Jaat Box Office Collection Day 2: Sunny Deol’s Film Goes South After Losing 400 Shows, Passes Rs 15 Crore

Published: April 12, 2025

Sunny Deol’s latest action-packed mass entertainer Jaat, directed by Telugu filmmaker Gopichand Malineni in his Hindi debut, had high expectations riding on the star power of the veteran actor. However, early trade reports suggest that the film’s momentum is faltering as it crosses the 15-crore mark on Day 2—hampered by the removal of over 400 shows across India.

What Happened on Day 2?

After opening with a promising Rs 9.5 crore on its debut day, Jaat has reportedly earned around Rs 7 crore on Day 2. This cumulative collection brings the domestic total to approximately Rs 16.5 crore. Despite a respectable opening overall, the film is now facing a steep challenge: a notable drop in theatre count.

According to an article from The Indian Express, over 400 shows were cut from the second-day schedules—most notably, around 100 shows in Mumbai and 30 in Delhi-NCR. The significant reduction in the number of screenings appears to be directly impacting ticket sales, causing the film’s performance to “go south” compared to initial expectations.

Factors Behind the Decline

Several factors seem to be contributing to the Day 2 performance of Jaat:

Loss of Theatre Shows:
The trimming of over 400 shows across key regions has limited the film’s availability. In cities like Mumbai and Delhi-NCR, where ticket sales are crucial, this reduction has led to lower overall occupancy. Industry analysts point out that this trimmed schedule has affected the potential numbers despite a strong opening.
Mixed Audience Reception:
Although Jaat features a strong ensemble—including Randeep Hooda, Vineet Kumar Singh, Saiyami Kher, and Regina Cassandra—critical and audience feedback remain mixed. Some trade pundits and early reactions note that while the film’s action sequences and nostalgic nods to classic mass films do resonate, its storytelling and pacing have not been uniformly engaging.
Competition and Regional Dynamics:
With Jaat aiming at a pan-India appeal, its performance in various circuits has been uneven. While the northern circuits—where Sunny Deol traditionally has a strong fan base—show decent turnout, urban multiplexes are underperforming. The reduction in the number of shows in key metro areas has further strained the film’s overall numbers.
Expectations vs. Performance:
Sunny Deol’s previous blockbuster Gadar 2 set sky-high benchmarks, and industry expectations were elevated for Jaat as well. However, despite a decent Day 1, the drop on Day 2 suggests that the film could struggle to maintain its initial momentum unless it finds a rebound over the coming weekend.

Industry Reactions

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh and other box office trackers have been vocal about the challenges Jaat is facing. In a detailed social media post, Adarsh mentioned that while the film initially picked up well due to strong spot bookings in mass circuits, the overall impact of reduced screening numbers is hard to ignore. He also noted that “urban centers reported low occupancy,” hinting that the film’s appeal is not as strong in multiplex-heavy regions.

An early report from NDTV confirms that despite crossing the Rs 15 crore mark, the trajectory shows a dip which makes it imperative for the extended weekend (which includes upcoming holidays) to be decisive in the film’s overall box office journey.

What Lies Ahead?

With the extended weekend approaching—bolstered by holidays like Mahavir Jayanti and Ambedkar Jayanti—the makers and distributors of Jaat are hopeful that increased footfall will reverse the downward trend seen on Day 2. Many industry insiders believe that a boost over the weekend could help salvage the film’s box office run, provided word-of-mouth picks up and the film finds resonance with a broader audience.

However, the stark contrast between the high expectations and the present performance serves as a reminder that even a star like Sunny Deol cannot always guarantee box office success without consistent audience engagement and optimal screen availability.

Conclusion

While Jaat managed to gather a cumulative domestic collection of around Rs 16.5 crore in its first two days, the significant loss of over 400 shows across India and the consequent drop in occupancy rates suggest that the film faces an uphill battle to sustain momentum. Industry experts remain cautiously optimistic about a weekend recovery, but it is clear that Jaat will need to capitalize on holiday footfall and positive word-of-mouth to evolve from a decent opening to a sustained success.

Only time will tell if Jaat can rebound and become one of the memorable action entertainers of 2025, or if it will end as a case study in how reduced screen presence can adversely impact a film’s overall prospects.

Stay tuned for more updates and in-depth box office analysis as the weekend unfolds.

Sources: The Indian Express, NDTV