Sat Jan 18 09:42:28 UTC 2025: ## Box Office Flop: Abhishek Kapoor’s “Azaad” Stumbles on Debut

**MUMBAI** – Abhishek Kapoor’s period drama “Azaad,” featuring the acting debuts of Aaman Devgan and Rasha Thadani, has opened to a disappointing Rs 1.5 crore at the box office, marking the director’s lowest-ever opening day collection. The film, despite a heavy marketing campaign and the star power of the newcomers’ families (Ajay Devgn and Raveena Tandon), struggled to attract audiences, with occupancy rates as low as 5% in morning shows.

This contrasts sharply with Kapoor’s previous successes, “Kai Po Che” (Rs 50 crore) and “Kedarnath” (Rs 66 crore), both of which launched successful newcomers. While some praised the debutants’ performances, critics cited a weak script, lackluster pacing, and the absence of a romantic angle as contributing factors to the film’s poor performance.

“Azaad” faced further competition from Kangana Ranaut’s “Emergency,” which debuted with a slightly better Rs 2.5 crore, marking Ranaut’s strongest Hindi film opening since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite mixed reviews and low box office numbers, some viewers championed the film’s unique premise and the strong performances of the lead actors. However, the overall reception suggests a challenging road ahead for “Azaad,” leaving its future box office prospects uncertain.

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