Mumbai: Director Shashank Khaitan’s family entertainer Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, starring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, opened to a moderate start at the Indian box office, collecting approximately ₹9.25 crore net on its first day, according to Sacnilk.

Box office clash with Kantara Chapter 1

One of the biggest challenges for Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari (SSKTK) has been its clash with Kantara: Chapter 1, the highly anticipated Kannada prequel directed by and starring Rishab Shetty. Kantara Chapter 1 has enjoyed a massive opening, grossing over ₹60 crore pan India on its first day.

Released on October 2, SSKTK had an overall occupancy of 32.45%, with evening shows driving most of the footfall. Regional differences in cinema occupancy were visible: Chennai led with 58%, followed by Bengaluru (51.33%) and Kolkata (45.67%), with peak turnout in evening shows. Mumbai, NCR, and Hyderabad also performed reasonably well, whereas Surat, Bhopal, and Ahmedabad witnessed low attendance. Across most cities, afternoon and evening slots dominated the footfall, with Chennai standing out for high engagement despite a limited number of shows.

Film overview and cast performance

Starring Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, and Rohit Saraf, the film relies on Dharma Productions’ glossy presentation and romantic-comedy beats. While fans appreciated its light-hearted tone and the chemistry between the lead pair, critics gave a more mixed response.

According to Hindustan Times,

“Varun keeps you entertained, grasping the beats well. Janhvi looks pretty and is earnest throughout, but stumbles in the emotional scenes. Sanya struggles with an underwritten role but executes it with her acting skills. Rohit performs well. Maniesh Paul, as a wedding planner, evokes some laughs. Overall, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari suffers not from lack of ambition but from a lack of clarity. It wants to be a romance and a family drama at once, yet never commits fully to any track. For a story about fighting for love, it doesn’t make you fall in love with it.”

Despite the star cast and festive marketing push, the film faced stiff competition from Kantara Chapter 1, which dominated box office collections in multiple regions.

Conclusion

While Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari had a decent start in some key metros and evening shows, the clash with Kantara Chapter 1 limited its overall earnings. The film’s performance over the weekend will determine its commercial viability, especially given the ongoing competition from the pan-India hit.