Akshay Kumar’s ‘Sarfira’ Box Office Collection Disappoints, Despite Stellar Performance

Akshay Kumar‘s latest film ‘Sarfira,’ a Hindi remake of the acclaimed 2020 Tamil movie ‘Soorarai Pottru,’ directed by Sudha Kongara, hit theaters with subdued reception on July 12. The film narrates the tale of Capt Gopinath, the visionary behind India’s first low-cost airline.

However, ‘Sarfira’s dismal box office performance has left many surprised. On its opening day, the movie managed to collect just Rs 2.40 crore, in stark contrast to Akshay’s recent big release ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,’ which debuted with a staggering Rs 16.07 crore but ultimately failed, earning a lifetime collection of Rs 59.17 crore.

In recent years, Akshay Kumar’s box office track record has been erratic, with only ‘Sooryavanshi’ and ‘OMG 2’ standing out as notable successes. ‘Sarfira’ marks his weakest opening since 2009’s ‘8X10 Tasveer,’ which launched with Rs 1.8 crore. The film’s first-day collection is even lower than those of ‘Mission Raniganj’ (Rs 2.8 crore), ‘Selfiee’ (Rs 2.5 crore), and ‘BellBottom’ (Rs 2.7 crore), all released amidst the pandemic. While films like ‘Bachchhan Paandey’ and ‘Ram Setu‘ opened to Rs 13 crore and Rs 15 crore respectively despite eventual flops.

‘Sarfira’ reportedly saw a 13.08% occupancy rate on its opening day. In Mumbai, with 472 screenings, the occupation was 14%, whereas in Delhi and NCR, across 570 shows, it stood at 11.75%. Alongside Akshay Kumar, the movie features Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal, and Seema Biswas in significant roles.

Reflecting on the challenges in his current career trajectory, Akshay Kumar shared insights from a conversation with Amitabh Bachchan, emphasizing the importance of consistent work, irrespective of success or failures. He mentioned, ‘I’ve witnessed individuals who work selectively, yet their films fail. In our industry, a string of failures can lead to a dearth of opportunities. Look at Mr. Bachchan. He advised me, ‘Akshay, keep working. Never turn down work.’ This lesson has been profound for me – honesty, creativity, and belief in luck being the right path forward.’