"Shehzada" (2023) Box Office Collection
Shehzada, a Hindi-language action-comedy film directed by Rohit Dhawan and
starring Kartik Aaryan in the lead role, was released in February 2023. The
film is a remake of the Telugu hit Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020), which
starred Allu Arjun. The Hindi version, which also featured Kriti Sanon, Paresh
Rawal, and Manisha Koirala, revolves around a man who discovers he was switched
at birth and sets out to claim his rightful position in a wealthy family. The
film had high expectations due to Kartik Aaryan's growing popularity, but it
faced a tough competitive landscape, especially with several major films
releasing around the same time.
"Shehzada" (2023) Box Office Collection
Shehzada had a relatively underwhelming start at the box office, with an opening
day collection of ₹6.5 crore (approximately $800,000). This was lower than
expected for a film starring a popular actor like Kartik Aaryan, and it
struggled to create significant buzz despite its mass appeal and catchy
soundtrack. The film’s box office performance was somewhat affected by its lack
of novelty compared to the original Telugu film, and by competition from other
Bollywood releases. While the film did see a slight uptick over the weekend,
the growth was not as strong as anticipated, especially for a mass entertainer.
By the end of its first week, Shehzada had accumulated ₹30-35
crore (approximately $3.5-4 million) in India, which was considered a modest
total for a big-budget film in this genre. The film faced challenges in
sustaining momentum in the following weeks, as it struggled to perform strongly
in metro cities, where audiences were gravitating more toward other films.
However, the movie did manage to secure some traction in smaller towns and
single-screen theaters, which helped maintain a decent hold in certain regions.
Ultimately, Shehzada ended its theatrical run with a total
worldwide box office collection of around ₹50-55 crore (approximately $6-7
million), making it a commercial disappointment compared to expectations. While
Kartik Aaryan's performance and the film's comedy elements were appreciated by
some, the lack of fresh appeal and the challenge of living up to the success of
the original Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo resulted in a lackluster
performance. Despite being a big release, Shehzada struggled to find its
audience, and its box office earnings reflected the challenge of remaking a hit
film while meeting audience expectations.