Rs 3.50 Crore in Paid Previews — Welcome to the Jungle Has Fired Its First Shot at the Box Office, and It’s Decent

The jungle is officially open. Akshay Kumar’s Welcome to the Jungle kicked off its theatrical run with paid previews last night, and the first numbers are in. Here’s what they mean for the film’s opening weekend.

Welcome to the Jungle Paid Preview Box Office

The Numbers — Decent, Not Spectacular

As per estimates, Welcome to the Jungle collected around Rs. 3.50 crore nett in its Thursday previews, which started at 7:30 PM onwards. This is pretty similar to what Akshay Kumar’s previous film, Bhooth Bangla, collected in its paid previews. Yahoo Sports

For a franchise with the box office legacy of Welcome, a Rs. 3.50 crore preview is neither a danger sign nor a blockbuster signal — it’s a clean, workmanlike start that leaves everything open. The real test begins with Friday’s full-day run.

Why Friday Is Everything

The movie has mainly received positive to mixed reception in its initial reports. If the movie manages to strike a chord with the audience on Friday opening day, it will have a promising Day 1. The film should take advantage of the Muharram holiday and post a good start, with the potential to hit an opening day collection in the vicinity of Rs. 13 crore to Rs. 17 crore nett, with a pinpoint prediction at Rs. 16 crore. Yahoo Sports

Word-of-mouth from Thursday evening shows is already circulating — early audience reactions suggest the laughs are real, and that’s exactly what this film needs to build momentum over the weekend.

The Bigger Picture — Akshay Kumar & Bollywood Need This to Work

Khiladi Kumar has been going through a rough patch at the box office in the last couple of years. With back-to-back successful ventures last year and finally a Clean Hit with Bhooth Bangla, the actor is back in his element. The industry tends to have a good time when Akshay Kumar delivers hits — he makes sure to deliver two or three successful films a year, which keeps the box office ticking. Yahoo Sports

Since there will be a lot of competition in the coming weeks with Alpha, Dhamaal 4, The Odyssey and others, it will not be an easy task for the film unless it gets strong audience support with its content. Yahoo Sports

Track the full box office journey of Welcome to the Jungle and all major Bollywood releases live at TechnoSports Box Office, and read our complete Bollywood box office coverage for 2026.

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