Despite star power and promotional buzz, “Param Sundari” wrapped its theatrical run at a disappointing ₹48.50 crore net in India—falling short of even the modest ₹50 crore mark. The Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor romantic comedy became another cautionary tale about how even established stars can’t guarantee box office success. Let’s break down what happened.
Table of Contents
Param Sundari Box Office Performance
| Week | Collections (Nett) | % Drop | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | ₹37 crore | — | BOGO offers boosted weekdays |
| Week 2 | ₹9 crore | 75% | New releases killed momentum |
| Week 3 | ₹2.50 crore | 72% | Theatrical surrender began |
| Week 4 | ₹0.25 crore | 90% | Jolly LLB 3 dominated |
| Total | ₹48.50 crore | — | Below ₹50 crore target |
The Opening Week: Artificial Inflation
Released on August 29, 2025, “Param Sundari” opened with ₹6.85 crore—decent but not spectacular. The film’s ₹37 crore opening week looks respectable until you realize it was heavily boosted by Buy-One-Get-One (BOGO) ticket offers during weekdays.
Without these promotional schemes, Week 1 collections would’ve been significantly lower. This artificial inflation created a false sense of success that quickly evaporated once regular pricing returned. For more insights on box office trends and theatrical strategies, explore our entertainment business analysis.
The Second Week Collapse
Week 2 proved catastrophic, with collections plummeting 75% to just ₹9 crore. Three factors contributed to this dramatic fall:
1. New Competition: “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” “Baaghi 4,” and “The Bengal Files” diverted audience attention.
2. Mixed Word-of-Mouth: Despite decent music (Sonu Nigam’s “Pardesiya” generated buzz), the film received mixed reviews that dampened repeat viewing.
3. Limited Appeal: The romantic comedy genre, once Bollywood’s bread and butter, has struggled recently with changing audience preferences.
Weeks 3-4: The Crawl to Finish
By Week 3, “Param Sundari” collected a mere ₹2.50 crore, essentially surrendering its theatrical presence. The fourth week brought in just ₹0.25 crore as “Jolly LLB 3” dominated screens. The film couldn’t even cross the psychological ₹50 crore barrier—a disappointing finale for a Maddock Films production featuring two bankable stars.
What Went Wrong?
Generic Storytelling
Directed by Tushar Jalota, the film reportedly followed predictable romantic comedy tropes without offering fresh perspectives. Today’s audiences, spoiled by content-rich OTT platforms, demand innovation over formula.
Promotional Strategy Missteps
While “Pardesiya” created initial buzz, subsequent promotional assets failed to sustain momentum. In today’s oversaturated entertainment landscape, consistent, engaging marketing is crucial.
Star Power Isn’t Enough
Both Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor are established names, but their recent box office track records have been inconsistent. Audiences increasingly choose content over stars, making script quality paramount.
Competition Timing
Releasing alongside multiple films meant “Param Sundari” never got breathing room. Strategic release date selection could have improved its chances significantly.
The Silver Lining: Non-Theatrical Rights
Despite theatrical disappointment, Maddock Films secured table profits by selling non-theatrical rights (OTT, satellite, music) at favorable prices. This modern revenue model means theatrical underperformance doesn’t necessarily equal financial disaster.
Streaming platforms pay premium prices for star-led content, ensuring producers recoup investments even when theaters don’t deliver. For updates on OTT economics and entertainment business models, check our latest coverage.
What This Means for the Stars
Sidharth Malhotra
This marks another box office setback for Malhotra, who needs a solid commercial hit to reestablish market standing. His choices moving forward will be critical.
Janhvi Kapoor
Interestingly, Janhvi’s next release “Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari” (opposite Varun Dhawan) already generates more positive buzz. Her career trajectory depends on making smarter script choices rather than relying solely on banner prestige.
Lessons for Bollywood
Content is King: Star power alone won’t save mediocre scripts.
Honest Pricing: BOGO schemes create temporary spikes but don’t build sustainable success.
Strategic Releases: Avoid crowded weekends when possible, especially without strong differentiation.
Marketing Matters: Maintaining promotional momentum throughout theatrical runs is essential.
What’s Next?
All eyes now shift to “Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari,” which also stars Janhvi Kapoor but alongside Varun Dhawan. Early indicators suggest better positioning and audience anticipation. Will it break Janhvi’s current box office slump?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Did Param Sundari lose money despite poor box office performance?
No, Maddock Films secured table profits by selling non-theatrical rights (OTT streaming, satellite broadcast, music) at good prices before theatrical release. This modern revenue model ensures producers recover investments even when theatrical collections disappoint. While the ₹48.50 crore theatrical total was underwhelming, the pre-sold digital and satellite rights likely covered production and marketing costs, making it financially viable despite being a box office failure.
Q2: Why did Param Sundari fail despite having popular stars like Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor?
Several factors contributed: generic storytelling without fresh perspectives, mixed critical and audience reception, strong competition from multiple releases in weeks 2-3, and declining box office pull of both lead actors. The film also relied on BOGO (Buy-One-Get-One) offers to boost Week 1 numbers, indicating weak organic demand. Modern audiences prioritize content quality over star power, and “Param Sundari’s” predictable romantic comedy formula failed to meet evolved viewer expectations shaped by diverse OTT content.
