‘Tere Ishk Mein’ Advance Booking: Slow Start For Dhanush, Kriti Sanon-Starrer Despite More Than 5,000 Shows
Dhanush and Kriti Sanon’s ‘Tere Ishk Mein’ faces a slow start with only Rs 1.42 crore in advance bookings despite a wide release across 5,400 shows.
Despite the palpable excitement surrounding Tamil superstar Dhanush’s return to Hindi cinema after a four-year hiatus, the box office reality appears to be starkly different. His latest collaboration with director Aanand L. Rai, ‘Tere Ishk Mein’ – which also marks the return of the ‘Raanjhanaa’ trio of Dhanush, Aanand L Rai, and composer AR Rahman – is witnessing a surprisingly sluggish start at the ticket windows.
According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film has managed to sell tickets worth just Rs 1.42 crore so far. Even when block seats are factored into the equation, the total pre-sales value stands at a modest Rs 3.14 crore. This is a concerning figure for a mid-budget entertainer expecting a strong opening.
'Tere Ishk Mein' has secured a massive nationwide release with 5,447 shows, indicating high confidence from exhibitors. However, the conversion rate remains worryingly low. In the Hindi belt, only 60,448 tickets have been sold, while the Tamil version has moved just 3,480 tickets across 125 shows. With the film set to release on November 28, it faces immense pressure to pick up momentum immediately. If the current trend continues, the film might be labelled a box office disappointment for the lead pair right out of the gate.
Geographically, the film is betting big on key territories. Maharashtra leads the screen count with a staggering 1,050 shows, followed by New Delhi with 734 shows and Gujarat with 683 shows. However, such a high show count is a double-edged sword. If these seats remain unfilled on Day 1, the film risks an underwhelming opening weekend. This could force exhibitors to reduce shows by Monday, drastically cutting the film's lifetime potential.
The stakes are particularly high given the recent track records of the cast. Dhanush’s last film ‘Idly Kadai’ earned Rs 50.48 crore net in India and over Rs 71 crore worldwide. However, his previous Hindi outing with Aanand L Rai, ‘Atrangi Re’, was a direct-to-OTT release on JioHotstar, making ‘Tere Ishk Mein’ a crucial test of his theatrical draw in the North.
Meanwhile, Kriti Sanon is coming off a theatrical success with ‘Crew’, which netted Rs 81 crore in India and over Rs 150 crore worldwide, setting expectations high for her performance here.
Directed by Aanand L. Rai with music by AR Rahman, ‘Tere Ishk Mein’ hits theatres this Friday. Unless word of mouth kicks in rapidly after the first show, the film faces an uphill battle.
