Laal Singh Chaddha has taken a slow start of 15-20% and the opening numbers coming across India are likely to shock the film industry but with the trends of business over the past 4 months its not really shocking but just disappointing that the audience has kept away from the film initially. This is the third event film post the pandemic with Sooryavanshi and 83 being the other two and only Sooryavanshi has managed to open and do well.

There was always a possibility that the initial audience may not turn up for the film on day one as there was nothing much in the film for the mass and youth and the music also did not work. Yes the cast is strong with Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor but post pandemic the stars have to look stars on screen and play characters befitting star status if they want to remain stars.

The numbers coming in from morning shows seem to suggest a double digit number at best but surely the film should collect better through the day and on top its a national holiday for Raksha Bandhan. If this film had opened like this pre pandemic it would still be a sure shot to get into double digits but its difficult to be that confident today.

Despite the initial all is not lost for the film as its a great period with holidays and if the film is liked it will not take much for the film to start getting better numbers. If Gangubai Kathiawadi can get to 125 crore nett with a similar sort of opening on its first morning there is much more potential here with the holidays and a star like Aamir Khan. But obviously the film has to be good as per the public.

The film is better in Delhi NCR and South on day one. East Punjab, Mumbai city and West Bengal are also better but a circuit like East Punjab should be much better as the film is as close as you can get to a Punjabi film. The opening across the mass belts is very dull and there are places in UP and Bihar where likes of Ek Villain Returns showed better numbers in many cities on the opening day and that without a holiday.

Obviously its a bit of a disaster for the industry when such a huge film takes such a low opening but it has to remembered this film has been in the making for many years and is basically pre pandemic content and does not have that cinematic or entertainment feel which is the need of the day. The budget may well be huge but content is not cinematic or larger than life.