In a weekend marked by recalibration rather than record-breaking runs, the Indian box office found a steady rhythm. The three-day frame saw Haq emerge as the leading new release, while holdovers like Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat maintained consistent traction. Meanwhile, the phenomenal run of Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 is nearing its legendary conclusion, solidifying its place as one of the biggest Indian films in history.
Haq Starts Strong, Gains Momentum
Haq opened to encouraging numbers, debuting at around ₹1.75 crore on Friday. The film gained strong word-of-mouth traction, surging to ₹3.35 crore on Saturday (+91%) and ₹3.85 crore on Sunday (+14.9%), bringing its first-weekend total to approximately ₹8.95 crore.
For a mid-scale film, this trajectory signals audience confidence built through content rather than pre-release hype. The Saturday jump reflects solid viewer response in urban centers, while Sunday’s hold indicates family audiences joining in. The key test ahead will be weekday stability and whether Haq can penetrate deeper into Tier-2 and Tier-3 circuits. If sustained, the film could become one of the year’s more profitable sleepers.
The Girlfriend Connects with Youth, Jatadhara Opens Modestly
Among other new releases, The Girlfriend posted a healthy weekend at around ₹6.85 crore. It started modestly on Friday (₹1.3 crore) but grew sharply to ₹2.55 crore on Saturday (+96%) and ₹3.00 crore on Sunday (early estimates). The Telugu version drove the numbers, accounting for nearly 90% of the weekend total, while the Hindi version added a smaller share.
Its youth-centric theme and music-driven promotion seem to have clicked with the target audience. If the film maintains steady weekday figures, it could mark another regional crossover success.
By contrast, Jatadhara had a quieter debut. Opening at ₹1.07 crore on Friday and maintaining that on Saturday, the film saw a slight dip to ₹0.99 crore on Sunday, collecting an estimated ₹3.13 crore over the weekend. Though not flashy, the film could benefit from regional word-of-mouth, particularly in Telugu-speaking markets where devotional dramas tend to hold better across weeks.
Together, these two titles highlight the growing importance of regional appeal and focused marketing in driving box-office performance for non-franchise films.
Holdovers Maintain Depth: Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat
Among holdovers, Thamma continued its run into the third weekend. The film earned about ₹0.80 crore on Friday, ₹1.50 crore on Saturday, and ₹1.65 crore on Sunday, totalling roughly ₹3.95 crore for the weekend. After 20 days, it has amassed around ₹131 crore India net.
The key takeaway from Thamma’s performance is consistency. Despite new competition, it’s still drawing repeat audiences in major metros and showing better-than-average retention in northern circuits. For a film in its third week, that’s a sign of genuine audience connect.
Similarly, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat held steady in its third weekend, collecting approximately ₹0.75 crore on Friday, ₹1.25 crore on Saturday, and ₹1.50 crore on Sunday — about ₹3.50 crore in total. Its India net has now reached around ₹75 crore, marking an impressive run for a mid-budget romantic drama made at about ₹30 crore.
Joining these two strong performers is The Taj Story, which continues to enjoy a respectable theatrical presence in its second weekend. It earned around ₹0.90 crore on Friday, rose to ₹1.75 crore on Saturday, and peaked at ₹2.15 crore on Sunday — closing the weekend with an estimated ₹4.80 crore. The steady weekend growth suggests that positive word-of-mouth and family audiences are sustaining its footfall, especially in urban and heritage-centric markets where the film’s subject resonates most.
The continued performance of these films underscores the maturing Indian box office — where smaller productions can coexist with large-scale releases if they deliver audience satisfaction.
Kantara’s Historic Run Nears Its Final Lap
After a record-shattering run that has dominated the Indian box office conversation for weeks, Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 is now approaching the final phase of its theatrical journey. The film’s cumulative worldwide gross has reached an extraordinary ₹843.6 crore, making it not just one of the highest-grossing Kannada-origin film ever but also a defining moment for regional Indian cinema on the global stage.
While the film’s India net collections have begun to slow after a near-month-long reign, its sustained overseas momentum has ensured continued returns. The phenomenon of Kantara lies in its cross-cultural resonance — a rooted story told with universal emotion. Its extraordinary box-office trajectory, spanning language barriers and regional divides, reflects how content-driven cinema can transcend scale and star power.
Market Trends & Insights
The current weekend paints a telling picture of India’s theatrical landscape in late 2025:
Post-festival correction, not collapse.
After a festive October surge, the market is now adjusting. Ticket sales are lower but stable, showing controlled declines rather than steep drops. This suggests a steady theatrical habit — a healthy sign for exhibitors after several uneven months.
Regional cinema’s national ascendancy.
Kantara is the clearest case study — a Kannada film turning into a nationwide cultural event. The ongoing regional surge reaffirms that linguistic boundaries are rapidly fading in theatrical performance. This is now a defining feature of the post-pandemic era of Indian cinema.
Balanced competition across markets.
While domestic films lead the charts, the Indian audience’s growing appetite for Hollywood and global releases — especially high-concept or genre films — continues to expand overall footfall and variety. Reports from Mint and The Economic Times note that a diversified content pipeline is helping sustain audience interest throughout the year.
What to Watch in the Coming Week
Will Haq convert its strong weekend into weekday stability and broader audience reach?
Can The Girlfriend build on its youth appeal and expand beyond Telugu belts?
For Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, steady midweek drops could determine whether they end as clean hits or semi-hits.
Finally, all eyes remain on Kantara’s cumulative climb, as it edges past final milestones and cements its 2025 crown.
This wasn’t a record-smashing weekend — but it was a reassuring one. The mix of emerging successes, steady holdovers, and a legendary conclusion in Kantara signifies balance, diversity, and endurance in India’s theatrical ecosystem.
With Haq leading the fresh slate, Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat holding firm, and Kantara closing its historic run, the Indian box office ends the weekend on a confident, evolving note — a reminder that the nation’s moviegoing heartbeat continues to thrive across scales, languages, and stories.
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