Karan Johar’s Punjabi directorial debut Akaal has become a box office flop, grossing a paltry ₹3.2 crore in the first four days.
Even with the support of Dharma Productions and the stardom of Gippy Grewal, the lopsided box office figures (₹85 lakh, ₹59 lakh, ₹77 lakh, and ₹1 crore per day) and cultural faux pas led to protests in Punjab, officially calling it Johar’s biggest failure.
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Step in Kesari 2, Akshay Kumar’s moderately-hyped sequel to his 2019 blockbuster. Priced for release on 18th April, the film has a surprise problem: muted buzz. Even after aggressive promotions and pre-release accolades for its dark teaser, the buzz is not even in the same league as created by recent big-ticket releases.
Trade analysts are projecting a ₹23–26 crore opening—Akshay’s highest in 2025, maybe—but fans fear the movie lacks the viral “X-factor” needed to draw attention.
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The similarities are difficult to overlook. Akaal’s flop is a caution against cultural misrepresentation, and Kesari 2’s Punjab-focussed narrative treads the fine line between authenticity and mass appeal.
Will Akshay be able to match the original’s ₹150+ crore success, or will it fall prey to the curse of sequels? With Johar’s faux pas still fresh in memory, Bollywood is waiting eagerly for Kesari 2 to spark the industry’s box office fire.
