Legendary comedy director David Dhawan’s latest cinematic offering, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, has heavily underperformed at the domestic box office during its opening weekend. Starring his son Varun Dhawan alongside leading ladies Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur, the romantic comedy entered theatres on Friday with decent pre-release buzz fueled by an active music campaign. However, a wave of negative reviews from both film critics and audiences has severely dented its theatrical trajectory.
The Domestic Box Office Breakdown
According to trade tracking portal Sacnilk, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai started its box office journey on Friday by collecting a modest net total of ₹7.50 crore across India. Showing a worrying trend for a mainstream commercial entertainer, the film failed to register any growth on Saturday, bringing in an identical ₹7.50 crore.
While Sunday brought a minor consolation jump in footfalls pulling in ₹9 crore the overall opening weekend performance remains highly disappointing for the trade. The movie’s three-day domestic net total stands at a lackluster ₹24 crore.
Global and Budget Economics
The picture looks equally somber on the international front. The David Dhawan directorial has failed to strike a chord with overseas audiences, accumulating a modest worldwide gross collection of ₹37.30 crore by the close of the weekend.
With an estimated production and landing budget of ₹50-55 crore, the economic map for the film requires a solid hold over the coming days:
| Box Office Parameter | Reported Numbers (As of Day 3) |
| India Net Collection | ₹24.00 Crore |
| Worldwide Gross Collection | ₹37.30 Crore |
| Estimated Production Budget | ₹50 – ₹55 Crore |
| Critical Reception Verdict | Mostly Negative (FPJ Review: 2 Stars out of 5) |
Critical Backlash & The Monday Test
The primary catalyst behind this slow start appears to be a heavily dated screenplay. Reviewing the film for The Free Press Journal, our resident critic handed out a mere 2-star rating, noting that the project lacks the signature Dhawan magic.
“Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai has all the ingredients of a typical David Dhawan entertainer, but very little of the magic. The story is highly predictable, many jokes feel rehearsed, and several punchlines simply fail to land. While a few comic scenes in the second half manage to bring genuine laughs, they aren’t enough to save the film.”
To pull through as a commercial success or even secure an average grosser status, the film faces a monumental challenge on its first crucial Monday. The weekday hold will determine if the romantic comedy can recover its investment or if it will fizzle out quickly at the ticket windows.