Thu Dec 26 07:50:00 UTC 2024: ## Varun Dhawan’s “Baby John” Opens Big, But Faces Mixed Reviews

**MUMBAI, INDIA (December 26, 2024)** – Varun Dhawan’s latest action film, “Baby John,” opened to a strong Rs 12.50 crore on its Christmas Day release, marking his biggest opening in five years. However, the film, a remake of the 2016 Tamil hit “Theri,” has received mixed reviews from audiences.

While some praise Varun Dhawan’s performance, the fast-paced storytelling, and impressive action sequences, others criticize its predictability and its close adherence to the original “Theri” plot. The film also stars Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jackie Shroff, and Rajpal Yadav, with a special cameo by Salman Khan.

“Baby John’s” opening day collection surpasses Varun Dhawan’s previous releases, including “Street Dancer 3D,” “Jug Jugg Jeeyo,” and “Bhediya,” none of which achieved double-digit opening day figures. While impressive, it falls short of his 2019 film “Kalank,” which garnered Rs 21.60 crore on its opening day.

The film faces stiff competition from Allu Arjun’s blockbuster “Pushpa 2: The Rule,” which continues its strong run at the box office, earning Rs 15 crore on Christmas Day in its third week. “Pushpa 2” has already crossed Rs 700 crore net in its dubbed Hindi version.

With the New Year holiday season underway, the coming days will be crucial for “Baby John’s” box office performance. The film is produced by Atlee and Priya Atlee, Murad Khetani, and Jyoti Deshpande under their respective banners. Whether “Baby John” can overcome the mixed reviews and strong competition to achieve sustained success remains to be seen.

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