October 13, 2024: Raaj Shaandilya's slapstick comedy Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video has had a rocky journey at the box office, despite a decent opening. Starring Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri, the film saw a moderate growth of under 30% on its second day, which was far from the substantial boost the makers had hoped for. After opening to ₹5.25 crore on Friday, it managed to collect ₹6.75 crore on Saturday, showing only a small increase.
Interestingly, Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video initially outperformed Alia Bhatt’s Jigra, which also premiered on the same day. While Vicky Vidya took an early lead on its first day, Jigra quickly caught up, earning ₹6.50 crore on Saturday, narrowing the gap.
The lacklustre performance of Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video seems to be tied to lukewarm or negative reviews. Critics have been underwhelmed by the film, calling it "disappointing" and "chaotic," although Rajkummar Rao and Vijay Raaz’s performances have been praised. Adding to the film’s woes is a controversy involving the unauthorised use of the popular Stree character from Maddock Films’ Stree franchise. After facing backlash, director Raaj Shaandilya issued a formal apology and assured that efforts were being made to remove the controversial segment from the movie.
Despite the setback, Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video features an interesting premise. The film is set in the 90s and follows newlyweds Vicky and Vidya, played by Rajkummar and Triptii, who find themselves in trouble when their homemade sex tape is stolen. The comedy also features notable actors like Vijay Raaz, Archana Puran Singh, Rakesh Bedi, Tiku Talsania, and Ashwini Kalsekar. Additionally, it marks the acting comeback of Mallika Sherawat.
As the film continues its box office run, it remains to be seen whether it can overcome the negative reviews and controversies or if Jigra will continue to close the gap and eventually take the lead.
Directed by Vasan Bala, Jigra stars Alia Bhatt and Vedang Raina in lead roles. The film, produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Alia Bhatt’s Eternal Sunshine Productions, revolves around a determined sister’s efforts to rescue her brother from prison. The supporting cast includes Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, Sobhita Dhulipala, and Manoj Pahwa.
