Nobody saw this coming. A Punjabi film, starring Gurnaam Bhullar, quietly playing in multiplexes across Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Jaipur — and beating Hindi films at their own game. That’s the Ishqan De Lekhe story, and it’s one of 2026’s most pleasant box office surprises.
Box Office Collections at a Glance
| Category | Collection |
|---|---|
| India Total (Nett) — end of Week 3 | ~Rs. 11.75 crore |
| India Projected Full Run | ~Rs. 15 crore nett |
| Overseas Earnings | USD 700K (~Rs. 6.50 crore) |
| Worldwide Total | ~Rs. 20.50 crore |
| Verdict | ✅ HIT |
| Week 3 Collection | ~Rs. 1.75 crore nett |
The Stat That’s Turning Heads
Here’s the most jaw-dropping part of this entire run. In the second week, Punjab state contributed just 35% of the total domestic business, with Haryana actually ahead of it — something that almost never happens for a Punjabi film.
Think about that. A Punjabi-language film performing better in Haryana than in Punjab itself. And then surviving into a third week despite competing against the massive Dhurandhar: The Revenge.
The NCR cities of Gurugram and Faridabad collectively brought in Rs. 80 lakh nett in two weeks — on track to cross Rs. 1 crore nett in the full run, a milestone very few Punjabi films have achieved in these markets.
Why Is It Working Outside Punjab?
The answer lies in the genre. Tragic love stories have been on a roaring comeback across Indian cinema — with films like Saiyaara, Tere Ishk Mein, and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat all punching far above their weight in 2025-26. Ishqan De Lekhe is riding that same emotional wave.
Ishqan De Lekhe was the top film of the previous week in several North Indian centres including Delhi, Noida, and Jaipur — ahead of even The Kerala Story 2. That’s not just impressive, it’s historic for a Punjabi film of this scale.
👉 Also read: Biggest Surprise Hits at the Indian Box Office in 2026 — TechnoSports
A Signal the Hindi Film Industry Must Not Ignore
The genre is clearly resonating in Hindi belt cities despite the film not being Hindi, showing the strong audience appetite for tragic love stories — something the Hindi film industry would do well to tap into.
If a Punjabi film can sustain three weeks in Delhi and Jaipur through heartbreak alone, imagine what a well-made Hindi tragic romance could do.
👉 Stay updated on Punjabi and Bollywood box office trends at TechnoSports.
