7,500 Tickets? Doubts Raised on Advance Bookings

Param Sundari, the upcoming romantic comedy produced by Maddock Films and starring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor, has reportedly sold 7,500 tickets across PVR, Inox and Cinepolis by Wednesday afternoon. The early numbers, however, have raised doubts in trade circles.

Out of the reported 7,500 pre-bookings, nearly 5,600 came from PVR and Inox, while Cinepolis added around 1,900 tickets. Though these numbers seem promising, many analysts remain skeptical about whether the sales reflect genuine audience interest.

Speculation suggests that a large part of these bookings may be corporate, a strategy production houses often use to boost initial buzz. Maddock Films has previously done this with films such as Chhaava, Sky Force and Bhool Chuk Maaf.

The studio has often faced criticism for creating a false perception of success by inflating early sales. In the case of Param Sundari, some believe the same formula is being used once again to generate attention ahead of release.

The film’s trailer has already drawn comparisons with Chennai Express, with many noting striking similarities. While this helped to create early chatter, audiences appear to have shifted focus and are waiting to see if the resemblance continues in the full film.

Trade experts note that buzz around Param Sundari should have grown more strongly in recent weeks, especially since talk around WAR 2 and Coolie has cooled down. Despite the open stage, the hype does not appear to be building.

Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor have promoted the film extensively with multiple city tours. Still, there are questions over whether these efforts have managed to create genuine anticipation or just surface-level publicity.

Analysts believe Param Sundari once had a chance at a double-digit opening. But given the growing skepticism, the film may now open with Rs 6–7 crores. While that is a fair number for a light-hearted film, it feels like another missed shot for Maddock.