Varun Dhawan’s much-anticipated action drama, Baby John, made its theatrical debut on Christmas (December 25) with a solid opening. The film, which also stars Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Jackie Shroff in pivotal roles, garnered an impressive ₹11.25 crore at the Indian box office on Day 1. However, the film witnessed a sharp decline on its second day, collecting just ₹4.50 crore, as reported by Sacnilk.
With a two-day total of ₹15.75 crore, Baby John struggled to maintain the momentum needed for a strong extended weekend. According to reports, the film had 11.09% occupancy for Hindi screenings on its first Thursday, signaling a drop in audience turnout.
Mixed Responses and Tough Competition
Film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh described the opening-day performance as “underwhelming.” He stated, “Baby John benefited primarily from the Christmas holiday but failed to meet the pre-release projections of ₹17-20 crore for its opening day.” Adarsh attributed this shortfall to stiff competition from Pushpa 2 in mass circuits and Mufasa in urban centers.
He added, “Midweek releases coinciding with a major holiday generally promise strong openings. However, sustaining momentum till Sunday is crucial for Baby John to achieve a respectable extended weekend total.”
A Star-Studded Production
Directed by Kalees, Baby John is a remake of the 2016 Tamil action thriller Theri. The film is produced by Atlee, his wife Priya, Murad Khetani, and Jyoti Deshpande. With high-octane action sequences and a gripping storyline, the film aimed to deliver a cinematic spectacle.
Varun Dhawan revealed in an earlier interview with News18 that he performed nearly all his stunts, emphasizing the film’s scale and ambition. He said, “The scale of action in this film is massive, and I’ve personally performed nearly all the stunts myself, with minimal use of a body double.”
A Milestone in Varun Dhawan’s Career
Baby John marks Varun Dhawan’s biggest opening in five years, following his 2019 film Kalank, which starred Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sonakshi Sinha, Madhuri Dixit, and Sanjay Dutt.
While the initial figures may seem promising, the road ahead for Baby John remains challenging. With competition from Pushpa 2 and Mufasa, and the unpredictable nature of box office trends, the film must capitalize on its extended weekend to solidify its standing.
Sources By Agencies
