Ajay Devgn’s highly expected sequel Raid 2 has faced a setback even before it was able to soar. The film, which had been expected to open to fair numbers considering the franchise value as well as its star power, has instead returned a stunningly poor box office performance on opening day. In a shocking and extremely troubling twist for the production team, several morning shows at various places across India were scrapped because zero tickets were sold.
This poor start despite all the hype has shocked trade analysts, exhibitors, and even Devgn’s dedicated fanbase, who were expecting another gritty, content-oriented drama. But the reality has proven to be quite dark for this sequel to the 2018 critically and commercially successful Raid.
Canceled Morning Shows Across India: A Grim Sign
In a rare and unfortunate incident, cinemas across a number of major cities have reported no audience for Raid 2’s early morning shows. Major metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and even some Tier 2 cities such as Indore and Lucknow had show cancellations due to a lack of booking.
Multiplex chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis were forced to merge shows, postpone timings, or cancel them altogether, unheard of for a film featuring a big star like Ajay Devgn. Reports of canceled shows began doing the rounds quickly on social media, with pictures and videos depicting empty theaters and even shut ticket counters for Raid 2.
Though it’s common for low-budget movies to witness poor occupancy in morning shows, such an extreme reaction for a sequel of a hit movie with a superstar has created waves in the industry.
What Went Wrong for Raid 2?
Even though the original Raid had brand value for its high-performance acting and engaging storytelling, Raid 2 appears to have been affected by a mix of poor promotional strategy, poor audience buzz, and sparse advance bookings. The movie could hardly generate any pre-release buzz. The songs and trailers did not catch on online or with the general public, and the promotional campaign did not have the punch necessary to make a splash.
The other probable reason for the lackluster opening is the timing. With various regional and international movies holding places and having successful runs, Raid 2 was sandwiched between stronger rivals and a disinterested crowd.
Additionally, initial critics and reviewers have mentioned the film as a lackluster, slow-moving court and investigation drama that does not match the levels of intensity and suspense of the first film. The absence of positive word-of-mouth from early screenings only exacerbated the film’s problems.
Ajay Devgn’s Star Power Fails to Pull Crowds
Ajay Devgn has been one of the bankable stars of Bollywood for long, and movies like Tanhaji, Drishyam 2, and Singham have demonstrated his mass popularity. Raid 2 seems to be one of the few times when even his star power wasn’t sufficient to attract audiences on day one.
Experts from the industry opine that it is not merely star power now that can promise a decent opening, particularly after the pandemic period when the viewers are picky and demand strong content. Gone are the times when a film would survive solely on an actor’s popularity, and Raid 2 is an outright indication of the change.
Social media responses also show that fans are not excited about the film. Most netizens were disappointed about the weak storytelling and two-dimensional direction, while others lashed out at the production crew for not being able to use the talent of Ajay Devgn in an exciting storyline.
Can Raid 2 Make Up for This Slump?
Though the film has been off to a bad start, all is not lost yet. The weekend performance, particularly the night and evening shows, will be important in deciding the fate of Raid 2. If the film is able to create some positive word-of-mouth, there could be a slight increase in collections. But given the scale of the failure in morning shows, the possibility of a big turnaround seems remote.
The box office war in the next few days will largely rest on the shoulder of how well the audience has taken to the story and acting. If the movie continues to receive lukewarm responses and does not observe any improvement on Saturday and Sunday, it can be on the verge of a premature departure from cinemas.
Industry Reactions: Concerns and Cautions
Trade commentators have been concerned with the increasing number of weak openings of mid-budget Bollywood releases. As content rules the roost and viewers are spoiled for choice with OTT and international cinema, there is a pressure put on filmmakers to put greater emphasis on good storytelling than merely franchise branding or star casting.
“Raid 2 is a textbook example of underestimating the audience,” declared one trade analyst. “Just because a movie is a sequel with a star doesn’t mean it will necessarily fare well. Humans want value for money. If they catch a whiff of a poor script or bad handling, they’ll give it a miss without thinking twice.”
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Final Word
Raid 2’s Friday is nothing but a box office disaster, and if the makers don’t work a miracle over the weekend, it could end up being part of the list of big Bollywood flops in recent history. Ajay Devgn’s fans, who were expecting great things from the sequel, are naturally disappointed, and so are the exhibitors who were expecting footfalls from the movie.
As Bollywood is evolving, Raid 2 is a reminder that content, presentation, and engagement with the audience are more important than ever before. A film cannot ride the success of the previous one or the popularity of its lead star anymore. When word-of-mouth spreads faster than any marketing exercise, only the really good stuff can survive.
Will Raid 2 manage to bounce back over the weekend, or has it already sealed its fate? The next 48 hours will be critical.
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