Showing posts with label Chand Mera Dil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chand Mera Dil. Show all posts
2026 January to June: Bollywood finds its mojo again
8:44 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; July 4, 2026)
Just six months ago, Bollywood was staring at another uncertain year. Today, the mood is noticeably brighter. Driven by the record-smashing success of Dhurandhar The Revenge, strong performances from the war action film Border 2, followed by the horror comedy Bhooth Bangla, and now the sleeper hit Main Vaapas Aaunga, the Hindi film industry finally has something it has lacked for years: momentum.
Yet beneath the celebrations lies a reality check. While a handful of films have soared, many others have struggled to survive, making 2026 a story so far, one of spectacular highs and equally visible lows. As trade analyst Taran Adarsh puts it, "It has been a case of kam khushi zyada gham. We've had successes, but very few that you can count on your fingertips."
'The biggest hit of 2026 is the word of mouth’
If the first half of 2026 proved anything, it is that Bollywood's audience has become more discerning than ever. Films that connected emotionally and generated strong word-of-mouth continued to grow beyond their opening weekend. Films that relied solely on star value found the road much tougher.
"The biggest trend in the first half of 2026 was the power of word-of-mouth," says trade analyst Ramesh Bala. "Films like Main Vaapas Aaunga, Border 2, Bhooth Bangla, and Dhurandhar The Revenge sustained because audiences connected with them."
Akkshay Rathie, Director - Ashirwad Theatres Pvt Ltd, adds, "To see Main Vaapas Aaunga open small but grow day by day purely on the merits of word-of-mouth is extremely encouraging.”
Novelty is winning. Formulas aren't
One of the clearest shifts this year has been the audience's appetite for fresh storytelling. "I don't think audiences are rewarding the repetition of a genre or style that has worked before. What people really appreciate is novelty and bravery from filmmakers. The repetition and herd mentality of trying to replicate success is something that we should put well behind us and we should have filmmakers staying true to their conviction to the stories that they really want to tell and to genres that come very naturally to them. And the more we see that happening, the more successful we'll be as an industry at the box office," says Rathi.
The Dhurandhar Effect
The biggest winner of the year was undoubtedly Dhurandhar The Revenge, which shattered box-office records and redefined the upper ceiling of Hindi cinema's theatrical potential.
Rathi shares, "One movie that really towers above every other movie in the last six months is of course Dhurandhar The Revenge. The box-office collections that we witnessed were truly historic. We realized that the glass ceiling we thought existed at the Rs. 500-600 crore benchmark has been shattered. The potential of the Hindi-speaking market is humongous."
He adds, "I hope more films attempt to build the intrinsic value that allows them to go closer to those numbers."
'Average films won't survive'
While the industry celebrates its winners, films like O'Romeo, which was highly anticipated due to the reunion of Kaminey duo Shahid Kapoor and Vishal Bhardwaj, and Chand Mera Dil starring Ananya Panday and Lakshya that looked promising didn’t quite shine at the box office.
While Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai may have recovered its budget, the film's poor reviews and underwhelming box office performance have left a lingering sense of disappointment. Do Deewane Seher Mein, won appreciation from critics and the audience, but the film couldn’t draw in the crowds. Ikkis, Ek Din and Pati Patni Aur Woh Do also failed to attract the kind of audience they were expected to.
"The gap between films that work and films that don't has become very evident," says Taran Adarsh. Ramesh Bala echoes the concern. "Audiences have become far more selective, making it difficult for average films to survive."
The second half could be even bigger
The industry now turns its attention to a packed second-half slate. From King and Toxic, Dhamaal 4 and Ramayana, the coming months are loaded with franchise titles, star vehicles and large-scale spectacles.
"With the kind of movies lined up in the second half, 2026 is well on its way to being an iconic year," says Rathi.
Bala adds, "If these films live up to expectations, the second half could be even stronger than the first."
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Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 2, 2026)
The first half of 2026 has delivered a much-needed boost to the film industry, with audiences backing films across genres, languages and budgets. Strong theatrical footfalls, breakout regional successes and the return of comedy have helped restore confidence in the business after a volatile few years.
“For the industry, admissions are up by at least 10%, and the box office, our estimate is, would be up by at least 16-17%, if not more,” says Kamal Gianchandani, president of the Multiplex Association of India.
What worked
From patriotic dramas and comedies to regional cinema, the year’s biggest successes came from varied genres. Sunny Deol’s Border 2 emerged as one of the biggest hits of the year, while Dhurandhar The Revenge became the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2026 so far.
Comedy also found favour with audiences. Akshay Kumar’s reunion with Priyadarshan in Bhooth Bangla paid off at the box office, while his latest release, Welcome To The Jungle, has continued the momentum, netting over Rs. 80 crore within five days of its release.
For Devang Sampat, managing director, Cinepolis India, the biggest takeaway has been the diversity of successful films: “Dhurandhar The Revenge, Border 2, Bhooth Bangla all did well, but for me the real takeaway is how broad the success has been. The business has come from all kinds of films, across languages and across budgets, not just the big titles.”
One of the biggest surprises of the year has been Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga. Despite a modest opening, strong word of mouth helped the film steadily gain momentum and move towards hit status.
Reflecting on the film’s journey, Imtiaz had earlier told us, “It’s the audience who has embraced the film. Somewhere, the industry had started saying ki ‘Arre kuchh bhi halka phulka de do audience ko, chal jaayega, emotional mat do’. But the people proved this wrong.”
What didn’t
Yet, not every well-reviewed film translated into ticket sales. Vishal Bhardwaj’s O'Romeo, Ananya Panday and Lakshya’s Chand Mera Dil, Anurag Kashyap’s Bandar and Kangana Ranaut’s Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata failed to generate the expected box-office momentum despite positive reviews and strong subjects.
Trade analyst Atul Mohan believes financial discipline is becoming just as important as content in determining a film’s fate. “The first half has been so far, so good. Like Akshay Kumar and Ranveer Singh, actors need to shoulder the responsibility of a film, and not burden it with their high fees,” he says.
The message from the first half of 2026 is clear: audiences are showing up for good stories, regardless of genre or budget. But they are also more selective than ever, making strong content and positive word-of-mouth Bollywood’s safest bets.
Dhurandhar and then what? Bollywood's box office blues return after one big hit
10:38 AM
Outdated story formulas, fading star power bring string of failures soon after the success of Dhurandhar 2
Rajesh N Naidu (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; June 18, 2026)
Mumbai: After the blockbuster success of Dhurandhar The Revenge, Hindi cinema has slipped back into a slump, with at least seven consecutive box-office failures following the moderate performance of Bhooth Bangla, trade data showed.
Films such as Chand Mera Dil, Ek Din, Daadi Ki Shaadi, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai and Bandar, despite featuring well-known casts and filmmakers, have failed to draw audiences.
Industry experts told ET that Bollywood's continued dependence on outdated storytelling formulas, fading star power, inability to adapt to evolving audience preferences, weak marketing campaigns and the failure to turn films into social media-driven cultural events have all contributed to the poor performance.
Producers and exhibitors said the industry has struggled to organically build audiences around films before their releases, a strategy increasingly crucial for box-office success.
Also, increasingly, makers in the Hindi film industry have a huge disconnect with audiences' tastes, said exhibitors.
"These films are rejected. Audiences want to come to theatres. The successes of Tamil film Karuppu or even the small-budget experimental horror film Obsession prove it. One needs to bring the right product at the right time. This is how the business works. Smart producers adjust to genres and not make what they think audiences will like," explained Vishek Chauhan, CEO of Roopbani Cinema, a single-screen theatre in Bihar.
"Earlier, big directors would constantly communicate with well-penetrated distributors to understand audiences' preferences and tastes. This is how they made films. This is not the case today," he added.
Apart from animation, horror genre has emerged as a favourite among audiences in India and abroad. Recently, a small-budget franchise Hindi film Haunted – Echoes Of The Past, which was released without marketing, collected Rs. 13.5 crore in the first six days of its release.
Another reason may have been dated stories and style. "These recent films are made in the old mould. You cannot make a Hindi film with the 1990s story and expect it to click with audiences. Today, audiences reward 'unique' writing. It is not about stars or a film's budget. Given the high costs that are involved in a theatre visit, these films made in the old mould do not provide a strong reason for audiences to come to theatres," said producer Rajesh R Nair.
"It is about intent. After the pandemic, I have not seen a major film launched which has matched up to the evolved taste of audiences. The intent is totally missing. If one starts a film then one must sense the audience's tastes 18 months in advance to be relevant," explained Girish Johar, producer and film business expert.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 936
11:21 AM
CHAND MERA DIL UNDERPERFORMS; INDUSTRY GEARS UP FOR A BUSY JUNE, JULY
Last week’s romantic saga, Chand Mera Dil, was expected to open at Rs. 4-5 crores, but sadly, the spot bookings weren’t as encouraging as expected. The first-day earnings were just Rs. 2.75 crores. The tickets were sold for Rs. 149 and Rs. 199, which, in a way, went against the film as collections turned out to be lower. But the other side of the argument is that the offer helped the film to open at this number.
The second and third-day collections were Rs. 3.50 crores and Rs. 4.15 crores, respectively. The Monday drop wasn’t huge because the makers offered a Buy One Get One (BOGO) Ticket Free offer. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, tickets were again sold at a discounted price. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Chand Mera Dil benefited from the Eid holiday the next day. Thursday's collections should also be slightly better for the same reason.
Yet, overall collections will still remain low because the opening was not that great. The first week’s collections are expected to be around Rs. 15-16 crores. A lifetime collection of Rs. 25 crores now seems tough.
There’s minimal competition for the film in the second week. However, earnings will be affected on Friday and Sunday due to the IPL qualifier and final matches respectively. It is due to the IPL factor that big-scale films won’t release in the last week of May. The major film this week is The Great Grand Superhero - Aliens Ka Aagman, starring Jackie Shroff. The trailer is very entertaining, but the buzz is very low. As a result, the advance booking is low, and it remains to be seen if the film can open at the Rs. 1 crore mark.
There’ll be a heavy flow of releases from next week. Every week will see the release of at least one major film trying its luck in cinemas and it’ll continue until July 31.
Last week’s romantic saga, Chand Mera Dil, was expected to open at Rs. 4-5 crores, but sadly, the spot bookings weren’t as encouraging as expected. The first-day earnings were just Rs. 2.75 crores. The tickets were sold for Rs. 149 and Rs. 199, which, in a way, went against the film as collections turned out to be lower. But the other side of the argument is that the offer helped the film to open at this number.
The second and third-day collections were Rs. 3.50 crores and Rs. 4.15 crores, respectively. The Monday drop wasn’t huge because the makers offered a Buy One Get One (BOGO) Ticket Free offer. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, tickets were again sold at a discounted price. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Chand Mera Dil benefited from the Eid holiday the next day. Thursday's collections should also be slightly better for the same reason.
Yet, overall collections will still remain low because the opening was not that great. The first week’s collections are expected to be around Rs. 15-16 crores. A lifetime collection of Rs. 25 crores now seems tough.
There’s minimal competition for the film in the second week. However, earnings will be affected on Friday and Sunday due to the IPL qualifier and final matches respectively. It is due to the IPL factor that big-scale films won’t release in the last week of May. The major film this week is The Great Grand Superhero - Aliens Ka Aagman, starring Jackie Shroff. The trailer is very entertaining, but the buzz is very low. As a result, the advance booking is low, and it remains to be seen if the film can open at the Rs. 1 crore mark.
There’ll be a heavy flow of releases from next week. Every week will see the release of at least one major film trying its luck in cinemas and it’ll continue until July 31.
(Crisp) Movie Review: CHAND MERA DIL by FENIL SETA
10:33 AM
Chand Mera Dil's trailer doesn't give out the whole story. Hence, one is constantly surprised with the developments, that too in the first half. Vivek Soni, who previously directed Aap Jaisa Koi, also helms this film in a stylish manner. The impact of a few scenes in the initial portion is manifold thanks to his execution. The intermission point and a crucial scene in the second half are quite dramatic, while the issues faced by the couple are very relatable. On the flipside, the film gets stretched in the second half; a particular track has no relevance and should have been axed. On the other hand, the family track needed more screen time, but those characters have been underutilized. The climax is sweet and also predictable. Lastly, the title song is fine, but the overall album doesn't leave a huge mark. Speaking of performances, Lakshya delivers a stupendous performance and shines in the emotional scenes. Ananya Panday has clearly evolved and handles a difficult character with ease. Paresh Pahuja (Kevin), Akhil Kaimal (Aarav's male friend), Manik Papneja (Aarav's male friend), Vidushi Kaul (Aarav's sister) and Aastha Singh (Jyotsna) are fair. Manish Chaudhari (Aarav’s father), Irawati Harshe Mayadev (Aarav’s mother) and Charu Shankar (Chandni’s mother) are okay and are let down by writing. All in all, Chand Mera Dil is a heartfelt romantic drama.
My rating - *** out of 5!
My rating - *** out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 935
8:25 AM
WILL CHAND MERA DIL MANAGE TO SURPRISE AT THE BOX OFFICE?
This Friday, May 22, will see the release of Chand Mera Dil, starring Ananya Panday and Lakshya. It is produced by Dharma Productions and directed by Vivek Soni of Aap Jaisa Koi fame. When the film was announced, the posters suggested a light-hearted romcom. But the teaser, which was unveiled last month, made it clear that Chand Mera Dil is an intense romantic saga. It also gave a déjà vu of films like Kabir Singh and Saiyaara. However, the genre is working right now and hence the timing of Chand Mera Dil is just right.
The title track of Chand Mera Dil has managed to register, while the trailer is intriguing. The makers have adopted the ‘Saiyaara strategy’, that is, there have been no promotional events or interviews. The tactic seems to have worked.
However, due to the star cast, the buzz is limited. Moreover, a section of the viewers have preferred to wait and watch, that is, decide on whether or not to watch the film based on word of mouth.
Dharma has come up with an interesting strategy for the release day – the ticket will be available for only Rs. 149 for all shows before 5:00 pm. For shows after 5:00, one can buy a ticket for just Rs. 199. The offer has enticed the viewers, leading to decent advance sales. Hence, Chand Mera Dil is expected to open at around Rs. 4-4.5 crores with the outside chance of hitting the Rs. 5 crore mark. A good word of mouth can lead to a weekend in the range of Rs. 15-20 crores.
If reports are positive, Chand Mera Dil will be at an advantage as there’s no competition for two weeks, that is, until June 4.
This Friday, May 22, will see the release of Chand Mera Dil, starring Ananya Panday and Lakshya. It is produced by Dharma Productions and directed by Vivek Soni of Aap Jaisa Koi fame. When the film was announced, the posters suggested a light-hearted romcom. But the teaser, which was unveiled last month, made it clear that Chand Mera Dil is an intense romantic saga. It also gave a déjà vu of films like Kabir Singh and Saiyaara. However, the genre is working right now and hence the timing of Chand Mera Dil is just right.
The title track of Chand Mera Dil has managed to register, while the trailer is intriguing. The makers have adopted the ‘Saiyaara strategy’, that is, there have been no promotional events or interviews. The tactic seems to have worked.
However, due to the star cast, the buzz is limited. Moreover, a section of the viewers have preferred to wait and watch, that is, decide on whether or not to watch the film based on word of mouth.
Dharma has come up with an interesting strategy for the release day – the ticket will be available for only Rs. 149 for all shows before 5:00 pm. For shows after 5:00, one can buy a ticket for just Rs. 199. The offer has enticed the viewers, leading to decent advance sales. Hence, Chand Mera Dil is expected to open at around Rs. 4-4.5 crores with the outside chance of hitting the Rs. 5 crore mark. A good word of mouth can lead to a weekend in the range of Rs. 15-20 crores.
If reports are positive, Chand Mera Dil will be at an advantage as there’s no competition for two weeks, that is, until June 4.
Lag Jaa Gale shoot extended till October due to Lakshya's look change
9:38 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; May 4, 2026)
A new project marked the start of the new year for Tiger Shroff, Janhvi Kapoor, and Lakshya as they kicked off Lag Jaa Gale in January. At the time, director Raj Mehta aimed to wrap up the actioner by April. But now there’s a change in the plan. mid-day has learnt that the Karan Johar-backed revenge action drama’s shoot has been extended to October.
What’s caused the delay? From what we’ve heard, it’s got to do with Lakshya’s look. A source elaborated, “While filming Lag Jaa Gale, Lakshya had to shoot for a few scenes of Chand Mera Dil. His looks in both films are different. He had to not only cut his hair, but also trade the rugged avatar of Lag Jaa Gale for the soft look that he has in Chand Mera Dil. Now, he will have to grow his hair and then resume the actioner’s shoot.”
Another insider shared that going forward, it won’t be a relentless production and the actors will get breaks in between. “The unit worked tirelessly for the last three-four months. The coming schedule will be less hectic. Raj is hoping to wrap up the film by October.”
We underestimate the value of feel-good cinema. Playing Bae was healing for me-Ananya Panday
10:13 AM
With the romantic drama Chand Mera Dil and the comedy Call Me Bae 2 in the works, Ananya Panday says she wants the audience to feel ‘calm and joy’ amid the action overdose
Mohar basu (MID-DAY; May 13, 2025)
Where are the rom-coms? That has been a frequent question asked by Hindi cinema fans in the past few years. It’s something Ananya Panday too was missing being part of. Which explains her next two offerings — Chand Mera Dil opposite Lakshya, and the second season of her popular series Call Me Bae.
“We’ll shoot Call Me Bae’s second season soon. I just wrapped a chunk of Chand Mera Dil, which is an out-and-out romantic film. I’ve done films in a cutesy space, but never featured in a dramatic love story,” she tells us.
With director Vivek Soni’s romantic drama and the Amazon Prime Video series, Panday is consciously gravitating towards stories that exude warmth and comfort. Her reason is simple — we can all do with a dose of joy.
She says, “Bae could have been easily classified as an entitled character, but I wanted people to connect with her. She is a mood-booster, when so much of the content right now is action. We underestimate the value of feel-good cinema. Playing Bae was healing for me in ways I didn’t expect. I want my films to make the audience feel the same kind of calm, joy, and reassurance that the character gave me.”
The actor started out with the mainstream campus caper, Student Of The Year 2 (2019). Six years and several acclaimed films later, her criteria for choosing projects are clear today.
“I don’t want to be part of something because I feel it will be a box-office hit. I have to see an opportunity there as an actor. Also, the older I’m getting, the more I feel the responsibility of making decisions. Every time I watch a movie, I buy into it strongly. So, I know the direct impact that cinema has on people. That’s why I have to be part of films that morally align with me. That doesn’t mean I won’t play an evil character, but the [messaging] should be morally correct.”
Playing rooted characters in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023) and CTRL (2024) has made young women identify with her. Mention this, and Panday squeals with joy, “I am a girl’s girl. As a young girl, I [remember] how much I used to admire Kareena [Kapoor Khan] and Alia [Bhatt]. When someone tells me that their daughter loves me, it makes me the happiest.”
Ananya Panday, Lakshya to play engineering students in Chand Mera Dil
11:06 AM
Ananya Panday and Lakshya to play engineering students in Chand Mera Dil. The first schedule will take place in Pune, where the team has zeroed in on a leading college
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; March 10, 2025)
Almost six years after making her Bollywood debut with Student Of The Year 2 (2019), Ananya Panday is college-bound again thanks to producer Karan Johar. Last November, the filmmaker announced Chand Mera Dil, featuring Panday and Lakshya. After a bit of digging, we have learnt that Vivek Soni’s directorial venture is a college romance centred on engineering students. The director will call action on the project later this week.
A source tells us, “For the past three months, the film, which sees Ananya and Lakshya play engineering students, was in pre-production. Vivek will take it on floors on March 15. The first schedule will take place in Pune, where the team has zeroed in on a leading college where most of the campus portions will be shot.”
This marks Soni’s third collaboration with Johar’s banner, after Meenakshi Sundareshwar (2021) and the upcoming Aap Jaisa Koi.
Another source says, “Vivek brings a fresh voice to relationship dramas. With Meenakshi Sundareshwar, he explored a long-distance marriage, and Aap Jaisa Koi will be a take on age-gap romance. With Chand Mera Dil, he attempts to understand what loves means to today’s youth.”
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