Varun Dhawan is back in the game, and how! His latest family entertainer Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai has stormed the box office on its opening day, collecting an estimated Rs 11 crore worldwide. The film, directed by his father David Dhawan, has emerged as the clear winner among this week’s new releases, leaving competitors far behind.
A Strong Start for Varun’s Family Entertainer
According to early estimates from industry tracking sources, the film earned approximately Rs 7.50 crore net in India on Friday, with a total of 9,081 shows across the country. The India gross stands at around Rs 9 crore, while international markets contributed an additional Rs 2 crore, pushing the worldwide total past the Rs 10 crore mark to an estimated Rs 11 crore. These numbers are particularly impressive given the film’s reported production budget of Rs 50-55 crore.
In comparison, Bobby Deol’s Bandar managed only Rs 50 lakh net on its first day from 1,365 shows, with its India gross at Rs 60 lakh. Meanwhile, Ram Charan’s Peddi, which had a multi-lingual release, earned an estimated Rs 3 crore net from its Hindi version on Friday. The film’s overall net collections across all languages stood at Rs 51 crore, with Telugu contributing the lion’s share of Rs 47.20 crore. Clearly, Varun’s film has taken the lead in the Hindi heartland.
Promotional Push and David Dhawan’s Final Film
Trade analysts attribute the strong opening to an aggressive promotional strategy. The makers partnered with a booking app to offer a special First Day Offer — a flat 50% discount of up to Rs 200 on tickets purchased for opening day screenings. While this may have lowered the average ticket price, it significantly boosted footfalls and drove occupancy across theatres nationwide. The strategy seems to have paid off, as the film now has a solid foundation for a strong weekend run.
This release also carries emotional weight. Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai marks the final directorial venture of veteran filmmaker David Dhawan, who has announced his retirement after this film. Known for delivering countless successful family entertainers over the decades, David reunites with his son Varun for one last collaboration. Fans are already calling it a fitting farewell to the comedy king.
What’s the Film About?
Starring Varun Dhawan as Jass and Mrunal Thakur as Bani, the film follows a married couple whose five-year relationship begins to unravel due to differing priorities around career ambitions and family planning. After their separation, Jass travels abroad and develops a new romantic connection with a character played by Pooja Hegde. The plot takes a comedic turn, staying true to David Dhawan’s signature style.
With a runtime of 2 hours and 16 minutes and a U/A certificate from the CBFC, the film is positioned as a fun, family-friendly watch. Early word-of-mouth suggests audiences are enjoying the lighthearted take on marriage and modern relationships. If the momentum continues over the weekend, this could be one of the biggest openers for Varun in recent times.