‘Saira’ Dents ‘Maalik’ Box Office Run

Mumbai  The Bollywood box office is witnessing an intense battle between two strikingly different films — the seasoned Rajkummar Rao’s ‘Maalik’ and newcomer Ahaan Pandey’s debut flick ‘Saira’. What initially looked like a promising run for Maalik is now being seriously threatened by Saira, which has quickly risen to commercial dominance.

Maalik, directed by a critically acclaimed filmmaker, was expected to perform strongly owing to Rajkummar Rao’s reputation for consistently delivering powerful performances. However, the film’s ninth-day collection paints a different picture. While the movie opened with decent numbers and decent word-of-mouth, Maalik has begun to lose steam, especially in the face of the fresh, high-energy launch of Saira.

On the other hand, Saira, headlined by Ahaan Pandey and Aneeth Kaur, has taken the audience by storm. The romantic-action drama was released just a day before the weekend, and its footfall has only increased since then. According to trade experts, Saira’s youthful vibe, catchy music, and mass appeal seem to have struck a chord with the younger generation.

Saturday proved to be the game-changer. Where Maalik saw a dip in its numbers, Saira witnessed a surge, especially in multiplexes and metro cities. The crowd response has been visibly more enthusiastic for Ahaan’s high-octane performance, and it seems the industry has found a new face to watch.

What’s more surprising is the overseas reception. While Maalik was expected to do better in international markets due to its strong narrative and festival buzz, Saira has shockingly opened with stronger figures overseas too. From the US and Canada to UAE and the UK, Saira’s numbers are trending upwards, hinting that the film’s global appeal might go beyond just the South Asian audience.

That said, it’s too early to completely write off Maalik. Rajkummar Rao’s film still holds value in single screens and Tier-2 towns where its more grounded storyline connects with a mature audience. However, if Saira continues to perform this way through the weekend and beyond, it could significantly dent Maalik’s lifetime collection.

The clash between a debutant and a seasoned actor isn’t new in Bollywood, but such a wide gap in box office reception in just the first few days is rare. It’ll be interesting to see how both films evolve in the coming week — whether Maalik regains momentum through word-of-mouth or Saira continues its victorious run.

The industry is watching closely, and so are the fans. One thing’s for sure — Ahaan Pandey has officially arrived, and Saira is no longer just another debut film; it’s a box office phenomenon in the making.