The recently released patriotic drama, ‘Batwara 1947’, starring Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta and produced by Aamir Khan, premiered on Independence Day to a mixed critical reception. The film’s initial box office performance was moderate, particularly as it faced direct competition from Emraan Hashmi’s ‘Awarapan 2’, which had already secured a significant lead through advance bookings.
On its opening day, a Friday, ‘Batwara 1947’ garnered a net collection of Rs 5.75 crore. The film experienced a positive surge on its second day, Saturday, bringing in Rs 13.50 crore. However, Sunday marked a significant downturn, with fewer screenings contributing to a collection of Rs 7.25 crore, representing a 22% decrease compared to Saturday’s figures. In stark contrast, ‘Awarapan 2’ amassed a substantial Rs 26 crore on Sunday alone. Consequently, the total net collection for ‘Batwara 1947’ in India stands at Rs 26.50 crore, with a total India gross of Rs 31.61 crore and a worldwide gross of Rs 37 crore for its first weekend.
‘Awarapan 2’ has undeniably outperformed ‘Batwara 1947’, having already surpassed the Rs 80 crore mark in its three-day weekend. With a reported production budget of Rs 120 crore, ‘Batwara 1947’ has so far recovered only Rs 19.25 crore net, which equates to roughly 16.04% of its total investment within the initial two days. To achieve a break-even point in India, the Sunny Deol-starrer needs to reach a net collection of Rs 120 crore, leaving a considerable Rs 100.75 crore still to be earned. The path ahead appears challenging for the film if it aims to avoid being labeled a commercial failure. The performance on Monday will be pivotal in determining the ultimate fate of this Bollywood venture.
