Anurag Kashyap’s latest directorial venture, the raw crime saga Nishaanchi, hit theaters on September 19, 2025, amid high expectations for its intense storytelling and debutant Aaishvary Thackeray’s dual role—but the box office tells a different tale. Facing stiff competition from Akshay Kumar’s juggernaut Jolly LLB 3 and the spiritual drama Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi, the film managed a dismal opening, scraping together less than 1 crore in worldwide collections on its first day, signaling a tough road ahead for this indie-leaning thriller.
Nishaanchi box office day 1, Anurag Kashyap Nishaanchi collection, Aaishvary Thackeray debut film earnings, Hindi crime drama opening day, Jolly LLB 3 vs Nishaanchi clash—these hot search terms are dominating Bollywood chatter as fans dissect the film’s muted launch in a crowded Friday slate.
A Modest Debut: Day 1 Breakdown and Early Projections
Early estimates paint a bleak picture for Nishaanchi‘s opening salvo. The film grossed approximately 0.05 crore in India net on Day 1, with live data capturing just the initial hours of screenings and advance bookings. Trade analysts project a full-day India net haul hovering between 0.50-0.80 crore, factoring in evening shows and word-of-mouth potential. Overseas markets added a meager 0.10-0.15 crore, pushing the worldwide gross to under 1 crore—a far cry from Kashyap’s past openers like Gangs of Wasseypur (2.85 crore) or even Manmarziyaan (3.25 crore).
Theater occupancy lingered at 15-20% across major multiplexes in metros like Mumbai and Delhi, per social media buzz and trade reports. Hindi belt circuits showed slightly better traction at 20-25%, buoyed by the film’s gritty gangster vibe, but South India and Tier-2 cities lagged under 10%. No official distributor figures have dropped yet, but Sacnilk’s hourly updates confirm the sluggish pace, with minimal spikes post-noon.
The Clash Factor: Why Nishaanchi Struggled on Release Day
Timing couldn’t have been worse for Nishaanchi. Clashing directly with Jolly LLB 3—a franchise sequel poised to rake in 15-20 crore on Day 1—the film got overshadowed by Akshay’s star power and mass appeal. Ajey, with its yogic intrigue, also chipped away at family audiences, leaving Kashyap’s niche crime drama fighting for limited screens.
Budget-wise, Nishaanchi clocks in at a modest 15-20 crore, produced by JAR Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Flip Films—making breakeven a distant dream without a miracle weekend. Critics note the screenplay’s engaging mix of betrayal, revenge, and dark humor, but its 2.5-hour runtime and flashback-heavy structure may deter casual viewers. Early reviews praise Thackeray’s debut (“raw and promising”) and supporting turns from Vedika Pinto and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, but question the pacing.
Fan and Trade Buzz: Mixed Signals on X and Beyond
Social media lit up with polarized takes. On X, posts lamented the “flop alert” vibe, with one viral thread from Amar Ujala declaring Nishaanchi “giri” (fallen flat) at the box office, amassing hundreds of views in hours. Fans of Kashyap’s style rallied, tweeting gems like “Underrated opener—wait for WOM to kick in!” while detractors quipped, “Anurag’s magic needs stars to shine.”
Trade experts are cautiously optimistic. BoxOfficeWala predicts a possible 2-3 crore weekend if positive buzz builds, but warns of “commercial failure” without it. Filmibeat’s pre-release forecast nailed the “slow start under 1Cr,” attributing it to limited promotions and Thackeray’s newcomer status. No major endorsements from A-listers helped, unlike Kashyap’s past collabs.
What It Means for Bollywood Fans and the Industry
For U.S.-based desi audiences, Nishaanchi‘s muted Day 1 underscores the global pull of Bollywood clashes—overseas screenings in hubs like New York and California added peanuts, impacted by jet-lagged releases and streaming temptations. Economically, low earners like this strain indie producers, potentially curbing bold scripts amid a 2025 slate bloated with sequels.
Lifestyle-wise, it spotlights cinema’s evolution: Niche films thrive on OTT now, with Nishaanchi eyeing Netflix or Prime Video by Diwali for a second wind. Politically neutral but culturally raw—tackling conscience in crime—it resonates with urban millennials debating destiny over chai. Tech angles? AR trailers hyped it, but algorithm-driven recommendations favored Jolly LLB 3.
Sports crossovers? None direct, but the film’s revenge arc mirrors IPL rivalries, drawing analogies from fans.
Looking Ahead: Can Word-of-Mouth Save Nishaanchi?
Nishaanchi‘s Day 1 underperformance—pegged at 0.50-0.80 crore India net and sub-1 crore worldwide—marks a cautious start for Kashyap’s return to form, but all isn’t lost. Nishaanchi box office day 1, Anurag Kashyap Nishaanchi collection, Aaishvary Thackeray debut film earnings, Hindi crime drama opening day, Jolly LLB 3 vs Nishaanchi clash could flip with glowing reviews and weekend surges. Experts forecast a 5-7 crore lifetime if it legs out; otherwise, it’s a learning curve for Thackeray’s bow. In Bollywood’s brutal arena, grit like Kashyap’s often simmers before it boils—watch this space for Day 2 sparks.