Despite its high budget and star-studded cast, Akshay Kumar and Radhika Madan's latest film, Sarfira, has underperformed at the box office. The movie earned a mere 2.5 crores on its opening day, followed by 4.25 crores on Saturday and 5.25 crores on Sunday, culminating in a disappointing 12 crores over the weekend. This lackluster performance is surprising for a star of Akshay Kumar's caliber.
Akshay Kumar's Recent Box Office Slump
Sarfira marks Akshay Kumar's ninth consecutive flop in recent years. While he did have a successful cameo in last year's hit, OMG 2 where Pankaj Tripathi played the lead role, his other films have not fared well. Since his 2021 blockbuster, Sooryavanshi, movies like Atrangi Re, Bachchan Pandey, Samrat Prithviraj, Raksha Bandhan, Cuttputlli (released on OTT), Ram Setu, Selfiee, Mission Raniganj, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, and now Sarfira have all failed to impress at the box office.
Changing Audience Preferences Post-COVID
According to senior journalist Bharti Dubey, many of Akshay's recent projects were signed before or during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has significantly shifted audience preferences, impacting the success of films released post-COVID. Dubey suggests that despite Akshay's commendable performances, the changing tastes of the audience and the prevalence of remakes have hindered his films' success. She advises Akshay to steer clear of remakes, as audiences can easily access the original versions on OTT platforms or YouTube.
Lackluster Marketing and Promotion
Film trade expert Girish Wankhede highlights three critical reasons for Sarfira's failure. First, the film was already available on OTT platforms, reducing the incentive for audiences to watch it in theaters. Second, the marketing and promotion for the film were subpar. There were no interviews with Akshay, no press conferences, and generally no buzz around the film. Third, the low opening day collection of 2.5 crores raises questions about Akshay's star power.
Upcoming Release: Khel Khel Mein
Looking ahead, Akshay Kumar's next film, Khel Khel Mein, is set to release on August 15. However, there is currently little excitement surrounding this film. Additionally, the same day will see the release of John Abraham's Veda and **Rajkumar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor's Stree 2, which could negatively impact the box office performance of all these films.
FAQs
Q: Why did Sarfira fail at the box office?
A: Sarfira failed due to its availability on OTT platforms, poor marketing and promotion, and changing audience preferences post-COVID.
Q: How many flops has Akshay Kumar had recently?
A: Sarfira marks Akshay Kumar's ninth consecutive flop in the last four years.
Q: What was Akshay Kumar's last hit film?
A: Akshay Kumar's last major hit was Sooryavanshi in 2021.
Q: When is Akshay Kumar's next film releasing
A: Akshay Kumar's next film, Khel Khel Mein, is set to release on August 15.
Q: What other films are releasing on August 15?
A: John Abraham's Veda and Rajkumar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor's Stree 2 are also releasing on August 15.
Q: Why should Akshay Kumar avoid remakes?
A: According to Bharti Dubey, remakes are less successful because audiences can easily access the original versions on OTT platforms or YouTube, regardless of the language.
