bobby and his wife Tanya Deol on Instagram Stories, she wrote, 'You are in the best form ever! Undoubtedly the finest actor today. Enduring and vulnerable! Way to go, bhaiya.' She also encouraged audiences to support the film in theatres, adding, 'Go watch Bandar!'
Cast and Crew
The film features an ensemble cast including Bobby Deol, Sanya Malhotra, Raj B Shetty, Sapna Pabbi, Saba Azad, Riddhi Sen, Jitendra Joshi, Indrajeet and Nagesh Bhonsle. The TOI Entertainment Desk, a dynamic team of journalists, brings you the latest scoops and insider insights from the entertainment world.
