The much-anticipated action film Fateh, starring Sonu Sood, had a subdued start at the domestic box office, earning an estimated Rs 2.45 crore on its opening day, according to a report by Sacnilk. Despite high expectations and a compelling narrative centred on cybercrime, justice, and resilience, the film failed to generate buzz, but still managed to cross the Rs 2 crore mark.
Trade analysts initially predicted the film’s first-day collection to range between Rs 70 lakh and Rs 1 crore, making the Rs 2.45 crore figure slightly better than anticipated numbers. Fateh marks Sood’s return as a lead actor, a role eagerly awaited by his fans, particularly after his widely recognised philanthropic work during the pandemic.
Industry experts believe Fateh could see improved performance over the weekend if positive word-of-mouth publicity builds momentum. However, sustaining the film’s box office journey may prove challenging. As the film’s collections failed to cross the Rs 5 crore mark on its opening day, the film can reportedly look forward to a lifetime earning of just around Rs 40 crore.Adding to its challenges, ‘Fateh’ faces stiff competition from major releases like Ram Charan starrer Game Changer which debuted with an impressive all-India estimate of Rs 51 crore, drawing significant buzz among fans. Furthermore, Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2, now in its sixth weekend, continues to perform strongly at the box office.
Interestingly, Salman Khan extended his support to Fateh, revealing his connection to one of its songs, ‘Heer’.” Composed by Shabbir Ahmed and sung by Vishal Mishra and Asees Kaur, the track was originally intended for one of Salman’s projects. The superstar mentioned during an episode of Bigg Boss, “I also have a contribution in the film Fateh. The song ‘Heer’ was very dear to me, but now it is part of this film.” Sonu Sood expressed his heartfelt gratitude for Salman’s gesture.
As the weekend progresses, the fate of ‘Fateh’ hinges on audience reception and favourable reviews, with hopes pinned on a turnaround to bolster its box office performance.
