Box Office Showdown: Who Won? 'Baaghi 4' vs 'The Conjuring: Last Rites' vs 'The Bengal Files' vs 'Madharaasi'

What a week it turned out to be. Sometimes you have a War 2 vs Coolie kind of clash, where two juggernauts collide and theatres get flooded with audiences who pick sides or even double-dip. Other times, one massive film dominates the landscape on its own, or the marquee is littered with so many small releases that half the crowd doesn’t even know they exist.

This time, though, the box office delivered the most unpredictable kind of weekend, a true mixed bag. Big franchise titles, smaller films, controversial dramas, and even an experimental comedy all jostled for space. That cocktail always makes for the most intriguing numbers, because it’s anyone’s guess which title will emerge victorious.

The lineup had everything. Bollywood dropped Baaghi 4, Tiger Shroff’s big-screen comeback in a fan-favorite action franchise. Hollywood countered with The Conjuring: Last Rites, the supposed swan song of one of horror’s most popular series.

Vivek Agnihotri stirred the pot with The Bengal Files, while A.R. Murugadoss unveiled Madrasi, a Tamil actioner that also got a dubbed Hindi release. To top it off, Ufff Yeh Siyapaa, a dialogue-free comedy, quietly slid into theatres. With so many players in the ring, who walked away with the crown? Let’s break it down.

Baaghi 4 vs Franchise Records

Tiger Shroff’s return was meant to be explosive, but Baaghi 4 only managed Rs 12 crore net on day one. For most films, that would be a solid start, but the franchise has set a higher bar. Baaghi 3 opened at Rs 17.5 crore, while Baaghi 2 stunned the trade with Rs 25.10 crore on its first day. Against those benchmarks, this new entry looks subdued.

Still, one factor in its favor is curiosity. With Sanjay Dutt, Sonam Bajwa, and Harnaz Sandhu joining the cast, the film has broadened its appeal.

The action was edgy enough to earn an “A” certificate, which may have trimmed family audiences on Friday but could attract loyalists over the weekend. Trade experts point out that the franchise thrives on repeat viewership and word of mouth, and those trends will become clearer after Saturday.

Clash with Other Hindi Releases

Among Hindi titles, Baaghi 4 comfortably took the lead. Vivek Agnihotri’s The Bengal Files earned Rs 1.75 crore, a modest figure given the chatter around its theme.

Political dramas have had their moments, but this one didn’t ignite opening-day fireworks. The silent comedy Ufff Yeh Siyapaa barely registered, drawing so little revenue that it barely made a dent in trade tracking.

This means that for Hindi-speaking audiences, Tiger’s franchise was still the biggest draw of the week.

The question is whether the film can stretch that advantage into the weekdays, or whether curiosity fizzles after the initial rush.

Hollywood and Regional Heat

The heavyweight challenger this weekend was not another Bollywood film but Hollywood horror. The Conjuring: Last Rites delivered a chilling Rs 18 crore net on day one in India, reminding everyone how strong the horror brand remains with younger crowds.

Its lead over Baaghi 4 is significant, showing that audiences are just as happy lining up for scares as they are for flying kicks.

Meanwhile, down South, AR Murugadoss’ Madrasi, starring Sivakarthikeyan and Rukmini Vasanth, became the surprise player. It raked in Rs 13 crore net across India, driven heavily by Tamil Nadu.

Cities like Chennai and Coimbatore were particularly strong, while the dubbed Hindi version (Dil Madrasi) brought negligible earnings. Still, the buzz in the South suggests it could sustain well over the weekend.

Audience Pulse

Occupancy reports add another layer to the picture. Baaghi 4 clocked around 28 percent overall, with night shows peaking at 37 percent. That late-night boost underlines the film’s appeal with younger, thrill-seeking crowds. Afternoon and evening shows were steady, and strong turnout in cities like Jaipur, Lucknow, Bengaluru, and Delhi NCR kept it visible on the radar.

Madrasi, on the other hand, pulled family audiences in Tamil Nadu, hinting at a wider weekend base. The Conjuring thrived with multiplex-goers in metros, where horror has a strong following.

Each film seemed to carve its own niche rather than cannibalising the other, which is why the box office landscape feels so fragmented yet exciting this week.

What's Next

Going forward, Baaghi 4 will need positive word of mouth to catch up to its predecessors, while The Conjuring looks set to dominate the weekend in India. Madrasi could surprise further if regional audiences keep turning up in big numbers.

For The Bengal Files, the road ahead looks uphill unless buzz snowballs from controversy. And as for Ufff Yeh Siyapaa, it may remain a forgotten footnote in an otherwise crowded weekend.

This rare mix of blockbusters, mid-range films, and small experiments made for a fascinating start to September. If nothing else, it proves that the Indian audience is spoilt for choice, and no single formula guarantees dominance anymore.