When a film like Param Sundari hits the big screen, expectations are always mixed especially when the genre is romance and the leads aren’t fresh faces, but still not quite box office titans. Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor teamed up for this vibrant love story that promised a heartwarming Punjabi-Malayali cross-cultural romance. But despite the intriguing premise and a glossy promotional campaign, Param Sundari has opened to a rather underwhelming ₹10 crore worldwide on day one.
Let’s unpack why this opening has raised eyebrows, what the film was up against, and where it might go from here.
A Soft Start for a Promising Pair
Directed by Tushar Jalota and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, Param Sundari had a lot going for it on paper. Sidharth Malhotra, still basking in the patriotic glow of Shershaah, paired up with Janhvi Kapoor, whose career choices have been bold but often met with mixed reactions. Their pairing was fresh, and the film’s visuals rich colors, energetic songs, and culture-clashing humor gave it a light, feel-good vibe. But unfortunately, audiences didn’t turn out in strong numbers to see it on day one.
According to trade tracker Sacnilk, the film earned ₹7.25 crore net in India on Friday, which translated to ₹8.70 crore gross. International markets added just $150,000 (approximately ₹1.3 crore), bringing the total worldwide opening day collection to ₹10 crore. Not a disaster, but definitely well below the predicted range of ₹12-15 crore.
Occupancy Tells the Real Story
One of the clearest indicators of how Param Sundari struggled on its opening day is the theater occupancy. Morning shows saw a paltry 8% occupancy across major metros, clearly not a good sign. It did improve somewhat by evening, climbing to around 19% for night shows, but the overall day 1 occupancy settled at just under 13%. In today’s competitive box office environment, where even niche genre films can see a surge due to word-of-mouth or star power, these numbers show a lack of initial excitement.
A Tough Year for Romantic Films, or Maybe Not?
What makes Param Sundari’s opening even more glaring is the success of other romantic films this year. The surprise hit Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri and starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, shocked the trade when it debuted at ₹21.50 crore in India and close to ₹30 crore worldwide in July. It defied all odds with no star power, a relatively conventional love story, and still managed to capture audiences’ hearts.
So what went wrong for Param Sundari?
Perhaps it was timing. Maybe audiences weren’t ready for another romantic drama without a strong emotional hook or a unique selling point. Or maybe, just maybe, the promotional material didn’t resonate enough for viewers to make the trip to theaters.
Even Jaat Did Better
Adding salt to the wound is the comparison with Jaat, an action thriller led by Sunny Deol that was initially written off as an underperformer. That film managed to gross ₹13 crore worldwide on day one, ₹3 crore more than Param Sundari. It’s a reminder that genre doesn’t always dictate success; it’s often about tapping into audience sentiment at the right moment.
Can Param Sundari Recover?
The big question now is whether Param Sundari can pick up steam over the weekend. Positive word-of-mouth could help, especially if the film finds love among family audiences or in smaller towns. Romantic comedies, after all, tend to be slow burners. But competition is stiff, with several high-profile releases lined up in the coming weeks.
That said, Param Sundari does have a few things going for it: a catchy soundtrack that’s slowly trending on social media, the chemistry between Sidharth and Janhvi, and some genuinely warm moments that may connect better with audiences over time.
Final Thoughts
Param Sundari’s opening is a classic case of a film that didn’t land with the splash its creators hoped for. Whether it can recover depends on audience goodwill, the strength of the storytelling, and a little bit of box office luck.
In an era where even new faces can deliver ₹30 crore openings and seasoned actors can falter, the rules of the box office game are changing. For Sidharth and Janhvi, Param Sundari might still find its place, but it will have to work harder than most to get there.