Every Bollywood film has its moment in the spotlight, and for Ajay Devgn's De De Pyaar De 2, that moment is quietly fading. As Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar storms into theaters, the romantic comedy is taking its final bow with minimal collections -- a stark reminder of how quickly the box office landscape shifts.
De De Pyaar De 2 collected just ₹10 lakh on its fourth Friday, marking a dramatic fall from its opening day collection of ₹8.25 crore. The arrival of Dhurandhar grabbed most available screens, pushing Ajay Devgn's film to limited shows nationwide. The rom-com will likely wrap its theatrical run around the ₹70 crore mark -- significantly below the original's ₹95 crore.
This performance positions it better than recent rom-com releases but falls short of success due to high production costs. The film's inability to sustain momentum reveals the harsh reality of modern Bollywood economics. For more box office analysis and trends, explore our entertainment coverage.
The sequel struggled with poor marketing, which left audiences unaware or uninterested. Mixed word-of-mouth further dampened collections, as viewers who did watch it weren't enthusiastic enough to recommend it widely. The market for mid-budget rom-coms without pre-release anticipation has shrunk dramatically.
According to Box Office India, the 8-week OTT window has particularly hurt such films. Audiences now prefer waiting for streaming releases rather than theatrical visits for non-event movies. What worked in 2019 no longer resonates in 2025's competitive landscape.
Ranveer Singh's spy thriller Dhurandhar commanded most multiplexes upon release, leaving De De Pyaar De 2 with scraps. This screen-sharing dynamic is standard in Indian cinema -- new releases, especially those with star power and genre appeal, dominate exhibitor priorities. The romantic comedy simply couldn't compete with an action-packed espionage thriller.
Ajay Devgn's star power, while considerable, wasn't enough to sustain long-term interest without strong content backing. Rakul Preet Singh's presence added appeal, but the film needed more than casting to justify theatrical engagement. Check out more Bollywood updates on our platform.
De De Pyaar De 2's performance highlights several industry shifts. Marketing matters more than ever -- films can't rely solely on sequel status or star names. Word-of-mouth remains crucial, but it needs to be overwhelmingly positive to counter OTT convenience. Genre limitations exist, and rom-coms face particular challenges in drawing theatrical audiences.
The film joins a growing list of sequels that failed to capture the original's magic. Comparisons to De De Pyaar De (2019) were inevitable, and falling ₹25 crore short makes the sequel's performance look even weaker. Visit IMDb for more details on the film's cast and crew.
With screens disappearing rapidly, De De Pyaar De 2 will add perhaps another ₹20-30 lakh before exiting theaters entirely. The ₹70 crore final tally represents decent revenue but fails to cover production and marketing expenses, earning it a FLOP verdict. The consolation? It outperformed other recent rom-coms, though that's cold comfort for producers.