Agencies | Mumbai:
The much-anticipated political drama Aakhri Sawaal finally hit theatres on May 16, opening to favourable reviews from critics but posting modest numbers at the box office on its first day.
Starring Sanjay Dutt, Namashi Chakraborty, Amit Sadh and Sameera Reddy in key roles, the film reportedly earned an estimated ₹50 lakh net at the Indian box office on its opening day, translating to nearly ₹59 lakh gross.
Despite the slow start, the film has drawn appreciation for its performances, particularly that of Sanjay Dutt, and for its bold political narrative and gripping storytelling. Trade analysts believe the film’s strong word-of-mouth could help it register significant growth over the weekend.
Interestingly, Aakhri Sawaal performed better than Shatak, another politically themed release based on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which had opened at around ₹30 lakh earlier this year. In comparison, Aakhri Sawaal recorded nearly 66 per cent higher opening-day collections.
Directed by Abhijeet Mohan Warang, the film has been produced by Nikhil Nanda and Sanjay Dutt under the banners of Nikhil Nanda Motion Pictures and Neem Tree Entertainment. The supporting cast includes Nitu Chandra, Tridha Choudhury, Mrinal Kulkarni and Harsimran Oberoi.
Distributed by PVR Inox Pictures, the film has received a UA certification from the Central Board of Film Certification and has a runtime of 1 hour and 57 minutes.
Audience response on ticketing platforms has been encouraging, with the film currently holding a rating of 9.6 out of 10 on BookMyShow based on more than 300 user votes.
With an estimated production budget of around ₹30 crore, industry observers say the film will need strong weekend growth and sustained audience support in the coming days to emerge as a commercial success.
