Phillauri a flop? Can Diljit save it?

Diljit Dosanjh's star power saves Anushka Sharma's Phillauri?

Will Diljit Dosanjh help Phillauri?

Diljit Dosanjh is a big name in Delhi and Punjab. He is a rockstar, a superstar actor, a charmer. Udta Punjab wouldn't have been as good without him. His Punjabi films are a rage in the North. That is also the reason why he could make inroads into Bollywood. His popularity can never be undermined in that belt and that's exactly is the reason why Phillauri has opened so well. According to Koimoi, the Delhi and Punjab circuit has taken a 40 percent opening! (Also read: Phillauri movie review: Anushka Sharma's ghost act ends up being a tiresome experience)

That's a tremendous number. Varun Dhawan's Badrinath Ki Dulhania's nationwide occupancy was 60 percent when it had released, Phillauri managed 40 percent in Delhi-Punjab circuit alone and that too in the early morning shows. It is expected to earn much more in the afternoon and evening shows. Same cannot be said about the rest of the country. The film has opened abysmally at the theatres with only 15 percent occupancy. We spoke to our trade expert to know how things look for the film at the box office.

Earlier, our trade expert had mentioned how the movie would rake in Rs 3 crore on day one. Our trade source believes that Phillauri might be able to achieve this, but with conditions applied. As he had predicted, "In the best case scenario, the movie will earn Rs 2-3 crore on day 1, that too if the evening shows pick up."

Reviews of the film haven't been that great either. TOI reviewed it saying, "Conceptually, Phillauri is a winner and that much was evident from the trailer. The idea is superbly original, culturally on point and has great potential. The problem is, you only get what you see in the trailer. Nothing more (and thankfully nothing less)," while India Today called it a KLPD saying, "Phillauri's concept is good and novel. But the delivery is what North Indians call KLPD."