Box office: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 makes good opening, Dhaakad a disastrous one

Mainstream Hindi cinema has been enduring a dull phase at the box office for more than a month with one flop after another. But Anees Bazmee’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) may just break the shackles.

The film starring Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani and Tabu opened with a positive Rs14 crore nett yesterday, according to trade website BoxOfficeIndia.com.

This is the best opening recorded by a film starring Kartik Aaryan. His earlier best was his previous theatrical release Love Aaj Kal (2020), which had opened with Rs11.47 crore. But that film, directed by Imtiaz Ali, went on to fail at the box office.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2's opening is also the second highest since cinema halls reopened late last year for films made in Hindi and discounting the dubbed versions of RRR (2022) and KGF Chapter 2 (2022). The highest opening was recorded by Rohit Shetty’s Sooryavanshi (2021). The Akshay Kumar-starrer had opened with a mammoth Rs26.11 crore nett.

According to trade sources, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 was made at a cost of around Rs75 crore. Hence, the film will need to see a rise in collections today and tomorrow and do well on the weekdays as well.

Meanwhile, the opening for the Kangana Ranaut-starrer Dhaakad (2022) has been disastrous, to say the least. According to veteran trade analyst Ramesh Bala, the film earned only about Rs50 lakh.

Directed by newcomer Razneesh Ghai, the action film was made on a budget of Rs70 crore, according to trade sources. With mixed reviews as well, the film is staring at a major disaster at the box office.