The survival thriller Tu Yaa Main, starring Shanaya Kapoor and Adarsh Gaurav, has had a disappointing start at the box office. Released in theatres on February 13, the film failed to generate the expected buzz and recorded a slow opening despite the Valentine’s Day weekend advantage.
Directed by Bejoy Nambiar, the film entered cinemas with moderate expectations but could not convert curiosity into strong footfalls. Early box office figures indicate that Tu Yaa Main earned around ₹55 lakh on its opening day, a number that trade analysts have termed underwhelming for a nationwide theatrical release.
Cold Opening Dampens Box Office Prospects
According to industry trackers, the film managed to collect approximately ₹27 lakh by 7 PM on its first day, eventually closing with a net collection in the range of ₹50–60 lakh. National occupancy levels for Hindi shows remained low, hovering between 6% and 7% throughout the day.
Evening and night shows saw marginal improvement, but the overall turnout remained weak in most major cities. Chennai emerged as an exception with reported occupancy touching nearly 24%, while several other markets struggled to attract audiences.
Trade experts believe that limited promotional visibility and a lack of strong word-of-mouth significantly affected the film’s opening performance.
Tough Clash With Big Release
One of the major challenges faced by Tu Yaa Main was its direct box office clash with O Romeo, starring Shahid Kapoor. The Shahid Kapoor-led film reportedly collected between ₹7–9 crore on its opening day, clearly dominating screens and audience attention.
The strong performance of the competing release limited screen availability and footfalls for Tu Yaa Main, making it difficult for the survival thriller to gain momentum during its crucial opening phase.
Storyline Failed to Connect With Mass Audience
Tu Yaa Main revolves around a survival-based narrative involving social media influencers who find themselves trapped in an abandoned swimming pool. The plot takes a dramatic turn when they encounter a deadly crocodile, forcing them into a life-or-death situation where trust and instinct are constantly tested.
While the concept sounded intriguing on paper, audience reactions suggest that the execution failed to create a strong emotional or thrilling impact. Critics’ reviews have largely been mixed, praising the premise but pointing out flaws in pacing and character development.
As a result, the film struggled to build organic buzz through audience recommendations.
Budget Concerns Add Pressure
With an estimated budget of around ₹30 crore, the slow start has raised concerns about the film’s ability to recover its costs through theatrical revenue alone. According to trade analysts, sustaining a long run at the box office will be challenging unless the film sees a sharp jump in collections over the weekend.
Data from box office tracking platforms indicates that the lack of aggressive promotions and limited star pull may have further impacted its reach among mass audiences.
A Relative High for the Lead Actors
Despite the weak opening, the film has achieved a small personal milestone for its lead cast. For Shanaya Kapoor, Tu Yaa Main has performed better than her debut film Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan, which reportedly opened at around ₹30 lakh.
Similarly, the opening figures are marginally higher than some of Adarsh Gaurav’s previous theatrical releases. However, industry observers note that these comparisons offer limited consolation given the overall commercial performance of the film.
Weekend Outlook: Can Valentine’s Day Help?
With Valentine’s Day falling during the opening weekend, trade experts believe there is still a slim chance for the film to see some growth. If younger audiences and couples respond positively, Tu Yaa Main could add another ₹2–3 crore over the weekend.
However, competition from regional cinema and Hollywood releases continues to pose a challenge. Analysts remain cautious, stating that without a significant improvement in word-of-mouth, the film may find it difficult to sustain beyond its first week.
The slow start of Tu Yaa Main highlights the growing challenge faced by mid-budget Bollywood thrillers in today’s crowded release calendar. While the film brings together a fresh pairing and a unique survival concept, box office numbers suggest that content alone is not enough without strong promotion and audience connection.
All eyes are now on the weekend collections to determine whether the film can recover or if it will remain another underperformer at the box office.
