When Stardom, Sequels and Hype Collide: The Unpredictability of the Box Office

Indian cinema’s box office remains unpredictable despite star power and established franchises. Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jawan’ saw massive success, while other big films like Salman Khan’s ‘Sikandar’ and Hrithik Roshan’s ‘War 2’ underperformed initially. Rajinikanth’s ‘2.0’ had mixed results, but ‘Coolie’ opened strong. Stardom attracts attention, but audience sentiment, regional variations, and franchise fatigue significantly influence a film’s ultimate success.