Advance bookings and opening day expectations
David Dhawan’s latest romantic comedy, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, is all set to hit theatres. Starring Varun Dhawan, Pooja Hegde, and Mrunal Thakur, the film has closed its advance bookings on a decent note. Industry sources reveal that around 32,000 tickets have been sold across the top two national chains, PVR Inox and Cinepolis, for the opening day.
Compared to some recent releases in the same genre, the numbers look respectable. For instance, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do had sold around 13,500 tickets in the same chains, while De De Pyaar De 2 managed nearly 25,000. However, it still trails behind Varun Dhawan’s last film, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari.
Trade analysts believe the movie has a realistic chance of opening in the range of Rs 7 crore on its first day. The final numbers will depend on how strong the spot bookings and walk-ins turn out to be. If the film manages to get positive word-of-mouth, it could see a decent jump over the weekend, especially on Saturday and Sunday.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh’s review
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh took to his X handle to share his review of the film, giving it 3.5 stars. He wrote, ‘#OneWordReview…#HaiJawaniTohIshqHonaHai: ENTERTAINING. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½ #DavidDhawan believes in one mantra – entertainment – and #HJTIHH offers that in abundance… A stress-buster that leaves you smiling.’
He added, ‘Don’t look for logic; sit back and enjoy the ride! #DavidDhawan has never chased novelty in storytelling… His strength lies in taking familiar ingredients – romance, comedy, confusion, misunderstandings, colourful characters, and chartbuster music – and packaging them into a thoroughly enjoyable entertainer.’
Adarsh also praised Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, and Pooja Hegde for their performances. ‘#VarunDhawan should silence all those who doubted his suitability for this role… He has a flair for comedy and displays perfect comic timing, boundless energy, and tremendous confidence throughout. #MrunalThakur and #PoojaHegde add glamour, charm, and confidence to the proceedings, complementing the narrative effectively.’
The supporting cast also received high praise. ‘#JimmyShergill is wonderful… #MouniRoy spices up the proceedings… #RakeshBedi is superb yet again… #ChunkyPanday is hilarious, contributing to some genuinely funny moments… #ManieshPaul is in top form…#RajeshKumar is first-rate.’
Box office prospects and competition
Being a typical David Dhawan entertainer, the film is expected to rely heavily on humour, chemistry between the leads, and feel-good moments. With no major competition in the coming days, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai has a fair window to perform, provided audiences connect with its light-hearted vibe.
The film marks another outing for Varun Dhawan in the romantic-comedy space after a string of different genres. Whether it clicks with the masses or not will become clear in the next 24–48 hours. All eyes are now on the initial audience reactions and word-of-mouth buzz.