Kangana Ranaut’s highly anticipated solo directorial venture, Emergency, finally made its theatrical debut this Friday, setting a milestone for the actress. The film, which portrays the turbulent period of India’s Emergency from 1975 to 1977, earned ₹2.35 crore on its opening day, according to Sacnilk. This marks Kangana’s biggest box-office opening in the last five years.
Comparisons with Previous Films
In comparison to Emergency, Kangana’s recent solo releases have recorded lower opening day collections. Her 2023 aerial action film Tejas, directed by Sarvesh Mewara, earned ₹1.25 crore on its first day. Similarly, her 2022 action thriller Dhaakad, helmed by Razneesh Ghai, grossed ₹1.20 crore.
The 2021 political biopic Thalaivii, based on the life of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, opened at ₹1.46 crore across its three language versions—Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Kangana’s previous best opening was in January 2020 with Panga, a sports drama directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, which collected ₹2.70 crore on its first day.
Audience Engagement
On its opening day, Emergency recorded an overall Hindi occupancy of 19.26%. The film attracted the highest audience turnout in Chennai with 25% occupancy, followed by Mumbai at 23.75%.
Night shows saw the most engagement, with occupancy rates peaking at 36.25%, while morning shows had a modest 5.98%. Afternoon and evening shows witnessed occupancy of 13.95% and 20.86%, respectively.
A Political Drama with a Stellar Cast
Set during one of the most controversial periods in India’s history, Emergency delves into the suspension of civil liberties and freedom of the press from 1975 to 1977. The film features an ensemble cast, including Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahim Chaudhary, Anupam Kher, late actor Satish Kaushik, and Vishak Nair. The screenplay, penned by Ritesh Shah, adds depth to this historical narrative.
Critical and Commercial Reception
While Emergency faced delays in production and release, it has become a significant milestone for Kangana Ranaut, both as a director and actor. Its opening day performance, though modest, has established it as her most successful launch post-pandemic.
Sources By Agencies
