The Diwali box office saw a clash of titans as Ajay Devgn’s ‘Singham Again’ and Kartik Aaryan’s ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ battled for audience attention. Both films, drawing on the appeal of established franchises, delivered impressive opening day numbers, capitalizing on the festive holiday. However, ‘Singham Again’ maintained a slight lead, benefiting from its star-studded cast, Rohit Shetty’s trademark action sequences, and a wider screen presence.
On Day 2, ‘Singham Again’ minted an estimated ₹ 41.5 crore, while ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ earned ₹ 36.50 crore. According to Sacnilk, ‘Singham Again’ earned ₹ 85 crore in two days, while ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ collected an estimated ₹ 72 crore. Both films are an installment of already fan-favoured franchisees and have both had a unique appeal for the audience. ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ has drawn audiences with its blend of horror-comedy and the return of popular characters, including Vidya Balan’s iconic Manjulika. Meanwhile, ‘Singham Again’ benefited from a star-studded ensemble, including cameo appearances by Salman Khan and Tiger Shroff, enhancing its appeal to a broad audience.
Both films are positioned well for continued success. ‘Singham Again’ boasts high-octane action sequences that have become synonymous with Rohit Shetty’s cop universe, while ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ leverages its strong family-friendly appeal and nostalgia factor.
Exhibitors and trade experts are hoping that these star-studded franchise films help them recover some of the losses this festive season. Exhibitors had previously predicted that ‘Singham Again’ has an edge as it has secured 60 per cent of the screens, while Kartik Aaryan-starrer ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ will occupy the remaining 40 per cent.
Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh expressed optimism about the performance of both films. “Both films are great. ‘Bhool Bhoolaiyaa 3’ is a horror-comedy, while ‘Singham Again’ is a cop drama. Both projects offer different variety of entertainment to the audience. I am happy that both are doing great business so far,” he said to news agency ANI. “If both films continue to do good business, then I would be extremely happy to see makers of ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ and ‘Singham Again’ throw a combined success party,” he added.
The box office battle between ‘Singham Again’ and ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ is far from over. As the Diwali weekend unfolds, the competition will only intensify, making this a captivating race for box office dominance.