It had been projected in this column that Ek Villain Returns would kick off with a collection of Rs. 6-8 crores and that’s precisely what transpired, with the first day figure arriving at Rs. 7.05 crores. Even pre-pandemic this would have been an acceptable amount, and in the current market scenario it can be termed as a very decent achievement. Considering the difficulties posed by the pandemic in persuading people to go to the theatres, this figure holds an enormous amount of value.
What’s especially noteworthy is that most of the revenue has come from single screens and lower-priced multiplexes, resulting in an even more impressive debut of Rs. 7.05 crores than would have been expected from a double-digit opener. This is certainly positive news as there was a certain segment of the audience with positive expectations for the movie, which has evidently translated into strong box office returns.
From a thematic and content perspective, this is reminiscent of the Hate Story series as it incorporates a dangerous amalgamation of ‘love, sex and betrayal’, a guaranteed recipe for success if handled with skill. What works to the advantage of Ek Villain Returns is that director Mohit Suri ensures the soundtrack is closely aligned with the narrative, an integral part of its success. Bollywood appears to have a winner in its midst and if the opening day box office collections are in excess of Rs. 9 crores, then its triumph is beyond question.
Note: All collections as per production and distribution sources
