Kesari 2 Box Office Collection Day 1: Akshay Kumar’s Film Starts Slow with ₹7.1 Crore on Opening Day

Kesari 2 Box Office Collection Day 1:Akshay Kumar's latest release, Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh, hit theatres on Friday, April 18. Unlike its 2019 predecessor, this sequel moves away from battlefield action to spotlight a powerful courtroom drama centered on the aftermath of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The shift in tone and storytelling has sparked interest-and some questions-about the film's potential box office run.

The film collected ₹7.1 crore on its opening day-significantly lower than the ₹21.06 crore Kesari had earned when it opened back in 2019. While the Good Friday holiday was expected to boost collections, the numbers didn't quite match the anticipation.

Trade expert Atul Mohan gave a cautious take on the film's prospects:

"The real jump in earnings will likely begin from Saturday afternoon shows. For a film led by an A-list star like Akshay Kumar, ₹7-8 crore is a slow start. But this isn't a massy film-it's more niche. The film has about two weeks to pick up before facing competition from Raid 2 on May 1. If word-of-mouth is positive, it can make ₹35-40 crore in its first weekend."

Film trade analyst Komal Nahta echoed the sentiment, stressing the importance of audience feedback:

"If it earns ₹8 crore on day one, that's a decent start. It will likely grow in the coming days thanks to word-of-mouth. A film like this depends on viewer reactions to build momentum."

A Different Take on History

Kesari Chapter 2 dramatizes a legal battle led by C. Shankaran Nair (played by Akshay Kumar), who took on the British government in the wake of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The film draws from the book The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat.

The cast also includes R Madhavan, Ananya Panday, and Regina Cassandra in pivotal roles. Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and backed by producers Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, and Apoorva Mehta, the film promises a fresh narrative rooted in a key moment from India's colonial past.

A Wait-and-Watch Game

Despite a slow opening, Kesari 2 may still find its footing, especially if reviews and audience feedback help draw more viewers to cinemas. As it continues its theatrical run, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether this historical courtroom drama can live up to expectations.