Bobby Deol’s Bandar Opens Slow Despite Strong Critical Acclaim

Bobby Deol’s much-anticipated crime thriller Bandar, directed by Anurag Kashyap, hit theatres on June 4 to a muted box office start despite receiving widespread critical praise. Released across just over 300 screens in India, the film collected Rs 50 lakh net on its opening day, with occupancy hovering at a modest 13%.

Tough Competition Dims Opening Day Numbers

The film’s limited release put it at a significant disadvantage against the family entertainer Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, starring Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, and Pooja Hegde. That film opened across 2,500 screens and pulled in Rs 7.50 crore on day one — a stark contrast that underlines the uphill challenge Bandar faces commercially. While the numbers are not entirely unexpected for a niche, content-driven film, they fell short of expectations given Bobby Deol’s recent resurgence in popularity.

Critics Praise Bobby Deol’s Career-Best Performance

Despite the slow start at the box office, Bandar has earned strong word of mouth. Reviewers have called Bobby Deol’s portrayal of Samar — a declining singer-actor entangled in a rape accusation — one of the finest performances of his career. Anurag Kashyap’s direction has similarly drawn admiration, with many calling it among his best work in years.

Written by Sudip Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee and inspired by real events, the film also stars Sanya Malhotra, Sapna Pabbi, Saba Azad, Indrajith Sukumaran, Raj B. Shetty, and Jitendra Joshi. Whether strong audience appreciation will drive footfall in the coming days remains the key question for the film’s box office fate.