The much-anticipated Bollywood romantic drama, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, featuring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday, has opened to a lukewarm response at the box office. Releasing on the Christmas holiday of December 25, 2025, the Dharma Productions film managed to collect only Rs 7.25 crore on its first day, a figure considered mediocre for a major festive release.
A Slow Start Amidst High Stakes
This opening is particularly significant for Kartik Aaryan, marking his first collaboration with producer Karan Johar's banner after their public fallout during Dostana 2. It is also his sole theatrical release for the year 2025. The Rs 7.25 crore start pales in comparison to his last Diwali blockbuster, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, which roared with a Rs 35.5 crore opening day in 2024. Historically, Kartik's films like Shehzada (Rs 6 crore opening) and Satyaprem Ki Katha (Rs 8.25 crore opening) have seen varied starts, making this Christmas debut a cause for analysis.
For Ananya Panday, this film reunites her with Kartik after six years, their last pairing being the 2019 film Pati Patni Aur Woh, which itself opened higher at Rs 9.1 crore. The muted opening of their new venture is compounded by largely tepid reviews from critics, adding to the film's challenges.
Fierce Competition from Blockbuster Holdovers
The primary reason for Tu Meri Main Tera's wobbly start is the formidable competition from two box office giants. Ranveer Singh's action spectacle Dhurandhar, which is on the cusp of entering the coveted Rs 1000 crore club worldwide, is still drawing massive crowds. On its 21st day in theatres (coinciding with Christmas), Dhurandhar earned an impressive Rs 26 crore—more than three times the opening day collection of the new release.
Furthermore, James Cameron's Hollywood epic Avatar: Fire and Ash saw a holiday resurgence. After dipping into single-digit collections earlier in the week, the film picked up steam on Christmas Day, adding Rs 13.5 crore to its Indian tally, nearly doubling the earnings of the Kartik-Ananya starrer.
A Crucial Week Ahead for Survival
The road ahead for Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri appears steep. The film has a very narrow window to prove its mettle and attract audiences. It must contend with the continuing tsunami of Dhurandhar and the steady pull of Avatar: Fire and Ash. The film essentially has only one week to build momentum, as the cinematic landscape will shift again on January 1, 2026, with the release of Sriram Raghavan's highly anticipated film Ikkis, which marks the final screen appearance of the legendary actor Dharmendra.
The coming days will be critical in determining whether this romantic drama can find its audience and achieve a respectable theatrical run, or if it will be overshadowed by the enduring power of its blockbuster competitors.
