Vivek Agnihotri’s latest release, The Bengal Files, is facing a tough time at the box office, with collections steadily declining since its release. The film, which marks the final chapter in Agnihotri’s controversial Files trilogy, has failed to sustain momentum beyond its opening weekend.
Underwhelming Box Office Numbers
On its sixth day at the theatres (Wednesday), the movie could gather only Rs 88 lakh, bringing its cumulative domestic collection to about Rs 9.82 crore, based on early Sacnilk estimates. This is a massive decline from its first-day collection of Rs 1.75 crore.
Although the film did experience a relatively small 28.57% hike on Saturday (Rs 2.25 crore) and further 22.22% hike on Sunday (Rs 2.75 crore), the weekday performance has remained sluggish. Monday registered a drop to Rs 1.15 crore, with a minor boost on Tuesday (Rs 1.35 crore), before declining once again on Wednesday.
City-Wise Occupancy Trends
Occupancy figures show Chennai ahead of viewership, with a stupendous 41% average occupancy, specially during the night shows which achieved 54%. Bengaluru was next at 28%, whereas major metros such as Mumbai (15.67%), NCR (16.33%), and Pune (16.67%) indicated moderate attendance. Ahmedabad, Surat, and Hyderabad** were cities with poorer turnout.
The movie drew more audiences in afternoon and evening shows, but importantly, there were no night shows, contributing further to lower numbers.
About The Bengal Files
The Bengal Files is a 2025 Hindi-language political drama directed and written by Vivek Agnihotri. Released on 5 September 2025, the movie dramatizes the Direct Action Day (16 August 1946) and the Noakhali riots and depicts them as genocidal events consciously omitted from mainstream history.
With a runtime of 204 minutes, it stands among the longest Indian films ever released. The film stars an ensemble cast and continues Agnihotri’s attempt to revisit modern Indian history, following The Tashkent Files (2019) and The Kashmir Files (2022).
Despite the director’s loyal following, the film has received mostly negative reviews, with critics slamming it for historical distortion, manipulative storytelling, and excessive length.
Also Read: The Bengal Files Box Office Collection Day 4: Vivek Agnihotri’s Film Struggles with 60% Dip
Outlook Ahead
Since the movie enters its second week, the down trend and lackluster audience reaction indicate that The Bengal Files will not cross even modest box office thresholds unless word-of-mouth significantly picks up.
