Ayushmann Khurrana’s latest theatrical release Pati Patni Aur Woh Do finally arrived in cinemas on May 15, but the film hasn’t exactly started on the strong note many expected. Despite carrying the recall value of the 2019 hit franchise and featuring a fresh multi-star cast including Rakul Preet Singh, Sara Ali Khan and Wamiqa Gabbi, the comedy drama saw a surprisingly dull opening at the ticket windows. The first-day numbers are already raising concerns about whether the film can build momentum over the weekend or end up struggling against audience expectations.
According to early trade estimates shared by Sacnilk, the Mudassar Aziz directorial collected around Rs 3.85 crore India nett on Day 1, while the India gross stood at Rs 4.62 crore. Worldwide earnings reportedly touched Rs 5.62 crore. For a commercial Bollywood entertainer releasing across more than 6,800 shows nationwide, the occupancy remained quite low at nearly 12%, which is not the kind of response usually associated with Ayushmann Khurrana’s theatrical releases. The actor has built a reputation over the years for delivering crowd-friendly middle-class comedies that often open much stronger, especially in urban circuits.
What makes the situation more noticeable is the comparison with the original Pati Patni Aur Woh released back in 2019. That film, led by Kartik Aaryan alongside Bhumi Pednekar and Ananya Panday, had opened to much healthier numbers and eventually turned into a profitable box office success. The original movie crossed Rs 100 crore during its theatrical run and became one of the stronger comedy performers of that year. In comparison, the sequel’s opening has landed far below expectations, especially considering ticket prices and wider release scale have increased significantly since then.
Industry chatter before release suggested the makers were banking heavily on weekend walk-ins and family audiences. However, the mixed early reviews and average word-of-mouth now seem to have slowed that possibility. Some viewers praised the film’s light-hearted moments and performances, but many also felt the story lacked the freshness and sharp humour that made the earlier installment work with audiences. Social media reactions have also remained divided, which usually affects growth for mid-budget Bollywood entertainers during opening weekend.
For Ayushmann Khurrana, the slow start comes after his horror-comedy Thamma, produced by Dinesh Vijan, managed to pull massive initial numbers during the Diwali season. While Thamma eventually witnessed a drop after its festive opening rush, the film still emerged with solid lifetime earnings and added another successful title to Maddock Films’ growing horror-comedy universe that already includes Stree, Bhediya, Munjya and Roohi. Compared to that scale and excitement, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do currently feels much more muted in terms of audience buzz.
Rakul Preet Singh, on the other hand, was previously seen in De De Pyaar De 2, which performed decently at the box office and managed to cross the Rs 100 crore mark during its run. Sara Ali Khan’s last theatrical outing Metro In Dino had also struggled initially despite receiving appreciation for performances and music. Meanwhile, Wamiqa Gabbi enters this film after the success of Bhooth Bangla, the Akshay Kumar-Priyadarshan reunion project that turned into one of the surprise commercial hits of the year.
Trade analysts now believe the real test for Pati Patni Aur Woh Do begins from Saturday onward. Since the film is reportedly made on a controlled budget, the makers still have a chance to recover costs if family audiences start coming in during the weekend. But if the occupancy remains flat, the film could find itself in a difficult position much earlier than expected. Bollywood comedies usually depend heavily on positive audience chatter, and right now the film seems to be missing that strong breakout reaction.
Another factor being discussed inside trade circles is the current changing behaviour of theatre audiences. In recent months, viewers have become far more selective about spending money on theatrical releases unless the film offers either strong event-level hype, exceptional reviews, or viral social media traction. Mid-scale comedies that once relied on star charm alone are now finding it harder to pull crowds during opening day. That shift is becoming increasingly visible with films like Pati Patni Aur Woh Do.
Still, the weekend numbers will decide whether this opening was simply a slow start or the beginning of a bigger box office problem. With Ayushmann Khurrana still enjoying a loyal urban fanbase and the film carrying franchise familiarity, the makers will now hope Saturday evening and Sunday collections show noticeable improvement before Monday arrives.
