The Indian box office welcomed three new films this Friday — Ek Chatur Naar, Mannu Kya Karegga, and Heer Express. Despite the diverse genres, none of the movies made a strong impression at the box office, all starting off on a rather low note. However, Ek Chatur Naar, featuring Divya Khosla Kumar and Neil Nitin Mukesh, managed to edge out the competition, albeit just slightly.
Directed by Umesh Shukla, Ek Chatur Naar kicked off with a net collection of ₹55 lakh on its opening day in India. This black comedy, set in Lucknow, drew in modest crowds and just barely surpassed the other two films. While a lead of ₹5 lakh might not sound like much, it gives the film a slight advantage as it heads into the weekend.
On the other hand, both Mannu Kya Karegga and Heer Express reported similar opening day figures of around ₹50 lakh each. With newcomers in the lead roles, these films leaned heavily on marketing and the curiosity of first-time viewers. Mannu Kya Karegga is being marketed as a light-hearted romantic comedy featuring Vyom and Saanchi Bindra, while Heer Express aims to be a family-friendly film, introducing Divita Juneja as its main star.
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Mar 20, 2026In total, the three films brought in about ₹1.55 crore net on Friday across India. Interestingly, their numbers got a little boost from Buy-One-Get-One ticket deals that many cinema chains offered for the opening day. It will be interesting to see if these promotions continue over the weekend or if the filmmakers will try to assess audience turnout without them.
The real test now is whether they can maintain momentum beyond the first day. All three films are moderate-budget projects with limited star appeal, meaning their success largely hinges on how audiences respond and what the buzz is like. With Umesh Shukla directing two of the films — Ek Chatur Naar and Heer Express — the next few days will show if his storytelling resonates with a wider audience.
Right now, Ek Chatur Naar has a slight lead, but the competition is still very much alive. The growth over Saturday and Sunday will be key, and if there aren't any significant boosts, all three titles could quickly fade away in the upcoming week. Ultimately, the weekend box office will determine which of these newcomers comes out on top and whether any of them can manage to stick around for the long haul.
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