The romantic comedy 'Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri', starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday, has witnessed a severe drop in its box office momentum as it entered the weekdays. The film's domestic collections have continued to slide sharply, painting a grim picture for its theatrical run.
Steep Decline in Daily Collections
According to early estimates reported by Sacnilk, the film managed to collect only approximately ₹0.98 crore on its sixth day, which was Tuesday. This marks a drastic fall from its first Sunday, just three days prior. The movie, which opened in cinemas on 25 December 2023, has now accumulated a total of ₹26.23 crore in net collections from the Indian market, as per industry trackers.
The downward trend became evident after the opening weekend. On Day 4, which was its first Sunday, the film earned ₹5 crore, showing a 9.09% dip from Saturday. The fall turned precipitous on Monday (Day 5), with collections plummeting to ₹1.75 crore—a massive 65 per cent decline from Sunday. Tuesday's near one-crore figure confirms that audience interest has waned significantly, especially for post-afternoon screenings.
Empty Theatres in Evening Shows
The occupancy data from theatres on Day 6 starkly highlights the film's failure to attract audiences beyond the daytime. Morning shows saw a dismal average occupancy of 7.96 per cent. Afternoon shows performed slightly better at 21.73 per cent occupancy. However, the most alarming detail is the near-total absence of audiences for evening and night shows. Reports indicate that many circuits recorded a zero per cent occupancy for these slots, effectively meaning empty theatres.
This poor performance comes despite a strategic release during the Christmas holiday period and Tulsi Pujan Diwas, a window typically considered lucrative for Hindi commercial cinema. The film, produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and Namah Pictures, enjoyed a wide release but has failed to capitalise on the festive season.
Behind the Scenes and Critical Reception
'Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri' is directed by Sameer Vidwans, with a screenplay by Karan Shrikant Sharma. The producer lineup includes prominent names like Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Bhumika Tewari, Shareen Mantri Kedia, and Kishor Arora. Alongside leads Aaryan and Panday, the supporting cast features veterans Neena Gupta, Jackie Shroff, and Tiku Talsania.
Critical reception has been a major factor in its box office trajectory. Reviews were largely mixed to negative. While critics praised the film's high production values and cinematography, they widely panned its weak story, screenplay, and direction. The performances of the lead actors were also highlighted as a letdown, which severely curtailed positive word-of-mouth—a crucial element for sustaining a romantic comedy's run.
Trade Outlook and Future Prospects
Trade analysts point out that the genre of romantic comedy has become increasingly dependent on a strong opening weekend and robust audience buzz to survive the weekday slump. The steep 65% drop from Sunday to Monday has left the film with almost no room for recovery in its remaining theatrical life.
The situation is likely to worsen with new films slated for release in the coming days, which will compete for screens and prime show timings. Barring an unexpected surge in collections over the upcoming weekend, the film's final box office tally is projected to remain modest, especially considering the scale and backing of a production house like Dharma.
Attention is now gradually shifting towards the film's eventual release on streaming platforms. In recent times, several Hindi films that underperformed in cinemas have managed to find a more receptive and wider audience on digital OTT platforms, a path that 'Tu Meri Main Tera' might also follow to recoup its standing.
