Hansal Mehta’s investigative thriller The Buckingham Murders, starring Kareena Kapoor in the lead, had a lukewarm start at the box office. Despite the anticipation surrounding Kareena’s portrayal of a UK-based cop and the film marking her production debut, the movie earned only ₹1.15 crore on its opening day in India.
According to reports from Sacnilk, the film’s Day 1 earnings reflect a modest performance. The box office numbers do not provide a detailed breakdown between the original Hinglish version (80% English, 20% Hindi dialogues) and the dubbed Hindi version, though the film was released in both formats.
The Buckingham Murders was the only new Bollywood release this week, facing competition from re-released films like Tumbbad and Veer-Zaara, as well as holdovers such as the blockbuster Stree 2, which continues to perform decently. Despite this advantage, the film’s opening collection is notably low compared to Kareena’s previous women-led release, The Crew, which debuted with over ₹10 crore earlier this year. The Crew, a heist comedy co-starring Tabu and Kriti Sanon, benefitted from a star-studded cast and a lighter tone, making its success more pronounced in contrast to The Buckingham Murders‘ darker narrative.
Plot and Reception
The film’s story revolves around Sergeant Jasmeet ‘Jass’ Bhamra (Kareena Kapoor), a UK cop grappling with the loss of her young son, Ekam. She is tasked with investigating the disappearance of another boy, Ishpreet, around the same age as her son, which makes the case deeply personal for her character. Celebrity chef Ranveer Brar also features in a supporting role.
While the film did not attract a large audience on its first day, Kareena Kapoor’s performance received high praise from critics. A review from Hindustan Times stated, “Kareena is the heartbeat of this film.” The review commended her for delivering a deeply emotional performance, showcasing her range and ability to embody pain and anger convincingly.
Future Prospects
Although The Buckingham Murders opened to a slow start, it remains to be seen if word of mouth and critical acclaim can boost its collections in the coming days. Kareena Kapoor is set to appear next in Rohit Shetty’s highly anticipated film Singham Again, which could help keep her momentum going in 2024.
Sources By Agencies
