Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna's Pushpa 2: The Rule is scripting remarkable records at the box office, dominating theaters across the country. The film's impressive run has seen it remain largely unaffected by the release of new competitors, with notable financial success since its debut.
Despite fewer new releases, Varun Dhawan's Baby John opened to mixed reviews, struggling to match Pushpa 2's momentum. Adding to the unusual narrative surrounding these films, audiences at Raj Mandir Cinema in Jaipur found themselves embroiled in controversy when, after booking tickets for Pushpa 2, they were unexpectedly forced to watch Baby John. The incident, which surfaced on social media, incited outrage among Allu Arjun's fans.
On what was supposed to be a festive viewing of Pushpa 2 during the Christmas holiday, moviegoers arrived only to discover their scheduled screening had been canceled—a switch to Baby John had been made without prior notice or refund. Fans were left frustrated, as many reported they had booked their tickets well in advance without receiving any alerts from either the theater management or the online booking platform, BookMyShow.
According to patrons at the theater, when they sought answers, staff claimed the decision to alter the movie lineup was dictated by the film producers and was beyond their control. This explanation did little to quell the dissatisfaction visible among moviegoers; some stayed reluctantly to view Baby John, but many left demanding refunds.
While this incident unfolded, Pushpa 2 continued its box office rampage, witnessing a significant rise of 36.21 percent on Christmas day alone. The film's total box office collection now stands at ₹1,109.85 crore, of which the Hindi version has amassed ₹716.65 crore. Meanwhile, Baby John, which made its own debut at around ₹12.5 crore, has struggled, with estimates showing it earned only ₹4.40 crore on its second-day collections.
Reports indicate Pushpa 2 has proven to be particularly resilient, having collected ₹725.8 crore during its first week and maintaining strong numbers, even with slight declines—approximately 50 percent—in its daily earnings. The film has engaged audiences consistently throughout its theatrical run, culminating with total revenues surpassing ₹1,119.2 crore just weeks after its release.
Varun Dhawan's Baby John had hoped to capitalize on the Christmas holiday, but its numbers reveal the continuing dominance of Pushpa 2, alongside competition from other releases. Industry tracker Sacnilk reports the film is projected to battle against the performance of Mufasa: The Lion King and the unexpected success of Kiccha Sudeep's Kannada film, Max.
With production costs estimated around ₹180 crore for Baby John, the box office challenges are underlined by mixed audience reactions and the film's struggles at the box office. Each day presents new challenges for the film as it aims to recoup its costs against the backdrop of its heavyweight competitors.
Interestingly, the promotional strategy employed by the Baby John cast, particularly actress Wamiqa Gabbi, involved innovative use of artificial intelligence to create engaging promotional materials. Wamiqa's series of AI-generated images termed 'Baby Johns' included images of her co-stars and other celebrity 'Johns', garnering laughter and discussions across social media platforms. Despite these creative efforts, the movie's box office performance reveals the difficulties surrounding its launch.
While Pushpa 2 is experiencing remarkable box office success, Baby John appears to be grappling with the mounting pressure of its competition. The theatrical experience, particularly the recent incidents relating to ticketing and audience management, has sparked discussions about transparency and customer satisfaction within the industry.
Despite its setbacks, Baby John has emerged as the biggest opener for Varun Dhawan since 2018, even if the competition with Pushpa 2 casts a long shadow over its initial success. Industry experts continue to watch the box office closely as Pushpa 2 maintains its reign, raising questions about the sustainability of such popularity and whether it can hold steady against its challengers as the festive season rolls on.
