Akshay Kumar delivers his best opening in years with the much-anticipated Sky Force.
Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has finally found a much-needed boost in his career with the release of Sky Force. After a series of underwhelming box office performances, the film has opened to a strong double-digit collection on its first day. According to Sacnilk, Sky Force earned ₹11.25 crore (net) on Day 1, marking a solid start for the film, which was made on a relatively modest budget of ₹160 crore.
The last significant hit in Akshay’s career was Sooryavanshi (2021), directed by Rohit Shetty. Made on the same ₹160 crore budget, Sooryavanshi earned ₹293 crore globally, cementing its status as a blockbuster. However, Akshay’s recent filmography includes a series of box office failures, including Khel Khel Mein, Sarfira, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Mission Raniganj, Selfiee, Ram Setu, Raksha Bandhan, Samrat Prithviraj, and Bachchhan Paandey.
Even Akshay’s appearance in Singham Again (2024), which earned ₹372.4 crore globally, was overshadowed by Ajay Devgn’s lead role. Similarly, his cameo in the highly successful Stree 2, which grossed ₹857.15 crore worldwide, didn’t translate into a personal career resurgence.
Comparisons to Fighter
Since its trailer launch, Sky Force has drawn comparisons to Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone’s Fighter. Released around Republic Day last year, Fighter debuted with a ₹22.5 crore opening and went on to gross ₹358.83 crore globally. With a bigger production budget of ₹250 crore, Fighter set high benchmarks for patriotic action films, which Sky Force is now being measured against.
Plot and Cast
Set against the backdrop of the 1965 India-Pakistan War, Sky Force tells the untold story of India’s first and deadliest airstrike. Akshay Kumar stars as Indian Air Force officer KO Ahuja, who embarks on a daring mission to locate his missing fellow officer, T Vijaya, played by debutant Veer Pahariya. The film also features Nimrat Kaur and Sara Ali Khan in pivotal roles, adding depth to the patriotic drama.
Directed by Sandeep Kelwani and Abhishek Kapur, Sky Force has garnered positive early reviews for its gripping storyline and Akshay Kumar’s performance.
Akshay’s Redemption
With Sky Force, Akshay Kumar has finally broken his string of flops, proving his star power is still intact. While the film’s opening collection might not match that of Fighter, it signals a promising comeback for the actor. Fans and critics alike are now watching to see if Sky Force can sustain its momentum at the box office in the coming weeks.
Sources By Agencies
