Himesh Reshammiya’s latest film, Badass Ravikumar, has failed to surpass the opening weekend numbers of his past two releases, Karz (2008) and The Xposé (2014). Despite high expectations from his loyal fan base, the action-packed musical film could not generate significant box office traction.
Badass Ravikumar managed to collect Rs 6.15 crore over its first weekend, falling short of Karz, which earned Rs 6.25 crore, and The Xposé, which had a stronger opening with Rs 10.97 crore. While the numbers are not disastrous, they indicate a declining trend in Reshammiya’s ability to draw audiences to theaters. The film on Friday earned Rs 2.75 crore, on Saturday the numbers fells to Rs 2 crore and Sunday the numbers were Rs 1.40 crore.
However, the film did manage to outperform his 2007 debut Aap Kaa Surroor, which had collected Rs 5.25 crore over its first weekend. Given that Aap Kaa Surroor was a massive musical success and established Reshammiya as an actor, Badass Ravikumar securing a higher number could be considered a small victory.
One of the major challenges Badass Ravikumar faced was competition from other releases like Sanam Tere Kasam and mixed word-of-mouth. The film, marketed as an over-the-top action entertainer, relied heavily on Reshammiya’s fan following. However, its exaggerated storytelling and niche appeal limited its mass reach.The only saving grace for the film was that it minted more money than Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan and Sirdevi’s daughter Khushi Kapoor’s film Loveyapa which earned just Rs 4.45 crore.
While Himesh’s musical prowess remains strong, his box office pull as a leading man seems to have weakened. It remains to be seen whether Badass Ravikumar can pick up momentum during the weekdays or if it will struggle to sustain its theatrical run.
