Released in theaters on January 25, on the eve of Republic Day, '
Fighter
' failed to achieve significant opening numbers despite the initial buzz surrounding the film. Despite boasting a formidable star cast featuring
Deepika Padukone
and
Hrithik Roshan
, and being directed by the seasoned filmmaker
Siddharth Anand
, known for his successes like 'War' and '
Pathaan
,' the film is grappling with underwhelming
box office
performance.
A film producer and industry expert recently provided insights into the reasons behind the film's subdued reception.
He said, "The movie 'Fighter' faced a notable rise and sudden decline in box office numbers, and various factors contributed to this outcome. Firstly, the marketing and promotional campaigns were sophisticated but lacked a connection with the masses. The film's theme of aerial action adventure also made it less relatable to a broader audience."
Elaborating further, he added, "Despite an ordinary visibility and routine buzz, the opening day collection of approximately Rs 22 crores fell below expectations. The anticipated 50 crores on Friday only reached Rs 39 crore, marking the peak. However, subsequent days witnessed a significant drop, with Sunday's collection at around Rs 29 crore, showing a decline of Rs 10 crores from Republic Day. Monday marked the biggest drop with 8 crore, followed by Rs 7 crore on Tuesday. The rest of the weekdays yielded below-average numbers, pushing the week's total to roughly Rs 134 crore after an initial weekend of approximately Rs 118 crore in four days."
He continued, "The film's underperformance can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the marketing lacked focus, and secondly, the film's highly technical theme and lack of emotional connect made it peripheral and dry. The absence of a strong and well-known antagonist, especially given Hrithik Roshan's stardom, further weakened the film."
"Director Siddharth Anand's statement that the movie
underperformed
because the majority of Indians don't fly in airplanes added to the disconnect with the masses. Additionally, the music received criticism. The film's prospects of reaching 150 crores now seem uncertain. Despite being mounted on a budget of approximately Rs 250 crore, the film, projected to be the first blockbuster of the year, faces a sorry state," the
trade expert
concluded.
Apart from Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan, 'Fighter' also featured Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover,
Sanjeeda Shaikh
,
Akshay Oberoi
and others in key roles.
English (US) ·