The much-anticipated sports drama, “Mr and Mrs Mahi,” featuring Janhvi Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao, continues to face a tough time at the box office in India. According to the latest report on Sacnilk.com, the film managed to earn just slightly over Rs 1 crore on Wednesday. Despite being backed by Karan Johar’s esteemed Dharma Productions, the movie’s financial performance is far from impressive since its release on May 31.
Early estimates reveal that “Mr and Mrs Mahi” collected Rs 1.75 crore on its sixth day, specifically its first Wednesday. As it stands, the film has grossed approximately Rs 22.60 crore. Despite this, it has yet to match its opening day earnings of Rs 6.75 crore or cross the double-digit earnings mark. The film saw its earnings drop to Rs 2.15 crore on Monday and further decline to Rs 1.85 crore on Day 5. The report also highlights that the movie recorded an 11.31% occupancy rate for Hindi shows on Wednesday.
A review from Mid-day paints a rather indifferent picture of the film. Describing “Mr and Mrs Mahi” as neither lovable nor hateable, the review states, “The Rajkummar Rao and Janhvi Kapoor-starrer leaves you speechless, not because you are at a loss for words after the experience, but simply because you have nothing to say about it.
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Directed by Sharan Sharma, who previously helmed “Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl” (2020), “Mr and Mrs Mahi” revolves around Mahendra (played by Rao) and Mahima (played by Kapoor). These characters not only share their pet names but also a profound love for cricket. Mahima, who once dreamt of becoming a cricketer as a child, has now settled into a career in medicine. Conversely, the only reality Mahendra ever knew was cricket. Currently, he works at his father’s cricket gear shop, having failed to achieve his ambitions in the sport.
Mahima’s re-entry into Mahendra’s life brings back memories of happiness lost through his unfulfilled dreams and simultaneously offers him a second chance to engage with cricket, albeit in a different role. Witnessing Mahima hit sixes on what used to be his training ground, Mahendra becomes convinced that she is destined to be a cricketer, and he takes up the mantle of her coach. The couple then faces several trials that test their persistence and resolve.
Despite the film’s noble intent and its attempt to weave a heartwarming narrative, critics find its execution lacking. The screenplay, written by Sharma and Nikhil Mehrotra, and the director’s approach, are described as uninspiring. Critics argue that while the film aspires to convey deep messages about prioritizing inner happiness over external validation, it falls short of delivering joy or rising beyond sincere but mundane attempts.
“Mr and Mrs Mahi” had high aspirations, but it has struggled to resonate both critically and commercially. The film’s core message, underscored by Mahendra’s path to reconciliation with his sport and the rediscovery of happiness through Mahima’s passion, feels diluted by what critics call a lackluster screenplay and uninspired direction. This leaves audiences with no substantive takeaway, placing the movie in a nebulous category of films that are neither intensely liked nor strongly disliked but merely exist in the realm of indifference.
The film continues to grapple with maintaining its momentum at the box office. While it garnered initial intrigue and had the backing of a major production house, its lack of significant financial success underscores the challenges even star-studded casts face when the narrative execution does not meet audience expectations.
In conclusion, while “Mr and Mrs Mahi” aimed to capture the audience with its heartfelt story and commendable cast performances, it has struggled to make a lasting impact both critically and at the box office.
