Ajay Devgn’s romantic comedy sequel De De Pyaar De 2 has crossed the ₹54 crore milestone on its second Saturday, Day 9 of theatrical release. While the film showed an 80% jump from Friday’s collections, industry experts point to missed opportunities that could have propelled it to greater heights.
De De Pyaar De 2 Box Office Performance Breakdown
| Day | Collection (Net India) | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (Thursday) | ₹8.75 Cr | ₹8.75 Cr |
| Weekend 1 Total | ₹33 Cr | ₹33 Cr |
| Week 1 Total | ₹47.50 Cr | ₹47.50 Cr |
| Day 8 (2nd Friday) | ₹2.25 Cr | ₹49.75 Cr |
| Day 9 (2nd Saturday) | ₹4 Cr | ₹54 Cr |
| Projected Lifetime | ₹70-75 Cr | – |
The Saturday Surge: Too Little, Too Late?
De De Pyaar De 2 collected approximately ₹4 crore on its second Saturday, registering an impressive 80% growth from the previous day. However, the real damage occurred on Friday when the film dropped 25% from Thursday, eliminating its chances of posting a respectable total.
The romantic comedy needed minimal to zero drop from Thursday to maintain momentum. Instead, the significant Friday dip revealed a fundamental weakness in audience retention during the crucial second weekend period.
Falling Short of the Original
When compared to its 2019 predecessor, the sequel’s performance is disappointing. The film is projected to finish around ₹70-75 crore net, which is approximately 25% short of the original De De Pyaar De in raw unadjusted numbers. When accounting for inflation, the gap widens even further—it could earn nearly half of what the first film generated.
The second weekend is headed for ₹11 crore net approximately, taking the total to ₹59 crore, which positions it below initial trade expectations.
The Genre Challenge in Post-Pandemic Era
The film faces a genre problem as romantic comedies have struggled in the post-pandemic era. Audiences’ viewing preferences have shifted dramatically, with family-friendly rom-coms finding it harder to draw crowds compared to action spectacles and horror thrillers.
Despite this industry-wide challenge, analysts believe De De Pyaar De 2 could have performed better considering its established franchise value and star power.
Cast and Crew Keeping It Afloat
The film benefits from its stellar ensemble cast featuring Ajay Devgn returning as Ashish, Rakul Preet Singh as Ayesha, and new addition R Madhavan playing a pivotal role. The chemistry between the leads and Madhavan’s fresh dynamics have earned positive word-of-mouth from audiences.
Directed by Anshul Sharma and produced by T-Series and Luv Films, the sequel explores age-gap romance with humor and emotional depth. The storyline follows Ashish meeting Ayesha’s parents, creating comedic chaos while addressing societal judgments about unconventional relationships.
For more insights on Bollywood box office trends and what makes romantic comedies click with audiences.
Competition from New Releases
The second weekend brought fresh competition from 120 Bahadur and Mastiii 4, both releasing on November 22. While De De Pyaar De 2 managed to hold its ground and outperform these new entrants on Saturday, the crowded marketplace divided audience attention and screen availability.
What’s Next for the Film?
With the ₹54 crore mark achieved, the film will comfortably cross ₹60 crore by Sunday evening. The crucial weekdays ahead will determine whether it can stretch toward the optimistic ₹75 crore mark or settle closer to ₹70 crore.
The film needs strong weekday holds and minimal competition to maximize its theatrical run. However, with December releases on the horizon, its window to capitalize is rapidly closing.
Explore more about Ajay Devgn’s filmography and his box office journey over the decades.
Check official updates on T-Series official website and stream updates from Ajay Devgn Films.
