Tollywood
The Girlfriend' Box Office Collection After Day 8: with Mixed Results Amidst Strong Praise for Rashmika's Performance
Rashmika Mandanna's latest outing, The Girlfriend, has completed its first week in theaters, presenting a complex picture of critical acclaim for its star and a challenging run at the box office, particularly with its Hindi-dubbed version. The film, a poignant romantic drama, has garnered a total India net collection of ₹12.35 crore in its first eight days, with the worldwide gross standing at ₹19.75 crore. The original Telugu version of the film has been its primary commercial driver, earning a net of ₹11.9 crore. After a slow start of ₹1.23 crore on its opening day, the film saw a significant jump over the weekend, peaking at ₹2.6 crore on Sunday, fueled by positive word-of-mouth.However, collections saw a drop on Monday and have since stabilized at around the ₹1 crore mark daily. In stark contrast, the Hindi version has struggled to make an impact, collecting a mere ₹0.45 crore in its first week. The daily figures for the Hindi dub remained consistently low, indicating a tough road to profitability in that market. Given the film's reported budget of around ₹42 crores, its current box office collections mean it has a long road to theatrical profitability. This performance is particularly underwhelming when measured against the high standards set by Rashmika's previous commercial successes Written and directed by Rahul Ravindran, "The Girlfriend" presents a raw and unflinching portrait of a modern relationship turning toxic. The film introduces audiences to Bhooma Devi (Rashmika Mandanna), a gentle literature student whose life takes a dark turn when she meets the charismatic Vikram (Dheekshith Shetty). What begins as a charming romance soon devolves into a suffocating cycle of control, as Vikram's affection twists into a possessive rage that erodes Bhooma's identity and peace of mind through constant gaslighting. Take a look at the day wise collection of The Girlfriend Day 1:₹ 1.23 Cr Day 2:₹ 2.3 Cr Day 3:₹ 2.6 Cr Day 4:₹ 1.1 Cr Day 5:₹ 1.27 Cr Day 6:₹ 1.25 Cr Day 7:₹ 1.1 Cr Day 8:₹ 1.05 Cr * While the box office numbers tell one story, the critical response has been largely centered on the powerhouse performance of its lead actress. Rashmika Mandanna has received widespread, glowing reviews for her portrayal of Bhooma, with many critics calling it a career-best performance.Her nuanced depiction of a young woman's journey from a passive victim to finding her own voice has been universally praised. The film itself has received mixed to positive reviews. Critics have lauded its thematic richness, brave and timely subject matter, and Ravindran's clear-eyed direction.However, some have pointed out issues with the screenplay's slow pace, repetitive emotional loops, and a predictable ending.Dheekshith Shetty's performance as the intense and flawed Vikram has also been noted as a strong supporting act. Ultimately, The Girlfriend presents a tale of two outcomes. From a purely commercial perspective, particularly given its high budget and the underwhelming performance of its Hindi version, the film faces a difficult path. However, from a critical and artistic standpoint, it stands as a significant success.
