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Varun Dhawan’s Baby John shows signs of recovery at the box office, collecting ₹4.25 crore on Day 4, bringing its total to ₹23.90 crore. Despite facing stiff competition from Pushpa 2 and mixed reviews, the film sees a slight upward trend.
Varun Dhawan’s Baby John collects ₹23.90 crore by Day 4, recovering slightly with ₹4.25 crore on Saturday. Facing competition from Pushpa 2 and mixed reviews, the film struggles at the box office.
After a steady decline in collections since its release, Varun Dhawan’s Baby John experienced a modest recovery at the box office on Saturday. As per Sacnilk, the film garnered ₹4.25 crore on its fourth day, pushing its total domestic earnings to ₹23.90 crore. This uptick comes despite reports of several canceled shows.
Baby John had an underwhelming debut on Wednesday, earning ₹11.25 crore even with the advantage of a holiday release. Collections plummeted on Thursday with a 57.78% drop to ₹4.75 crore, followed by another 23% dip on Friday, bringing in ₹3.65 crore. Saturday’s slight recovery marked the film’s first positive trend, offering a glimmer of hope for its performance. However, the movie continues to struggle against stiff competition from Pushpa 2, which remains a box office juggernaut even in its fourth week. On Saturday, Pushpa 2 raked in ₹12.5 crore, further overshadowing Baby John.
Comparisons with Varun Dhawan’s previous theatrical release, Bhediya (2022), highlight the film’s struggles. In its first four days, Bhediya earned ₹32.4 crore, significantly outperforming Baby John’s ₹23.90 crore. Directed by Kalees, Baby John is a remake of Atlee’s 2016 Tamil hit Theri and features a star-studded cast including Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Zara Zyanna, and Jackie Shroff.
Critics have offered mixed reviews, with many praising the cast but criticizing the execution. News18 Showsha highlighted Varun Dhawan’s strong performance as DCP Satya Verma, lauding his versatility and high-energy presence in songs like Nain Matakka. However, the film’s sluggish pacing, predictable storyline, and forced humor have been major drawbacks. Special appearances by Sanya Malhotra and Salman Khan were deemed underwhelming, failing to add depth to the narrative.
An excerpt from the review reads, “What stands out most in Baby John is its stellar casting. Kudos to the casting director! Varun Dhawan shines as DCP Satya Verma, bringing the right mix of swagger and depth to his character. From portraying fearlessness to vulnerability and humour, Dhawan proves he is a complete package. His high-energy performance in the peppy track Nain Matakka is particularly noteworthy. However, the film falters in its writing and direction. The plot feels stretched, with a sluggish first half that echoes Akshay Kumar’s Rowdy Rathore. Although the second half gains momentum, it remains predictable, lacking suspense or originality. Unnecessary humour further detracts from the narrative. Sanya Malhotra’s special appearance, singing a classical rendition of Sheila Ki Jawani, feels forced and misses the mark entirely. The much-hyped Salman Khan cameo also disappoints. Arriving near the film’s end, it feels tacked on, adding no depth or value to the story.”
