Advance booking numbers create buzz
Varun Dhawan is back in action, and the audience seems more than ready. Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, directed by David Dhawan, has sold approximately 25,000 tickets across the top three national chains—PVR Inox and Cinepolis—as of Thursday evening, industry insiders reveal. The advance booking numbers are expected to close around the 30,000 mark, setting the stage for an opening day collection of around Rs 8 crore.
These figures are particularly impressive when compared to recent releases. Trade sources suggest the advance is twice that of Pati Patni Aur Woh and significantly higher than De De Pyaar De 2. The film is also outperforming other notable 2026 releases like Mardaani 3 and Chand Mera Dil in national chains, signaling strong audience interest in David Dhawan’s signature brand of comedy.
Single screens show promising movement
While the national chains are doing well, the real surprise has come from single-screen theaters. Reports indicate that pre-sales in non-national chains have taken an encouraging start, with strong walk-ins expected on the day of release. This bodes well for the film’s overall performance, as single screens often act as the true barometer of mass appeal for a comedy entertainer.
Industry observers note that the advance booking pattern of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai shows healthy demand across different segments of the market. Unlike some recent releases that have relied heavily on urban multiplex audiences, this film appears to be drawing interest from tier-2 and tier-3 cities as well.
What this means for Bollywood’s box office momentum
Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is shaping up to be another feather in the cap for the Hindi film industry, following the successes of Bhooth Bangla, Dhurandhar 2, and Border 2. Starring Varun Dhawan alongside Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur, the film’s strong advance booking numbers suggest that audiences are craving the kind of clean, rib-tickling comedy that David Dhawan is known for.
If word-of-mouth proves favorable after Friday’s release, the film could well surpass initial projections. For now, the director-son duo of David and Varun seems to have struck gold once again, reminding everyone why they remain one of Bollywood’s most reliable entertainers. The next few days will reveal whether Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai can convert this advance booking momentum into a full-blown box office blockbuster.