Women-oriented films have long had a varied track record at the box office, but this year, singer-turned-actor Dhvani Bhanushali has emerged victorious with her debut film, Kahaan Shuru Kahaan Khatam.
Since the pandemic, the box office has struggled, with even the most anticipated films faltering. However, 2024 has seen a resurgence of women-led narratives, with some films exceeding expectations while others did not fare as well. Among the successes is Kahaan Shuru Kahaan Khatam, which drew audiences to theaters on its opening day.
Dhvani Bhanushali’s film achieved an opening day collection of ₹1.08 crores, a noteworthy figure considering the competitive landscape. It outperformed several major releases, signaling a positive trend for women-oriented films. The film debuted on World Cinema Day, when ticket prices were significantly reduced to celebrate cinema. At just ₹99 per ticket, the film attracted over 100,000 viewers—a significant accomplishment.
This year has seen a mix of performances from women-centric films. For instance, on September 13, superstar Kareena Kapoor’s The Buckingham Murders, directed by Hansal Mehta, was released. The bilingual murder mystery opened to ₹1.15 crores, with the Hindi version earning ₹70 lakhs and the Hinglish version ₹45 lakhs. Given the higher ticket prices ranging from ₹200 to ₹500, Dhvani Bhanushali’s collection stands out as a remarkable achievement.
On August 15, Stree 2, starring Shraddha Kapoor, broke records with an impressive opening of ₹51.8 crores, aided by the long Independence Day weekend and the popularity of its predecessor. The film has since grossed over ₹500 crores.
Another notable release on the same day was Veda, featuring John Abraham and focused on its female lead, Sharvari Wagh. While praised for its storytelling and performances, the film’s box office performance fell short of expectations.
Additionally, Janhvi Kapoor’s Ulajh opened on August 2, garnering only ₹1.10 crores despite a promising trailer and subject matter, with ticket prices ranging from ₹200 to ₹400. Comparatively, Dhvani’s film had a stronger opening.
Lastly, the romantic comedy Do Aur Do Pyaar, featuring Vidya Balan and Ileana D’Cruz, was released on April 19 and opened to just ₹50 lakhs, with total earnings of ₹3.21 crores.
In summary, while the box office performance of women-oriented films has been mixed in 2024, Dhvani Bhanushali’s Kahaan Shuru Kahaan Khatam has carved a niche for itself, suggesting a hopeful trajectory for similar films in the future.
