Akshay Kumar’s latest film Kesari 2 is not performing as expected at the box office. By Day 3, the movie has earned around ₹30 crore across India. This is almost 50 percent lower than what Kesari collected in its first three days back in 2019.
The slow start has surprised fans and industry experts. Many expected the film to do better, especially with Akshay Kumar in the lead role. The original Kesari was a big hit and had opened strong. But this time, things look different.
Kesari 2 opened to decent crowds on Friday. However, the weekend collections did not grow much. Saturday saw only a small jump in numbers. Sunday’s figures were also not very strong, closing the three-day total at around ₹30 crore.
In comparison, Kesari had earned over ₹56 crore in its first three days. This shows that Kesari 2 is far behind in terms of audience interest and ticket sales.
Not just that, Akshay Kumar’s other recent releases like Sky Force and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan are doing better. Both films had higher weekend collections, and continue to attract more viewers to the theatres.
Film trade analyst Rajeev Mehta shared, “There is a clear drop in Akshay Kumar’s pull at the box office. Kesari 2 had a good brand name, but the content is not connecting. Also, competition is high.”
Reviews for the film have also been mixed. While some praised the action scenes and patriotism theme, others said the story felt stretched and the emotional moments didn’t work. Many viewers expected more from the sequel.
Fans who watched the movie say the excitement that was there in the first part is missing. “I loved Kesari, but this one felt rushed and weak in comparison,” said a viewer in Mumbai.
The film also faced tough competition from other big releases. Sky Force, which also stars Akshay Kumar in a special role, is still going strong in theatres. Meanwhile, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan is attracting younger audiences with its fun storyline and action.
Some experts believe that releasing too many films in a short time could be hurting Akshay Kumar’s movies. “Audiences don’t feel the same excitement when the same actor has a film every other month,” said industry tracker Komal Nahta.
The makers of Kesari 2 had hoped the film would ride on the success of the original. The patriotic theme and war drama had worked earlier. But this time, audiences seem to want fresh stories and stronger scripts.
On social media, reactions are mixed. While some fans are standing by Akshay Kumar and calling the film underrated, others have shared disappointment. The hashtag #Kesari2 is trending, but not always in a positive light.
It remains to be seen whether the film can recover in the coming days. With Monday approaching, the real test will be weekday collections. If they drop sharply, the film could end up being one of Akshay’s lower-grossing titles this year.
Despite the slow start, trade insiders say it’s too early to call the film a flop. “There is still time. Word of mouth can change things. But the film has to pick up fast,” said a distributor from Delhi.
For now, Kesari 2 is facing an uphill battle at the box office. Fans and makers alike will be hoping for a turnaround soon.
