Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai recorded a modest opening weekend at the Indian box office, collecting Rs. 23.75 crore nett in its first 3 days. The film, starring Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde, earned Rs. 8.50 crore on Sunday, showing an increase of around 8 to 10 per cent compared to its Day 2 collections.
The comedy drama opened with Rs. 7.75 crore on Friday. Collections remained largely steady on Saturday with Rs. 7.50 crore before rising slightly on Sunday. While the weekend showed some growth, the overall opening is being viewed as average when compared to the performance of some of Varun Dhawan’s previous releases.
According to box office figures, the film’s collections are as follows:
Day 1: Rs. 7.75 crore
Day 2: Rs. 7.50 crore
Day 3: Rs. 8.50 crore
Total: Rs. 23.75 crore nett
The film is also being discussed because it is reportedly the final directorial venture of David Dhawan, who has been associated with several successful comedy films over the years. Industry observers have noted that Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is currently performing on similar lines to Varun Dhawan’s previous release, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari.
For comparison, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari completed its theatrical run with collections of around Rs. 60 crore. Based on current trends, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai will need a steady run in the coming weeks if it hopes to surpass that figure. Otherwise, it may finish with similar overall numbers.
The film’s performance also reflects the broader challenges currently facing romantic comedies and medium budget films in theatres. Since the pandemic, many movies in this category have struggled to attract large theatrical audiences. One of the commonly discussed reasons is the growing influence of streaming platforms.
With films often arriving on digital platforms within a relatively short period after their theatrical release, some viewers choose to wait and watch them at home rather than visit cinemas. Industry experts believe this trend has affected the theatrical business of romantic comedies and other mid scale films more than larger event movies.
As the weekdays begin, attention will now shift to how well Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai holds at the box office. Its performance over the next few days will provide a clearer picture of whether it can build on its opening weekend total of Rs. 23.75 crore nett and maintain momentum in theatres.