Shah Rukh Khan's much-anticipated Bollywood film Jab Harry Met Sejal has had a slower than expected start at the Indian box office.
According to the film's makers the romantic saga, which also stars actress Anushka Sharma, has only made Rs 50 crore (Dh28.8 billion) in its first four days in cinemas.
Jab Harry Met Sejal minted Rs 15.25 crore on its opening day and didn't witness any hike in its collection on Saturday and Sunday, when it collected Rs 15 crore and Rs 15.50 crore respectively.
However, on Monday, which also happened to be the festival of Raksha Bandhan, the movie only managed to rake in Rs 7.15 crore.
Trade expert Taran Adarsh called the film's performance "disappointing", and said Bollywood desperately needs a hit film now.
"Tubelight, Jagga Jasoos, Munna Michael, Jab Harry Met Sejal... Bollywood is going through the worst phase... Desperate for hits... What's shocking, the biggies aren't fetching the desired start at the box office... Let's not blame the audience... The problem lies within," Adarsh tweeted on Tuesday.
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"The biggest of stars need a solid story and captivating screenplay to stand on feet, to sprint, to win... Mere star power isn't enough," he added.
Besides India, Jab Harry Met Sejal has performed well overseas. It is currently leading the list of films in Vox cinemas in the UAE.
#Tubelight, #JaggaJasoos, #MunnaMichael, #JabHarryMetSejal... Bollywood is going through the worst phase... Desperate for Hits...
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) August 8, 2017
Earlier, trade expert Komal Nahta said "the disappointing second half ruins Jab Harry Met Sejal and pulls it down to becoming a losing fare".
Hopes were high from the movie, especially since Tubelight and Jagga Jasoos - starring Salman Khan and Ranbir Kapoor respectively - failed to elicit the expected response at the ticket counters in India.
Now all eyes are on Akshay Kumar's Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, due for release on Friday.
"Will Toilet: Ek Prem Katha prove a saviour? Let's hope it bails out the industry," Adarsh tweeted.
IANS
