Shah Rukh Khan's 'Dunki' faces a dip at the box office on day 2; stands at 49.20 Crores

In a cinematic clash that echoes the diverse landscapes of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan's latest film, 'Dunki,' finds itself grappling with an unexpected slowdown at the box office, while Prashant Neel's 'Salaar: Part One Ceasefire' asserts its dominance as the unparalleled opener of the year.

Despite high expectations surrounding the film directed by Rajkumar Hirani, 'Dunki' appears to be facing challenges in luring audiences to theaters. According to an early estimate on Sacnilk.com, the film witnessed a dip in box office numbers, earning aprrox Rs 20 crore on its second day after an opening day collection of Rs 30 crore. The total accumulation for 'Dunki' now stands at Rs 49.20 crore.

The film, centered around the theme of illegal immigration through a technique known as 'donkey route,' boasts an ensemble cast featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Boman Irani, Vikram Kochhar, and Anil Grover. Despite its intriguing premise, 'Dunki' failed to meet the fervor expected from a Shah Rukh Khan starrer, marking his lowest film opening of 2023.

With an overall occupancy rate of 31.22 percent (Hindi) on Friday, 'Dunki' faced a lukewarm response in Indian theaters. Mumbai and Chennai recorded the highest occupancy levels compared to other cities across the country. But the film is surprisingly doing good overseas and raked in Rs 58 crores on its first day of release. 

In contrast, 'Salaar: Part One Ceasefire' seems to be rewriting the rules of box office success. Starring Prabhas, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Shruti Haasan, the film, released on December 22nd, has surged ahead as the year's biggest opener. The magnum opus directed by Prashant Neel has outshone records set by films like 'Jawan,' 'Pathaan,' and 'Animal.'