Slow and steady wins the race?
Bobby Deol’s latest crime drama ‘Bandar’ might not be setting the box office on fire, but it’s definitely inching forward. The film, directed by Anurag Kashyap, has been receiving positive reviews from those who have caught it in theatres, with some critics even calling Bobby’s performance his “career best.” However, the audience turnout has been modest so far.
Industry insiders suggest the makers never aimed for a blockbuster opening weekend. Instead, they’re banking on word-of-mouth to build momentum. And the numbers seem to reflect that strategy—slow but steady growth.
Day-wise collection breakdown
According to early estimates, ‘Bandar’ earned Rs 0.50 crore on its opening day. Day two saw a jump to Rs 0.95 crore, and on day three, the film collected Rs 1 crore across 1,076 shows. That’s a growth of about 5.3% from the previous day.
The total India net collection now stands at Rs 2.45 crore, while the gross earnings are Rs 2.94 crore. Not a massive haul, but for a film that relies on positive buzz, every rupee counts.
Box office clash and more about the film
‘Bandar’ faced competition from David Dhawan’s ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ and Buchi Babu Sana’s ‘Peddi’ at the ticket window. It’s also sharing screens with ‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’.
The story follows a once-popular star who is wrongfully accused of rape by a former girlfriend and finds himself trapped in a ruthless, corrupt prison system. Bobby had earlier shared that he didn’t hike his fees for the project because he loved the character, which he described as “real and grounded.” The film also stars Sapna Pabbi, Saba Azad, Jitendra Joshi, and Nagesh Bhosle. ‘Bandar’ hit theatres on June 5, 2026.