Ascending sharply from its initial take-off at the box office, ‘Fighter’, starring Hrithik Roshan, has witnessed a remarkable upsurge in its Day 2 earnings. This aerial action spectacle helmed by Siddharth Anand, which had fetched a satisfactory Rs 24 crore on its opening day, soared on the second day, propelled by an enthusiastic response to its high-octane aerial maneuvers and combat sequences.
The Republic Day of 2024 proved to be a boon for the flight of ‘Fighter’, as the movie’s collections inflated by over 70% to reach an estimated Rs 39 crore. This surge is reflective of the nation’s holiday spirit and appreciation for a film that salutes the valor of the Indian Air Force. The two-day total domestic box office earnings climbed to a powerful Rs 61 crore, positioning ‘Fighter’ en route to an impressive opening weekend forecast of Rs 120 crore to Rs 150 crore.
The story told by ‘Fighter’ orbits around a squadron of Indian Air Force fighter pilots, showcasing their adrenaline-filled lives against the backdrop of a gripping conflict narrative. Adding to the film’s star power are Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor, alongside Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi, all of whom have supported Roshan in this patriotic saga.
Despite the competition on the cinema front, ‘Fighter’ managed to exhibit substantial footfall, as reported by the film tracker Sacnilk. The occupancy rates suggest a significant crowd engagement with a 41% occupancy for the standard 2D screenings and a slightly higher 42% for the 3D ones. It was the evening shows that saw the most significant chunk of the audience, particularly in metropolitan regions like Mumbai and Delhi NCR, which hovered around the 50% mark. A standout performance came from Chennai, where the occupancy rate exceeded 80%, as limited showings drew massive interest from filmgoers.
Accolades poured in for ‘Fighter’ as it followed on the heels of Siddharth Anand’s previous year’s blockbuster ‘Pathaan’, which broke all existing box office records upon its release. The timing of ‘Fighter’s’ release was nothing short of tactical perfection—dropping on the heels of Republic Day, it offered a resonant thematic experience to a patriotic audience.
While ‘Fighter’ did not match the staggering Rs 57 crore opening of ‘Pathaan’, its respectable Rs 24.6 crore haul on Day 1 was nevertheless seen as a harbinger of a successful run to come, especially as critical acclaim started to bolster audience interest.
Known for his industry insights, trade analyst Taran Adarsh took to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to share his perspective on this cinematic contender. Adarsh observed a moderate start for ‘Fighter’ on its first day, which picked up notably in the post-5 pm shows. Despite what might be seen as a subdued beginning for such a high-profile release, Adarsh pointed to positive audience feedback as an indicator of momentum, hinting at the promise of robust collections over the Republic Day holiday and subsequent weekend.
As the skies clear for ‘Fighter,’ all eyes are on this aerial drama to see whether it will cruise comfortably into the much-coveted Rs 100 crore club—a domain familiar to its leading man Hrithik Roshan and a testament to the enduring appeal of high-stakes action and patriotic fervor in Indian cinema. With an already fierce trajectory, ‘Fighter’ is well on its way to becoming another gleaming jewel in the crown of Bollywood’s box office rulers.
