Kabir Khan’s sports biopic Chandu Champion, starring Kartik Aaryan in the lead role, has made a modest start at the box office, marking it as the actor’s lowest opening post-pandemic.
Chandu Champion debuted with a collection of approximately ₹4.75 crore on its first day at the domestic box office, according to early estimates reported by Sacnilk. While the film has received mostly positive reviews, its opening numbers fall below the expectations set by Kartik Aaryan’s previous releases.
Kartik’s recent track record shows a significant variance in opening day collections. His last film, Ashwini Dhir’s 2017 comedy Guest In London, opened at less than ₹4 crore. However, his breakthrough film Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018) opened at ₹6.42 crore, followed by Luka Chuppi (2019) at ₹8.01 crore and Pati Patni Aur Woh (2019) at ₹9.10 crore. Even the much-criticized Love Aaj Kal (2020) had a higher opening at ₹12 crore.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Kartik’s films have generally performed well. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) opened at ₹14.11 crore, reviving the box office momentum. Even Satyaprem Ki Katha (2023) garnered ₹8.25 crore on its opening day. However, Chandu Champion has opened on a comparatively lower note.
Directed by Kabir Khan and jointly produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Kabir Khan, Chandu Champion narrates the inspiring story of an athlete named Chandu, played by Kartik Aaryan. The film is based on the life of Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medalist in freestyle swimming. The ensemble cast includes Shreyas Talpade, Rajpal Yadav, and Vijay Raaz, among others.
Kabir Khan, known for his directorial ventures like Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Ek Tha Tiger, had his last outing with 83, which faced challenges at the box office due to the omicron Covid wave in 2021. Despite being headlined by Ranveer Singh, 83 didn’t meet box office expectations.
Sources By Agencies
