Siddharth Anand’s Latest Bollywood Blockbuster ‘Fighter’ Soars into Top Ten Amidst Subdued Weekend Box Office

The latest Indian action film, “Fighter,” directed by Siddharth Anand, has secured a position among the top ten at the domestic box office during a relatively subdued weekend for new cinematic releases. Starring Hrithik Roshan as Samsheer “Patty” Pathania, the leader of the Air Dragons, an elite team of Indian fighter pilots, the movie unfolds as they respond to a direct terrorist attack on a convoy of soldiers. Deepika Padukone complements the cast as Minal “Minni” Rathore, heading the helicopter pilot squad within the Air Dragons.

According to a report from Deadline, “Fighter” achieved gross revenue of $3.74 million across 662 theaters over a three-day span, culminating in a four-day total of $4.3 million following its release on January 25. Securing the sixth position at the domestic box office for the weekend, the film outperformed competitors such as “Poor Things,” “American Fiction,” “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” and “Godzilla Minus One,” the latter’s black-and-white re-release placing it in the tenth spot. Despite not enjoying the widespread theatrical presence of other prominent releases, “Fighter” adds another triumph to Anand’s track record, following the success of his previous work, “Pathaan,” which also reached the top ten.

In contrast to the underperformance of the 2022 remake of “Vikram Vedha,” which received positive reviews, Roshan’s collaboration with Anand has propelled him back to the zenith of the box office, marking his highest-grossing film since 2019’s “War,” also directed by Anand. Notably, this achievement is remarkable considering the critical reception of “Fighter,” which currently holds a 27% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 15 reviews, making it one of the least well-received films in Roshan’s career.

Roshan, a highly esteemed figure in Indian cinema, achieved prominence in Bollywood through collaborations with his father, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, notably in films like “Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai” and “Koi…Mil Gaya,” the latter serving as the precursor to the successful “Krrish” franchise. Further acclaim followed with roles in Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Khushie Kabhie Gham…” and Sanjay Gadvhi’s “Dhoom 2,” where his portrayal of Aryan Singh is celebrated as one of his finest performances.

The triumph of “Fighter” at the box office, both domestically and internationally, augurs well for future entries in the series. Confirming a sequel during the screenplay development of “Fighter,” Anand is set to helm the project, with production scheduled to commence following his work on one of the forthcoming installments in the YRF Spy Universe, “Tiger vs. Pathaan.” Despite its critical reception, “Fighter” aspires to soar as a substantial film franchise in India, guided by the collaborative success of one of Bollywood’s most accomplished contemporary filmmakers and actors.