Rajkummar Rao's 'Bhool Chuk Maaf' starts off steady on day one; Will weekend boost follow?

Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi’s latest film Bhool Chuk Maaf hit theatres on May 23 with a fair opening at the box office, collecting Rs 7.20 crore nett on day one, according to early estimates as shared by Maddock's official page. Directed by Karan Sharma and produced by Maddock Films, the comedy is based on a quirky time-loop concept where a groom-to-be finds himself stuck reliving the day before his wedding.

While the numbers aren’t groundbreaking, they do mark an improvement over Rajkummar’s last theatrical release Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, which managed Rs 5.5 crore on its opening day. However, Bhool Chuk Maaf still falls short of the actor’s recent blockbuster Stree 2, which raked in Rs 51.8 crore on day one. With a 19.36% occupancy across Hindi circuits, the film’s Friday performance puts it at the 7th spot among Bollywood’s top openings of 2025.

The journey to its theatrical release wasn’t without hiccups. Just weeks before hitting cinemas, Maddock Films had announced that Bhool Chuk Maaf would skip theatres entirely and premiere directly on Amazon Prime Video on May 16, citing security concerns due to nationwide drills under Operation Sindoor. However, this move sparked a legal tussle with multiplex giant PVRINOX, which challenged the decision in court. The issue was resolved amicably after a mutual understanding was reached between Maddock Films, Amazon MGM Studios, and PVRINOX, leading to a final theatrical release on May 23.

Now that the film is finally in theatres, its performance over the weekend will be crucial. With mixed initial reviews and a unique plot, the film could benefit from strong word-of-mouth. Industry buzz suggests that Bhool Chuk Maaf might drop on Amazon Prime Video as early as June 6, giving the makers a dual platform boost.

Backed by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films and featuring a cast led by Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi, Bhool Chuk Maaf still has a chance to pick up pace in the coming days, both at the box office and digitally.