Varun Dhawan’s latest film, Baby John, has been receiving positive feedback from audiences, with many praising the actor’s raw, intense performance. Known for his usually light-hearted roles, Varun’s portrayal of a complex character in this film has marked a significant shift in his career. The movie is on track to become one of the biggest openers for a non-franchise Bollywood film since the pandemic, with early estimates suggesting an impressive Rs. 13-15 crore on its opening day. Despite facing stiff competition from Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 and Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, the Christmas holiday period has helped give Baby John an added advantage at the box office.
The film has already outperformed several recent Bollywood releases, including Satyaprem Ki Katha, Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, Jug Jugg Jeeyo, and others, despite being in direct competition with massive blockbusters. However, Baby John is still not the first choice for Hindi moviegoers, particularly in the Hindi circuits, where it ranks behind Pushpa 2 and, in some cases, Mufasa: The Lion King. This positioning places it third in terms of metropolitan viewership, with the holiday boost being the key factor for its strong opening.
Despite these challenges, Baby John has managed to carve out its own space in the market, largely due to Varun Dhawan’s compelling performance and the support of the festive season. How well it performs in the long run will depend heavily on its word-of-mouth appeal, especially considering the fierce competition from two of the biggest films of the year.
Directed by Kalees, and produced by Murad Khetani, Priya Atlee, and Jyoti Deshpande, Baby John also features Keerthy Suresh, Jackie Shroff, and Wamiqa Gabbi, with a special cameo from Salman Khan.