Varun Dhawan’s latest film, Baby John, made its debut in theaters on December 25, 2024, and achieved a significant milestone in his career with an opening day collection of ₹12.50 crore. This marks Dhawan’s best opening in the last five years, surpassing his previous films like Kalank, Bhediya, and Jug Jugg Jeeyo.
Film Overview
Directed by Kalees, Baby John is a mass action film that attempts to blend emotions, action, and music while delivering a meaningful message. The film features a notable cast, including:
- Varun Dhawan as DCP Satya Verma / John Desilva
- Keerthy Suresh as Dr. Meera Verma, Satya’s wife
- Wamiqa Gabbi as Tara / Adhira Verman IPS
- Jackie Shroff as Babbar Sher
- Rajpal Yadav as Head Constable Ram Sevak
- Zara Zyanna as Khushi Verma, Satya and Meera’s daughter
- Sheeba Chaddha as Satya’s mother
- A special cameo by Salman Khan
Despite the star-studded cast and the anticipation surrounding its release, Baby John received mixed reviews from both critics and audiences. While it showcases Atlee’s signature style of grandeur and emotional depth, it has been criticized for lacking entertainment value.
Box Office Performance
According to trade sources like Sacnilk, Baby John’s opening day collection of ₹12.50 crore is a commendable achievement for Varun Dhawan. However, it fell short of expectations when compared to other films released during the holiday season. For context:
- Kalank (2019) had an opening day of ₹21.60 crore.
- Street Dancer 3D (2020) opened at ₹10.26 crore.
- Jug Jugg Jeeyo (2022) earned ₹9.28 crore.
- Bhediya (2022) debuted at ₹7.48 crore.
Despite being a remake of the successful Tamil film Theri, which starred Vijay and grossed significantly higher on its opening day, Baby John struggled to compete against strong contenders like Pushpa 2: The Rule, which collected ₹20.7 crore in its third week.
Day-Wise Box Office Collection
Here’s the day-wise collection for Baby John:
| Day | Date | India Net Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | December 25, 2024 | ₹12.50 Cr |
| Day 2 | December 26, 2024 | ₹0.01 Cr (estimated) |
Note: The collection for Day 2 is subject to updates as live data is reported.
Audience Reception
While Baby John has been praised for its action sequences, many viewers felt that the film did not deliver the expected entertainment value. Early reviews indicated that the film started off on a shaky note and lacked direction in its initial scenes.
The competition from other festive releases, particularly Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 and the animated film Mufasa, further impacted Baby John’s box office performance.
Conclusion
Although Baby John’s opening day collection reflects a positive trend for Varun Dhawan, the film’s overall reception and competition may determine its long-term success at the box office. With word-of-mouth promotion being crucial in the coming days, it remains to be seen how well Baby John will perform over its extended opening weekend.
Disclaimer
Box office figures are based on estimates from various sources and may be subject to change as new data becomes available. The numbers mentioned have not been independently verified.
