Despite industry heavyweights Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam, Thug Life has had a sluggish start at the Indian box office. The film, which debuted in theatres on June 5, has managed to earn Rs 36.52 crore in India over its first four days, falling significantly short of expectations.
Opening on a Thursday, Thug Life collected Rs 15.5 crore on its first day. However, the film’s momentum quickly slowed, adding Rs 7.15 crore on Friday, Rs 7.75 crore on Saturday, and a modest Rs 6.12 crore on Sunday, according to box office tracking portal Sacnilk.
These figures are underwhelming, especially considering the scale and anticipation surrounding the project. “Considering that Thug Life involves the names of two of the biggest legends, Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, these numbers hardly do any justice,” observed one industry insider.
Here’s a breakdown of the film’s daily collections at the domestic box office:
Day 1 (Thursday): Rs 15.5 crore
Day 2 (Friday): Rs 7.15 crore
Day 3 (Saturday): Rs 7.75 crore
Day 4 (Sunday): Rs 6.12 crore
Total (India): Rs 36.52 crore
Compared to Kamal Haasan’s previous releases, Thug Life ranks among his weakest openers in recent years. His 2023 film Indian 2, despite receiving a lukewarm response from audiences, still managed to earn Rs 69.15 crore in its first three days.
On Sunday, the Tamil version recorded an average occupancy of 32.25%, with the evening slots peaking at 39.43%. The Telugu version performed worse, drawing just 14.92% overall occupancy, while the Hindi version logged a dismal 8.21%, with peak attendance at only 9.19% during afternoon shows.
Internationally, the film has also underperformed. As of its third day, Thug Life had grossed Rs 62.1 crore worldwide, well below the coveted Rs 100 crore milestone that most big-budget Indian films aim for in their opening weekends.
Adding to the discourse around the film, fans of actor Dulquer Salmaan have publicly praised his decision to decline a role in Thug Life. Salmaan’s move, which was once met with criticism, is now being seen in a new light given the film’s underwhelming performance.
Directed by Mani Ratnam, the story follows Sakthivel, a gang leader who adopts a young man named Amaran. Years later, an assassination attempt on Sakthivel stirs suspicions and tension within the underworld.
The ensemble cast features Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Abhirami, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, and Rohit Saraf. The film was released in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages across cinemas globally.