'Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari' Lags Behind Blockbuster 'Kantara' at Box Office

On October 2, 2025, Shashank Khaitan's much-anticipated family entertainer 'Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari', featuring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, recorded a slow start at the box office. The film collected around ₹9.25 crore nett on its opening day in India.

The slow start for 'Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari' can be attributed to the stiff competition it faces from Rishab Shetty's 'Kantara Chapter 1', the Kannada prequel that has stormed the box office with an impressive pan-India opening of over ₹60 crore nett (gross minus taxes).

According to Sacnilk, on its first day, 'Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari' registered an overall occupancy of 32.45 percent, with evening shows driving major footfalls. Regional trends highlighted clear differences, with Chennai topping at 58 percent occupancy, followed by Bengaluru (51.33 percent) and Kolkata (45.67 percent). While Mumbai, NCR, and Hyderabad delivered solid numbers, cities like Surat, Bhopal, and Ahmedabad witnessed comparatively low turnout.

India Today's review of the film pointed to its witty writing and nostalgic Bollywood references, stating, "'Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari's strength lies in its writing, peppered with dialogues that wink at iconic Bollywood moments - from SRK's 'Chak De' monologue to a cheeky reference to 'Mr. India's' 'Kaante Nahin Katte'. The first half builds solidly and promises an equally strong payoff. Unfortunately, the film falters in its final act, with a rushed and illogical climax that undermines the buildup."

Produced under Dharma Productions, the film stars Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, and Rohit Saraf, blending glossy visuals with romantic-comedy elements. The film's box office journey will depend on sustaining momentum against the heavyweight 'Kantara Chapter 1'.