By Anil Merani: Sanjay Dutt’s The Bhootnii a horror-comedy released on November 21, 2024, has flopped at the Indian box office, marking a significant setback for the veteran actor. Directed by debutant Sidhaant Sachdev and produced by Sanjay Dutt Productions, the film has grossed a mere ₹1 crore in its first two days, as reported by industry trackers. This figure ranks among the lowest Bollywood openers of 2025, surpassing only Phule(₹15 lakh) and Superboys of Malegaon (₹50 lakh). It also marks Sanjay Dutt’s weakest box office debut in over 20 years, a stark contrast to his past successes like Munna Bhai MBBS and *Vaastav
The film faced an uphill battle from the outset, competing against Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2, which earned 31 crore for the same two day period . The Bhootnii struggled to attract audiences, with advance bookings abysmal; only 3,500 tickets were sold across major chains such as PVR, Inox, and Cinepolis, reflecting a lack of pre-release buzz. The late release of the trailer failed to generate excitement, and promotional efforts were overshadowed by bigger releases. With a reported budget of ₹25-30 crore, the film needs to cross ₹30 crore to break even, but early trends suggest it may not survive the crucial opening weekend, posing a financial blow to the production.
Critically, The Bhootnii has been criticized for its incoherent screenplay, subpar visual effects, and inability to balance horror and comedy effectively. Reviewers noted that while the cast—Sanjay Dutt, Mouni Roy, Sunny Singh, and Palak Tiwari—put in laudable effort, the weak script and lack of scares let them down. Some social media posts on offered mild praise, calling it a “fun, light-hearted watch” and appreciating Dutt’s comic timing and Roy’s charm, but such opinions were outliers against an overwhelming tide of negative feedback. The film’s attempt to blend spooky elements with humor, centered on a ghost-hunting plot, failed to resonate, with audiences finding it neither scary nor funny enough.
In the broader context of 2025’s box office, which is dominated by star-driven films and sequels, The Bhootnii’s poor performance underscores the challenges faced by mid-budget films lacking strong marketing or a compelling hook. Currently, its total collection is projected to stall well below ₹10 crore, sealing its fate as a commercial disaster. This flop puts additional pressure on Sanjay Dutt to deliver with future projects like Housefull 5 to reclaim his box office appeal.