Box office: Aayush Sharma's 'Ruslaan' opens to disappointing numbers
What's the story
Amid the prevailing drought in Bollywood, Aayush Sharma's Ruslaan joins the lineup of disappointments in theaters.
Despite Sharma's vigorous promotional efforts, the film managed to muster only ₹60 lakh on its opening day on Friday.
However, it's worth noting that Ruslaan's modest debut surpassed the meager ₹50 lakh earnings of Vidya Balan's Do Aur Do Pyaar and Dibakar Banerjee's Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2 (₹15 lakh) on their opening day last Friday.
Context
Why does this story matter?
Sharma—known for his familial ties to Salman Khan through his marriage to Arpita Khan—made his silver screen debut in the 2018 film Loveyatri, which enjoyed a commendable performance by earning ₹2cr on its opening day.
He subsequently graced the screen alongside Khan in Antim: The Final Truth (2021), which also made a noteworthy debut of ₹5.03cr.
Despite Sharma's strong track record at the box office, the uncertainty surrounding Ruslaan's reception leaves its fate uncertain.
Occupancy stats
'Ruslaan' recorded a Hindi occupancy rate of 6.42%
Per Sacnilk, Ruslaan recorded a Hindi occupancy rate of 6.42% on its debut day, with Chennai leading the occupancy rates at 16%.
The breakdown of occupancy rates across different showtimes reveals the following figures: Morning Shows: 5.01%, Afternoon Shows: 7.00%, Evening Shows: 6.14%, and Night Shows: 7.54%.
Directed by Karan Lalit Butani, the film also features actors Sushrii Shreya Mishraa, Jagapathi Babu, and Vidya Malvade in prominent roles.
Storyline
What is 'Ruslaan' all about?
Supported by K. K. Radhamohan, Ruslaan follows the journey of its titular character (Sharma) who is the son of a deceased terrorist and brought up by an ATS officer, played by Babu.
Ruslaan is on a mission to prevent a potentially catastrophic terrorist attack on Mumbai.
The film has garnered predominantly negative reviews from critics, with many citing its lackluster storyline as the main drawback.
Read our Ruslaan review.
Actor's aspiration
'Khan has seen the film...his blessings are always there': Sharma
At the trailer launch of Ruslaan, Sharma expressed his hopes of making Khan proud with this new venture.
He stated, "In my earlier two films, I shared the screen with him (Khan). He has seen the film and his blessings are always there with me."
"With this film, I am stepping out into the real world and working with new people. I hope I make him proud," he further added.