Thu Dec 26 16:01:38 UTC 2024: ## Bollywood’s Baby John Underwhelms at Box Office Despite Christmas Boost

**MUMBAI, INDIA** – Varun Dhawan’s much-anticipated action film, *Baby John*, opened to a less-than-stellar Rs 12.5 crore (approximately $1.5 million USD) on its first day in Indian theaters, falling short of initial projections. While the Christmas holiday provided a boost, the film struggled against stiff competition from established box office hits.

*Pushpa 2: The Rule*, continuing its impressive run, earned Rs 19.75 crore on its 21st day, significantly outperforming *Baby John*. The Kannada action thriller *Max*, a surprise blockbuster, also impacted *Baby John’s* performance, achieving a record-breaking Rs 10 crore opening for a Kannada film in 2024. *Mufasa* further contributed to the crowded Christmas box office.

Despite the underwhelming opening, *Baby John* represents Varun Dhawan’s best opening in the last five years, surpassing the first-day collections of *Bhediya* (Rs 7.48 crore) and *Jugjugg Jeeyo* (Rs 9.28 crore). However, the film’s 24.97% Hindi occupancy rate, while higher in evening shows (30.89%), indicates a less-than-enthusiastic audience reception.

Critics have panned *Baby John*, citing a superficial treatment of important themes and a lack of emotional impact despite action-packed scenes. The film, a Hindi adaptation of the Tamil blockbuster *Theri*, marks Dhawan’s return to the big screen following his digital venture *Citadel: Honey Bunny*.

The coming days will be crucial for *Baby John* to demonstrate sustained box office appeal and overcome the strong competition. The film’s performance will be closely watched as an indicator of the current state of the Bollywood market.

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