Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan–starrer Laal Singh Chaddha, helmed by Advait Chandan, has generated much hype leading up to its release. As a remake of the iconic Forrest Gump, people have been abuzz about the prospect of experiencing the story on the big screen. The big question now is: will Laal Singh Chaddha draw enough people to theaters?
As per recent reports, Laal Singh Chaddha’s box–office debut has gotten off to a very slow start, with occupancy in morning shows estimated to be around 15-20%. This lukewarm reception is thought to be due to audiences being hesitant to go to theatres in spite of the movie’s promotional efforts. Post the pandemic, movie–goers have taken to delaying their theatre visits based on reviews and word-of-mouth. Metros that depend more heavily on multiplexes saw a slightly better response to the film than the mass-dominated sectors, which reported occupancy figures in the single digits. Data analysis shows that Laal Singh Chaddha’s opening morning show occupancy is one of the lowest Aamir Khan has experienced since 3 Idiots, leaving a jolt throughout the industry.
When pitted against the other release, Raksha Bandhan, the Aamir Khan movie Laal Singh Chaddha has witnessed lesser rates of ticket sales in second- and third–tier cities. In fact, Raksha Bandhan, which is popular in these places, has apparently gained a marginal advantage over Laal Singh Chaddha in the smaller towns and rural areas.
However, although Laal Singh Chaddha had a muted start, all is not yet lost. Taking into account the business of recent releases, Laal Singh Chaddha will need to rely largely on positive word-of-mouth to build its success. Although the initial response has been a bit of a mixed bag, trade is still remaining optimistic that Laal Singh Chaddha’s business will witness a considerable surge in the coming evening. This is primarily because the film enjoys the extended benefit of a festive weekend, which includes Raksha Bandhan and Independence Day holidays, giving the movie’s collection a further boost.
