Bollywood actor-producer Farhan Akhtar’s new war-drama 120 Bahadur made a modest box office start, collecting approximately ₹2.35 crore on its first day of release. This under-performance marks the sixth consecutive film of Farhan Akhtar that has failed to breach the ₹3 crore benchmark on opening day. The Times of India
Despite the film’s large scale, patriotic theme and strong marketing, the opening numbers suggest that even established stars are facing challenges in driving large initial footfalls in theatrical releases.
Box-Office Context and Comparisons
120 Bahadur debuted just under the ₹3 crore threshold — considered a key early marker for success among Bollywood mid-sized films. For comparison:
- Farhan Akhtar’s 2019 film The Sky Is Pink opened to around ₹2.50 crore, despite being a niche content-driven film. The Times of India
- The latest result implies the actor’s box-office traction has stagnated rather than improved.
Trade analysts attribute several factors to this trend:
- increasing digital competition
- audience fragmentation (single screens vs multiplexes)
- higher ticket price sensitivity
- shifting viewing habits in the post-pandemic era
What the Film is About
120 Bahadur is a high-profile war drama based on the legendary 1962 Battle of Rezang La in Ladakh, where 120 Indian soldiers reportedly took on an overwhelming enemy force. Farhan Akhtar stars as Major Shaitan Singh, leading the charge. Wikipedia+1
The film had significant buzz pre-release:
- A large-scale promotional campaign
- Reports of “highest-altitude” screening plans in Ladakh
- Strong production credentials and patriotic positioning
Yet the opening day outcome falls short of the box-office expectations set by the marketing.
Analysis: Why Did It Under-Perform?
1. Niche Appeal
Though war epics have mass appeal in India, this film may lean towards multiplex and metro audiences, limiting single-screen traction.
2. Release Strategy
Reports indicate the film had a limited release in around 900-1,000 screens, with fewer shows in B- and C- centres. Wikipedia
3. Competition & Timing
Box-office timing, competing releases, and audience volume dynamics all play a role. A sub-₹3 crore opening signals weak momentum, making recovery difficult.
4. Star Power vs Content Surge
Even a star like Farhan Akhtar may not guarantee footfalls without strong early word-of-mouth or mass-screen demand.
Implications for Farhan Akhtar & the Film Industry
For Farhan Akhtar, this marks a continued pattern of under-performing openings, which may impact his bankability in mass-market cinema. For the industry:
- Further underscores the risk-profile of large-budget content films
- Highlights the need for wide release strategies, aggressive maketing, and strong early reviews
- Signals that patriotic war-dramas alone cannot guarantee commercial success — audience expectations and word-of-mouth matter
What Happens Next?
Although the opening day is weak, the film’s ultimate success will depend on:
- weekend hold and subsequent weekdays
- word-of-mouth and critic reviews
- overseas performance and ancillary revenues
- digital rights deals and satellite broadcast earnings
Trade executives will be watching the first full week closely to determine if 120 Bahadur can recover through content strength or if the opening gap proves too steep.
