The much-anticipated romcom ‘De De Pyaar De 2’, starring Ajay Devgn, Rakul Preet Singh, and R. Madhavan, hit theatres on Friday, November 14, registering a day-one collection of around Rs 8.75 crore. While modest compared to pre-pandemic standards, the opening is considered decent for the genre, which has been struggling to attract strong initial footfalls in recent times.
Romcoms struggle in the post-pandemic era
Romantic comedies have faced an uphill battle post-pandemic, with most releases failing to deliver robust openings. Historically, romcoms like ‘Saiyaara’ achieved record-breaking numbers, but such success stories have become rare. In the current context, ‘De De Pyaar De 2’ now ranks fourth among romcoms with the highest opening numbers post-pandemic, highlighting both its moderate success and the challenges facing the genre.
Box Office India reports that other recent romcom openings have struggled to cross the Rs 10 crore mark. Even films with holiday advantages, such as ‘Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar’, posted opening collections of around Rs 10 crore, underscoring the genre’s difficulty in drawing large audiences consistently. Films like ‘Bad Newz’, which benefited from a hit song and viral choreography, show that music and strong marketing remain crucial for driving box office momentum in this space.
Star power vs genre economics
The romcom slowdown predates the pandemic, but the current post-pandemic environment has made it even more challenging. With production budgets increasing, star-led romantic comedies face diminishing returns. Analysts suggest that the survival of the genre may increasingly rely on fresh talent, controlled budgets, and innovative storytelling, rather than established stars alone.
In contrast, films with a stronger dramatic core or high emotional stakes can still resonate with audiences. Pure comedy-heavy romcoms, however, are now struggling, particularly in regions beyond the NCR, limiting their geographic reach and box office potential. Key markets such as Mumbai and Eastern India are no longer reliably supporting the genre, further restricting overall revenue.
Post-pandemic romcom rankings
Among post-pandemic romcoms, ‘Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar’ holds the top spot for the highest opening, followed by ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’ at second, ‘Bad Newz’ at third, and ‘De De Pyaar De 2’ at fourth. Rounding out the top five is ‘Param Sundari’, demonstrating the limited pool of successful romcoms in recent years.
Despite the moderate opening, industry insiders note that the film’s performance reflects a relative success, given the current trends in audience preferences and the difficulties faced by comedy-heavy romantic films.
Conclusion
While ‘De De Pyaar De 2’ may not break records, its Rs 8.75 crore opening is a testament to the continued viability of romcoms with major stars, albeit in a constrained market. The future of the genre may hinge on balancing star appeal with tighter budgets, innovative storytelling, and regional appeal to revive widespread audience interest.