Two highly anticipated Hindi films crashed spectacularly at the box office this weekend, with Anurag Kashyap‘s ambitious project “Nishaanchi” and the biographical drama “Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi” delivering shockingly low numbers that industry experts are calling “disastrous.”
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Anurag Kashyap Weekend Box Office Performance Comparison
| Film | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Weekend Total | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nishaanchi | ā¹25 lakh | ā¹20 lakh | ā¹20 lakh | ā¹65 lakh | Disaster |
| Ajey | ā¹20 lakh | ā¹30 lakh | ā¹35 lakh | ā¹85 lakh | Disaster |
| Hindi Occupancy | 7.18% | Under 5% | Under 5% | Critical Low | Emergency |
Nishaanchi’s Shocking Underperformance
Anurag Kashyap’s “Nishaanchi” managed to collect only ā¹65 lakh across its opening weekend, with Day 1 earning just ā¹25 lakh despite the director’s reputation for delivering critically acclaimed cinema. The film’s overall Hindi occupancy remained at a dismal 7.18% on Friday, indicating severely limited audience interest.
This three-hour epic set in Kanpur’s criminal underworld was expected to showcase Kashyap’s signature storytelling style, but critics described it as “purposely reckless” and lacking “the searing intensity that powered his films like Gangs of Wasseypur”.
The film marks the Bollywood debut of Aishwarya Thackeray, grandson of late Bal Thackeray, alongside veteran actors like Vedika Pinto and Monica Panwar.
Ajey Slightly Outperforms but Still Struggles
The biographical drama “Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi” performed marginally better with ā¹85 lakh weekend collection, opening at ā¹20 lakh and showing slight improvement to ā¹35 lakh by Sunday.
Based on Shantanu Gupta’s book “The Monk Who Became Chief Minister,” the film stars Anant Joshi as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Despite the politically charged subject matter and featuring veteran actor Paresh Rawal in a key role, audience response remained lukewarm.
The film traces the transformation of Ajay Singh Bisht from a young man in the hills of Uttarakhand to becoming one of India’s most influential political leaders.
Industry Analysis: What Went Wrong?
Several factors contributed to this box office catastrophe:
Content Concerns: Critics noted that while “Nishaanchi” attempted literary complexity, it failed to engage mainstream audiences, with one reviewer stating “Manto never bored his audiences”.
Limited Screen Count: Both films received restricted releases, competing against established blockbusters and international releases.
Audience Disconnect: The niche storytelling approach failed to resonate with mass audiences expecting commercial entertainment.
Marketing Challenges: Despite Kashyap’s directorial reputation and the political relevance of Ajey, promotional campaigns couldn’t generate sufficient buzz.
Comparative Context: Weekend Disasters in Recent Memory
These opening weekend figures rank among the poorest performances for notable director-led projects in recent years. While “Jolly LLB 3” collected ā¹12 crore on its opening day, both Nishaanchi and Ajey combined couldn’t reach even ā¹2 crore across three days.
The stark contrast highlights the growing divide between commercial expectations and artistic ambitions in contemporary Hindi cinema.
Future Prospects Look Grim
With such catastrophic opening numbers, both films face an uphill battle for theatrical survival. Industry sources suggest that “Ajey” would need to reach ā¹15 crore to be considered a hit, requiring a 1,700% improvement from current performance levels.
Theater owners are already discussing reduced show counts, making recovery virtually impossible unless miraculous word-of-mouth spreads rapidly.
Impact on Careers and Future Projects
This double disaster sends concerning signals about the commercial viability of content-driven cinema without star power. Anurag Kashyap’s reputation for delivering cult classics couldn’t translate into opening weekend success, while the biographical drama genre continues struggling at the box office.
The poor performance might influence future funding decisions for similar projects, potentially affecting the landscape of parallel cinema in India.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did Anurag Kashyap’s Nishaanchi perform so poorly at the box office despite his reputation?
A: Nishaanchi collected only ā¹65 lakh in its opening weekend due to several factors including its three-hour runtime, niche storytelling approach, limited screen count, and poor audience occupancy of just 7.18%. Critics noted the film lacked the intensity of Kashyap’s earlier successful works like Gangs of Wasseypur.
Q: What is the box office collection difference between Nishaanchi and Ajey, and which performed better?
A: Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi slightly outperformed Nishaanchi with ā¹85 lakh weekend collection compared to Nishaanchi’s ā¹65 lakh. However, both films are considered box office disasters with collections far below industry expectations for theatrical releases.
