Box office: 'LSD 2' disappoints; opens with just ₹15 lakh
The long-awaited sequel to Love Sex Aur Dhokha, titled Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2 (LSD 2), hit theaters on Friday, facing off against Vidya Balan's Do Aur Do Pyaar. Directed by Dibakar Banerjee and backed by Ektaa Kapoor, the movie explores three interconnected stories set in the digital age, emphasizing the consequences of love and betrayal. Despite the hype surrounding it, LSD 2 debuted with a lukewarm start, pulling in just ₹15 lakh at the box office.
Why does this story matter?
Compared to its 2010 predecessor, Love Sex and Dhoka, which garnered positive reviews and commercial success, LSD 2 has a lot to live up to. The original film, made on a modest budget of ₹20M (US$250,000), grossed ₹97.8M (US$1.2M), reportedly. As the new installment hits theaters, it remains uncertain whether it will replicate the success of its predecessor in the coming days. After its theatrical run, it will be available to stream on Netflix.
Opening day collection and occupancy rate: In detail
On its opening day, LSD 2 earned ₹15 lakh domestically and reported an overall Hindi occupancy rate of just 5.48%. The film maintained steady occupancy rates throughout the day: morning shows at 5.23%, afternoon screenings at 5.39%, evening shows at 5.41%, peaking at night with an occupancy rate of 5.90%. Meanwhile, Do Aur Do Pyaar—starring Balan, Pratik Gandhi, Ileana D'Cruz, and Sendhil Ramamurthy—didn't fare any better, collecting just ₹0.5cr on Friday.
Plot and cast details
The film's narrative revolves around three characters: a transitioning female named Noor (Paritosh Tiwari), a trans woman and vlogger named Kullu (Bonita Rajpurohit), and a young gamer (Abhinav Santosh Singh) whose pursuit of more followers lands him in trouble. Apart from the three leading cast members, the ensemble cast of the film also includes Paritosh Tiwari, Swastika Mukherjee, Mouni Roy, Anu Malik, Tusshar Kapoor, and Uorfi Javed. Read our LSD 2 review here.
'Disaster': Audience reactions to 'LSD 2' vary
Initial reactions to LSD 2 on X/Twitter were mixed. Some users appreciated the film's boldness but found it lacking in engagement. One user commented: "The story of the film is neither special nor good. An attempt has been made to show a particular community. But the audience will probably like it. It depends on the audience." Another user noted: "LSD 2 is turning out to be a big disaster! I'm already exhausted."
