Shahid Kapoor's latest action drama, ‘Deva,’ not only marks his first cinematic venture of 2025 but also serves as the Bollywood debut for renowned Malayalam director Rosshan Andrews. Released on January 31, ‘Deva’ features Shahid Kapoor alongside Pooja Hegde and chronicles the story of ACP Dev Ambre, who grapples with memory loss as he investigates the murder of his closest friend.
The film experienced notable fluctuations at the box office. Initially, ‘Deva’ opened with an impressive net collection of Rs. 5.5 crore, generating positive momentum over its debut weekend with earnings of ₹6.4 crore on Saturday and ₹7.25 crore on Sunday, as reported by Sacnilk. These figures suggest promising interest and draw from audiences eager for Shahid Kapoor's return.
Unfortunately, the excitement did not fully sustain. On Monday, the film witnessed a sharp decline, with preliminary estimates indicating earnings of merely Rs. 2.50 crore. This decline put the total collection after four days at Rs. 21.65 crore. Despite the setback, ‘Deva’ has outperformed Akshay Kumar's ‘Sky Force’ significantly during this period, which reportedly earned Rs. 1.35 crore on the same Monday, nearly half of what ‘Deva’ made.
‘Deva’ follows the story of ACP Dev Ambre, portrayed by Kapoor. He is portrayed as trying to piece together clues about his friend's murder, all thewhile dealing with his own memory loss. Pooja Hegde plays his love interest, Diya Sathaye, who also serves as a journalist. The strong supporting cast includes performances from actors Pavail Gulati and Kubbra Sait, enhancing the film's narrative depth.
Critics have had their say as well. Times Of India gave ‘Deva’ a promising rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, mentioning, “Director Rosshan Andrrews sets the stage for a gripping whodunnit right from the opening scene…” The review acknowledges the film's 156-minute runtime as well as the complicated screenplay crafted by writers Bobby–Sanjay, Abbas Dalal, and others, who navigate through various layers surrounding the lead character and the overall mystery.
Despite its strong start, the sharp drop on Monday raises questions about the film's long-term box office sustainability. Analysts will be observing the film's performance trends as it enters the second week of screenings, particularly after initial buzz fades. With Bollywood's competitive lineup for the year, sustaining box office growth remains imperative for ‘Deva’ to be considered successful.
The figures demonstrate ‘Deva’ as a standout performer among its contemporaries, especially considering it faced off against established celebrities like Akshay Kumar. It’s evident the film has garnered attention, though its ability to hold audience interest over time will be key.
Shahid Kapoor's choice of roles, alongside seasoned directors, reflects his commitment to diversifying his filmography. The impact of ‘Deva’ on his career this year will likely influence future projects and collaborations.
Overall, ‘Deva’ presents as both an ambitious project and one of significant interest for viewers and industry insiders alike, and its early box office success may serve as a harbinger for the actor's evolution and future endeavors within Bollywood.