Director Shashank Khaitan’s much-anticipated family entertainer ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’, featuring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, has recorded a moderate start at the box office, collecting around Rs 9.25 crore net on its opening day in India.
The film, released on October 2, faces stiff competition from Rishab Shetty’s ‘Kantara Chapter 1’, the Kannada prequel that has stormed the box office with an impressive pan-India opening of over Rs 60 crore.
According to Sacnilk, on its first day, ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’ registered an overall occupancy of 32.45 percent, with evening shows driving the majority of the footfall. Regional trends highlighted clear differences: Chennai topped with 58 percent occupancy, followed by Bengaluru (51.33 percent) and Kolkata (45.67 percent). While Mumbai, NCR, and Hyderabad delivered solid numbers, cities like Surat, Bhopal, and Ahmedabad witnessed comparatively low turnout. Across markets, afternoon and evening shows drew the highest engagement, with Chennai standing out despite fewer screenings.
India Today’s review of the film pointed to its witty writing and nostalgic Bollywood references. “‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’s strength lies in its writing, peppered with dialogues that wink at iconic Bollywood moments – from SRK’s ‘Chak De’ monologue to a cheeky reference to ‘Mr. India’s’ ‘Kaante Nahin Katte’. The first half builds solidly and promises an equally strong payoff. Unfortunately, the film falters in its final act, with a rushed and illogical climax that undermines the buildup,’” a part of the review read.
Produced under Dharma Productions, the film stars Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, and Rohit Saraf, blending glossy visuals with romantic-comedy elements. While the opening was decent given the buzz and star cast, its box office journey will depend on sustaining momentum against the heavyweight ‘Kantara Chapter 1’.
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