Vijay Sethupathi, the critically acclaimed actor who is renowned for his powerful performances, is going through a tough phase with his new release Ace. The movie, which was released on Friday in Telugu and Tamil, has performed miserably at the box office, leaving fans and industry experts disappointed.
Following the success of last year’s blockbuster, Maharaja, there were high expectations for Ace. The movie, however, has not been able to match that success. Particularly in the Telugu market, Ace has been an absolute disaster, with largely poor people turnouts and collections.
Telugu Market Reaction: Complete Crash for Ace
The Telugu version of Ace witnessed a severe setback right from its opening weekend. Unlike Vijay Sethupathi’s earlier ventures, which generally enjoyed a warm reception across multiple languages, Ace could not find traction in the Telugu belt. The film’s story, performances, or promotional strategies failed to connect with the audience, resulting in negligible box office numbers.
Industry sources indicate that Ace has failed to bounce back from a terrible opening and could witness sluggish growth in the subsequent days. Lack of word-of-mouth (WOM) and negative critical reception have further added to its miseries in the Telugu market.
Tamil Box Office: Faring Badly But Not A Complete Failure
Tamil translation of Ace performed slightly better than Telugu but was far from satisfactory. Within the first two days, the film earned about ₹2.25 crore, which is low by the standards of a movie featuring an actor as big as Vijay Sethupathi. The poor box office has left producers and distributors worried who had set high expectations from the venture.
Word-of-mouth continues to be lukewarm, with many audiences citing weak storytelling and pacing issues as major flaws. This negative buzz could reduce the film’s overall lifetime collections and risk it closing with single-digit crores, which would be a major setback.
Vijay Sethupathi’s Recent Journey: From Blockbusters to Disappointments
Vijay Sethupathi had a stellar year last year with the release of Maharaja, which was a blockbuster and cemented his reputation as one of Tamil cinema’s largest stars. The momentum though was lost when Viduthalai 2, which was released later in the same year, did not appeal to the audience, getting an average reaction both critically as well as commercially.
With Ace now being a much greater failure, Vijay Sethupathi appears to be at a difficult stage in his career. The difference between Maharaja’s humongous success and that of Ace’s dismal box office collection is stark, underlining the capricious nature of the film industry.
What Went Wrong with Ace?
There are a number of reasons that may have led to the below-par performance of Ace:
- Weak Story and Script: Critics and viewers identified that the story was not as deep and compelling as expected from a Vijay Sethupathi movie.
- Poor Word-of-Mouth: Word-of-mouth has a very high impact in the digital age. Early viewers’ negative reviews deterred potential viewership.
- Competition: Ace had tough competition with other regional and Bollywood movies released simultaneously, which influenced its visibility further.
- Marketing and Promotions: As opposed to the previous films of Sethupathi, promotional activities for Ace were found lacking, which could have affected the opening day footfalls.
Future Projects and Future Prospects for Vijay Sethupathi
Though this setback, Vijay Sethupathi still remains a respected name among the Tamil cinema fraternity. He has some promising ventures lined up which are waiting to be watched by fans. Interestingly, he has two more films to be released in Kollywood shortly, which can assist him in re-establishing lost ground.
Furthermore, his next film with well-known Telugu director Puri Jagannadh is creating a great deal of excitement. This movie, which is set to begin filming shortly, ranks among the most eagerly awaited films of 2025 and could provide Sethupathi with a good comeback if managed properly.
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Conclusion: A Rough Patch but Not the End for Vijay Sethupathi
While Ace struggles to make an impact at the box office, it does not diminish Vijay Sethupathi’s immense talent and popularity. The film’s failure serves as a reminder of the highs and lows in a star’s career, especially in the competitive world of Indian cinema.
The faithful fan following of Vijay Sethupathi and the industry’s trust in him guarantee that this setback is short-lived. With his pending films and willingness to experiment in diverse roles, he is set to come back on an even stronger note.
As Ace faces its battle at the box office, all eyes remain on Vijay Sethupathi’s next moves. His journey is far from over, and many hope that the actor will once again captivate audiences and critics alike with his future performances.
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