Industry Backs Imtiaz Ali as Main Vaapas Aaunga Defies Early Box Office Odds

Imtiaz Ali’s latest directorial venture, Main Vaapas Aaunga, has emerged as one of the most unexpected box-office success stories of the year, staging a remarkable turnaround after a modest opening week and benefiting from sustained positive word of mouth.

The partition-era romantic drama, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari and Vedang Raina, recorded its highest single-day collection on its second Sunday, collecting ₹5.75 crore nett and pushing its total India nett earnings to ₹24.25 crore. The film’s India gross collection has reached ₹29 crore, reflecting a dramatic recovery from its slow start in theatres.

Speaking about the film’s performance, Ali admitted he was both delighted and surprised by the response. The filmmaker noted that collections on the Friday following release were nearly double those of opening day, a trend he credited entirely to audience recommendations and organic word of mouth.

“It’s an overwhelming feeling. I am very happy and also a little surprised. This has happened because of the audience and the strong word of mouth,” Ali said.

The film opened to modest numbers, earning around ₹1.15 crore on its first day and finishing its opening weekend at just over ₹5.5 crore. Trade expectations at the time suggested a limited theatrical run, with projections estimating a lifetime total in the ₹12–14 crore range.

Instead, the film began showing unusual resilience during weekdays. Positive reviews, social media conversations and strong audience endorsements helped maintain momentum, culminating in a week-one total of approximately ₹12.25 crore. By its second weekend, exhibitors in several markets had expanded show counts, with some theatres reportedly scheduling early-morning screenings to accommodate demand.

The turnaround became even more evident during the second weekend. After collecting ₹1.90 crore on Friday amid competition from the newly released Cocktail 2, the film surged to ₹4.35 crore on Saturday and ₹5.75 crore on Sunday. The estimated ₹12 crore second-weekend haul represented a jump of more than 100 per cent over its opening weekend, a rare achievement in the current theatrical landscape.

Industry support has played a visible role in amplifying the film’s profile. Ali revealed that several filmmakers and actors personally reached out after release, encouraging him to remain patient despite the slow start. Veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur regularly checked in on the film’s collections, while Subhash Ghai reassured Ali by recalling how successful films can sometimes take time to find their audience.

The filmmaker also highlighted the encouragement he received from fellow artists, including Ayushmann Khurrana, who sang a song from the film and shared it on social media. Ali described the gesture as deeply moving. He also acknowledged appreciation from Rani Mukerji, Dia Mirza and several other industry colleagues who publicly praised the film.

Support extended beyond private messages. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap celebrated the film on social media and jokingly told Ali that if he continued making films of similar quality, he would “build a temple” for him at home. Actor Alia Bhatt also shared her support for the film and its cast on social media, applauding its growing theatrical success.

Reflecting on the response during an appearance on Yuvaa’s Be A Man, Yaar podcast, Ali said he has been deeply moved by the way audiences have connected with the story and discovered reflections of their own experiences in the film. He added that the spontaneous promotion from friends and colleagues within the industry has been both unexpected and humbling.

Released on June 12, Main Vaapas Aaunga unfolds across two timelines against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition. The story follows a 95-year-old man determined to return to Pakistan before his death, while his grandson pieces together memories from a lost past. Through themes of love, displacement, longing and identity, the film explores how personal histories continue to shape generations.

As audience demand continues to grow and theatres add screenings, the film’s box-office trajectory has become one of the year’s most closely watched theatrical stories, demonstrating the enduring power of strong word of mouth in an increasingly unpredictable market.