Emergency box office collection Day 1 early estimates: Kangana Ranaut starrer off to a slow start

Kangana Ranaut’s much-anticipated political drama Emergency has had a sluggish start at the box office, according to early estimates.
The film which is finally releasing in theatres after months of delays, is reportedly set to earn just around Rs 1 lakh from its early morning shows on its opening day, according to Sacnilk. However, going by advance ticket sales, the film is expected to pick up its pace at the box office, over the course of the day and is predicted to become one of Kangana's best openings post-COVID-19.
Emergency Movie Review
Before the pandemic, Ranaut’s films enjoyed solid openings and notable box office numbers. However, her recent releases have struggled to draw in the masses, resulting in lacklustre box office performances. Industry experts predict that 'Emergency' might follow a similar trajectory.
While the film has so far just crossed the Rs 1 lakh mark, its opening day numbers are projected to reach Rs 2-3 crore net in India. If the film can pick up its pace, it will surpass Tejas, which debuted at Rs 1.25 crore in 2023.
The film's release today, January 17, coincides with Cinema Lovers Day, where selected theatres are offering discounted ticket prices. Kangana announced on her handle, "Watch Emergency at Rs 99."
This initiative is expected to provide a slight boost to box office numbers and ticket sales. Despite the initial slow start, the film’s pre-sales figures have outpaced its competitor 'Azaad', a film starring debutants, Aaman Devgan and Rasha Thadani. However, the overall pre-sales for both films remain underwhelming.
While Emergency leads in advance bookings, the competition may impact its overall earnings. Directed and co-produced by Kangana Ranaut, Emergency delves into the 21-month period of political turmoil from 1975 to 1977.
Emergency boasts an ensemble cast, with Kangana in the lead as Indira Gandhi, Shreyas Talpade portraying a young Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Milind Soman as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Mahima Chaudhary as Pupul Jayakar, and the late Satish Kaushik as Jagjivan Ram.