Tu Yaa Main continues its struggle at the box office as Shanaya Kapoor’s debut film failed to pull audiences on its second day. The Bejoy Nambiar directorial earned just ₹1.09 crore nett in India on Saturday, according to early estimates from Sacnilk.com.
The survival thriller had opened to a disappointing ₹60 lakh on Friday. With Saturday’s collection, the film’s total now stands at ₹1.69 crore after two days. The numbers paint a worrying picture for what was expected to be a promising launch vehicle for Sanjay Kapoor’s daughter.
Occupancy Remains A Major Concern
Despite running across 1,186 shows on Saturday, Tu Yaa Main managed an average occupancy of just 16.8 per cent. That’s roughly one in six seats filled—a figure that spells trouble for any theatrical release, especially in the crucial opening weekend.
The film pits Shanaya as Avani, a social media influencer known as Miss Vanity, opposite Adarsh Gourav’s Maruti, a rapper called Aala Flowpara. Their romantic getaway turns into a nightmare when they’re trapped in a swimming pool with a crocodile. It’s a high-concept premise, but audiences haven’t bitten.
Is Tu Yaa Main A Flop?
With collections barely crossing ₹1.5 crore in two days, the writing seems to be on the wall. Industry trackers typically consider films that fail to recover their production and marketing costs as flops. Given the star cast and production backing from Aanand L Rai, Himanshu Sharma, and Vinod Bhanushali, Tu Yaa Main needed a far stronger start.
The film would need a miraculous turnaround through word-of-mouth to avoid the flop tag. Sunday’s numbers will be critical, but the trajectory so far suggests an uphill battle.
Critics Praise Performances Despite Box Office Blues
Interestingly, the Hindustan Times review lauded the film’s commitment to the survival thriller genre. The review highlighted Adarsh Gourav’s “knockout performance as a rapper, nailing both the physicality and the diction of the part.” Shanaya received credit for supporting the narrative effectively.
“We don’t see a lot of films like Tu Yaa Main being attempted in Bollywood,” the review noted. It described the film as “an occasionally messy, but largely gripping ride” that blends social contrast with creature-feature thrills.
Shanaya Opens Up About Her Debut
Speaking with ANI recently, Shanaya credited director Bejoy Nambiar and her acting coach Atul for bringing her character to life. “When I was performing the scenes, I was performing with Adarsh, my co-actor. He was giving me so much energy, which made it easier for me to respond and stay in the moment,” she said.
The young actor emphasized the importance of staying present. “It was all about just being in the moment. Stay calm. Don’t overthink. And just give it your best shot.”
What Went Wrong?
Several factors could explain the underwhelming response. February releases often struggle against holdovers and Valentine’s Day competition. The film’s niche genre—a survival thriller with a crocodile—may not have broad appeal. Marketing and buzz also appeared limited compared to bigger releases.
Tu Yaa Main now faces the challenge of surviving beyond its opening weekend. With occupancy rates this low and collections struggling to touch ₹2 crore, the film needs either exceptional Sunday growth or strong weekday holds to avoid becoming a cautionary tale about star debuts gone wrong.
