After creating waves with the massive success of Gadar 2, veteran Bollywood star Sunny Deol returned to the silver screen, this time banking on the high-octane action drama Jaat to charm audiences once again. The film, which was launched amid considerable buzz and heavy fan expectations, kicked off its theatrical journey with a fair start. However, despite a promising beginning, the film’s performance at the box office has started to falter as the days go by.
Released on April 10,
opened with collections touching ₹9.5 crore on its debut day — a respectable figure that sparked hope for a strong run. The movie, which blends action, emotion, and a dash of nostalgia reminiscent of Deol’s earlier hits, witnessed an initial surge over the weekend. Saturday’s earnings stayed steady at ₹9.5 crore, and by Sunday, the film showed real muscle, collecting ₹14 crore as families and fans flocked to theatres.
Yet the good times were short-lived. As the first weekend passed and the workweek commenced, the film’s momentum slowed sharply. Monday marked a steep fall in earnings — the box office collections plummeted by around 48%, settling at ₹7.25 crore. The trend continued on Tuesday with further decline as the movie added just ₹6 crore to its tally. By Wednesday, the film’s daily collection had dropped once again to ₹4 crore, bringing its total domestic haul to ₹57.50 crore over the span of 8 days.
Despite this nationwide slowdown, Jaat did manage to strike a chord with audiences in certain pockets — particularly in Northern India. According to Box Office India, the movie found enthusiastic crowds in cities like Jaipur, which surprisingly outperformed Mumbai in terms of opening day numbers. Delhi, on the other hand, maintained its position as the film’s top-performing territory, solidifying Sunny Deol’s enduring appeal in the heartland.
Adding a twist to Jaat’s performance woes was the entry of Akshay Kumar’s much-awaited film Kesari 2. The opening of advance bookings for the historical action sequel on Wednesday seems to have shifted a chunk of the audience’s attention away from Jaat. Early reports suggest Kesari 2 has already generated impressive advance booking figures, pulling in over ₹81 lakh even before its release, signaling fierce competition on the horizon.
In light of the growing conversation around box office numbers, Sunny Deol addressed the pressure that actors face in the current cinematic climate. During a candid interview with Bollywood Life, the actor spoke about how constant industry chatter around opening day figures and weekend benchmarks can overwhelm even the most seasoned stars. Deol admitted, “Pressure? I’ve rarely allowed it to get to me. But the way things work these days, even if you want to ignore it, someone or the other makes sure to remind you of the numbers. So much talk about figures, comparisons — it’s hard not to feel the weight of it sometimes.”
Even though the film’s weekday performance fell short of expectations, Jaat’s opening weekend success, especially in North Indian cities, highlighted Sunny Deol’s still-solid fanbase in the region. With Kesari 2 entering theatres and box office competition intensifying, all eyes are now on whether Jaat can hold its ground or if the tide has turned for the action-packed entertainer.
