By “Despite Positive Reviews, Akshay Kumar-Starrer Fails to Compete with ‘Stree 2’ at the Box Office”
Khel Khel Mein, featuring Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu, Fardeen Khan, Vaani Kapoor, Ammy Virk, Aditya Seal, and Pragya Jaiswal, released in theaters alongside “Stree 2.” Despite receiving positive reviews and targeting multiplex audiences, the film struggled at the box office. It faced stiff competition from “Stree 2,” which dominated the box office by a significant margin. “Vedaa,” another film that released on Independence Day, also faced the same fate as “Stree 2” overshadowed both films.
“Khel Khel Mein” earned ₹14.05 crore in its first four days, including the weekend, but saw a noticeable drop in its earnings on Monday. After bringing in ₹3.85 crore on Sunday, the film managed only ₹1.90 crore on Monday, bringing its total collection to ₹15.95 crore, according to Sacnilk.
Trade experts, in conversation with ETimes, suggested that “Khel Khel Mein” might have fared better if it hadn’t clashed with “Stree 2.” The Shraddha Kapoor-starrer had a significantly larger release, with around 3,500 to 4,000 screens, compared to “Khel Khel Mein’s” 900 to 1,000 screens. The film’s niche target audience, primarily multiplex-goers, also limited its reach, particularly in smaller cities. Experts believe that if the film had avoided this clash, it could have secured more screens and achieved better box office results.
Meanwhile, “Stree 2” continued to dominate the box office, even benefitting from the Raksha Bandhan holiday, solidifying its position as the biggest opener of 2024 so far. “Khel Khel Mein,” despite its strong cast and positive reviews, couldn’t match up to the widespread appeal and larger release of “Stree 2.”
