After his OTT release, the spy thriller ‘Citadel,’ Varun Dhawan is set to make a comeback on the big screen with ‘Baby John.’ Touted as a mass entertainer, the film is directed by Kalees and produced by Atlee, known for directing ‘Jawan,’ along with Murad Khetani. It also stars Keerthy Suresh and Wamiqa Gabbi in key roles.
‘Baby John’ will be released across India on approximately 3000 screens. However, the makers face a challenge in securing proper show timings in theatres, as ‘Pushpa 2’ continues to dominate the box office. The weekend shows of ‘Pushpa 2’ are running houseful, while weekday occupancy is still at 60–70%. In such a scenario, ‘Baby John’ will have to fight for its place in cinemas.
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The competition intensifies as ‘Baby John’ is slated for release on Christmas Day, a prime holiday season. The makers of ‘Pushpa 2’ are also unlikely to cut down their show count, as the film is still bringing in significant revenue.
Meanwhile, advance bookings for ‘Pushpa 2’ were briefly paused due to negotiations between PVR Inox and distributors. However, bookings are now open, and the final schedule is expected to be locked over the weekend, as per reports from Pinkvilla.
For ‘Baby John,’ the target is to sell at least 80,000 tickets in national cinema chains, which could ensure a decent opening of approximately ₹15 crore on Day 1 (Christmas). The holiday period between Christmas and New Year will also be crucial for both films, as this timeframe typically drives high footfalls and boosts box-office collections.