Sanjay Dutt’s Aakhri Sawal has turned out to be a major disappointment at the box office. Released with decent expectations on Friday, the film has struggled to attract audiences during its opening weekend.
According to the latest trade estimates, Aakhri Sawal collected only Rs. 1.90 crore in India within three days. Considering its reported budget of Rs. 30 crores, the film now faces a difficult road towards recovery.
The opening itself hinted at trouble for the film. Aakhri Sawal earned just Rs. 40 lakhs on its first day, showing limited audience interest from the beginning.
Collections remained weak over the weekend. The film added around Rs. 70 lakhs on the second day and nearly Rs. 80 lakhs on the third day.
Its overseas performance pushed the worldwide total close to Rs. 2.70 crores. However, the numbers are still far below expectations for a film led by Sanjay Dutt.
Trade experts believe that controversial themes alone are no longer enough to guarantee strong box office performance. According to several critics, star power and strong audience connection remain crucial for a film’s survival.
Many analysts also pointed out that Sanjay Dutt currently enjoys stronger acceptance in villain roles rather than as a solo lead hero. His recent performances in negative characters have received far more attention from audiences.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Dutt has already confirmed sequels to some of his cult classic films. However, trade circles are reportedly worried about the commercial prospects of those projects after the weak response to Aakhri Sawal.
Some online users blamed poor promotional planning for the film’s low collections. Many felt the marketing campaign failed to create enough excitement before release.
The situation could become more difficult in the coming weeks as several big-star films are preparing for release. Aakhri Sawal may struggle to retain screens if collections continue to remain low.
A section of critics believes Sanjay Dutt should focus more on supporting and villain roles instead of attempting solo hero projects. Still, only time will reveal what direction he chooses for his future films.
