Imtiaz Ali’s latest directorial, Main Vaapas Aaunga, may have started slow at the box office, but the filmmaker believes one factor gave the film a crucial edge from day one — Diljit Dosanjh’s star power on the poster.
The period romantic drama, set against the haunting backdrop of the 1947 Partition, stars Sharvari and Vedang Raina in the central love story, alongside Diljit Dosanjh and veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah. Speaking about his decision to feature Diljit prominently on the poster despite the film not being built around him, Imtiaz didn’t hold back his admiration. “I had no doubt that both these actors will be able to headline this story well, but I also knew that on the poster, there is also Diljit. Everybody in the world knows him and they are interested to see what he’s doing,” he told Hindustan Times.
Imtiaz was candid about his expectations going in. He admitted the film was never going to open big since it wasn’t a star-driven vehicle, and that word-of-mouth would have to do the heavy lifting. “If it is good, people would go and tell other people to watch it, and that’s the only way this film is going to progress,” he said, adding that he hopes the gap between critical acclaim and box office performance is narrowing.
So far, the strategy seems to be paying off — slowly but steadily. The film opened to a modest Rs 1.15 crore on Day 1, but has shown consistent growth since. By Day 6, it had crossed Rs 18.73 crore worldwide, with India contributing Rs 11.98 crore and overseas markets adding steady numbers, buoyed by strong word-of-mouth. On Day 6 itself, the film recorded a Hindi occupancy of 23.61%, peaking at nearly 32% during night shows.
For Imtiaz, the real victory lies in audience reception — particularly among younger viewers, who he says are responding warmly to the film’s themes of love, memory, and displacement. With steady growth each day, Main Vaapas Aaunga appears to be proving that a strong story, backed by a recognisable face, can still find its audience — even without a big opening weekend.
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