Varun-Janhvi's Film Stumbles as Kantara Soars at Box Office

As of October 8, 2025, Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor's latest film Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari has failed to make a significant impact at the box office. The film, which released on October 2, has managed to earn only ₹36.25 crore in its first six days, a far cry from the success it was expected to achieve.

In contrast, the Hindi version of the Kannada film Kantara Chapter 1, which also released on October 2, has been steadily gaining momentum and is now nearing the ₹100 crore mark at the box office. This stark difference in performance has highlighted the ongoing struggle of Bollywood films to compete with the rising popularity of regional cinema.

According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari experienced a sharp drop in earnings on Friday, with the film minting only ₹5.5 crore. This decline of nearly 46% compared to the opening day has raised concerns about the film's long-term prospects.

In his review, film critic Saibal Chatterjee described the film as "winding, perplexing, and eventually comforting," suggesting that the romantic comedy, despite its familiar tropes, failed to fully engage the audience.

As the industry continues to navigate the changing landscape of Indian cinema, the underperformance of Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari serves as a reminder of the need for Bollywood to adapt and deliver content that resonates with the evolving preferences of moviegoers.