Bobby Deol and Anurag Kashyap came together for the first time for Bandar, a courtroom drama inspired by true events. While the film earned praise from critics for its storytelling and performances, that appreciation has not translated into strong ticket sales. One week after its release, Bandar continues to face challenges at the box office, struggling to attract large audiences despite positive word of mouth.
The film was released in theatres on June 5 and started its journey with an opening day collection of around ₹50 lakh. Collections improved over the weekend as more viewers visited cinemas. On Saturday, the film earned approximately ₹95 lakh, while Sunday turned out to be its best day with collections touching ₹1 crore. These numbers gave hope that the movie could build momentum in the days ahead. However, that momentum did not last long.
As the working week began, Bandar witnessed a steady drop in ticket sales. The film collected around ₹45 lakh on both Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, earnings fell sharply to just ₹20 lakh, making it one of the weakest days since release. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film earned an estimated ₹20 lakh again on Thursday. With this, Bandar’s total domestic net collection after seven days stands at around ₹3.60 crore.
One of the biggest challenges for the film has been the intense competition in theatres. Bandar is currently competing with major releases such as Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona and Peddi. Several Hollywood and international films are also running in cinemas, reducing the number of screens available for the movie. Reports had suggested even before release that the makers were facing difficulties securing enough shows across major multiplex chains, making the film’s theatrical journey even more difficult.
Based on a real life inspired story, Bandar follows Samar, played by Bobby Deol, a once popular singer and actor whose life takes a dramatic turn after a woman named Gayatri accuses him of rape. Samar insists that the relationship was consensual, but the allegation quickly turns into a highly publicized legal battle. As media scrutiny increases and public opinion turns against him, his professional and personal life begins to fall apart.
Directed by Anurag Kashyap, the film explores themes such as media trials, public judgment, accountability, and the legal system. Alongside Bobby Deol, the film also stars Sanya Malhotra, Saba Azad, Raj B. Shetty, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Sapna Pabbi in important roles. While the film has earned appreciation for tackling a serious subject, its box office performance remains a concern as it enters its second week in theatres.