In an unexpected turn of events at the box office, the horror-comedy film ‘Munjya’ has stunned the film industry by surpassing all pre-release predictions. Directed by debutant Aditya Sarpotdar and featuring a cast without A-list celebrities, the movie has managed to capture the audience’s attention significantly, thanks to its unique blend of horror and humor. Despite limited pre-release promotions, the movie starring Abhay Verma, Sharvari, and Mona Singh in lead roles has experienced an explosive opening weekend, fueled primarily by strong word-of-mouth publicity.
Come Monday morning, a well-known trade analyst shared the first weekend’s box office numbers on social media. According to the analyst’s report, ‘Munjya’ earned a solid 4.21 crore INR on its opening day. The momentum only increased over the weekend, with the film raking in 7.40 crore INR on Saturday and 8.43 crore INR on Sunday. Thus, the movie collected an impressive total of 20.04 crore INR in the first week, a figure that has left both critics and industry insiders in shock.
The analyst’s tweet enthusiastically highlighted ‘Munjya’s’ unexpected success, stating, “ROCKING WEEKEND… #Munjya springs the BIGGEST SURPRISE, leaves the industry SHOCKED and STUNNED…⭐️ Defies ALL *pre-release* expectations and calculations⭐️ Proves ALL *post-release* predictions wrong by a wide margin⭐️ Silences those who felt #Munjya should’ve taken direct-to-digital route. #Munjya – without the backing of star/s or popular music – trends BETTER than *several* star-studded films released in 2023 and 2024.”
The movie’s innovative storyline and fresh approach appear to have resonated strongly with audiences. Abhay Verma, who plays the lead in ‘Munjya’, expressed his enthusiasm for working on groundbreaking projects. “Creating something which has never been done before is always something I’ve been inclined towards. Munjya is a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience that has unexpected twists with a heavy dose of humor,” he stated.
. Reflecting further on the film’s success, Verma added, “To be a part of something that hasn’t happened before in Bollywood itself makes it special for me. You always want to be a part of love stories in Bollywood and I’m extremely grateful to Lord Ganesha for a love story this wicked yet loving!”
Sharvari, another lead in the film, shared her excitement about the film’s successful start. “I’m thrilled to see the outstanding start that Munjya has received at the box office. We have made this film with a lot of love, passion, and hard work, and I have been praying ever since that Munjya becomes a huge hit,” she said. “It is a film that pushed me to do something remarkably different so early on in my career. I have to thank my producer Dinesh Vijan and my director Aditya Sarpotdar for his belief in me to pull off this role.”
Sharvari has also received significant praise for being the “surprise factor” in ‘Munjya’. Her song “Taras” has become a super-hit, climbing the music charts rapidly. Reflecting on the positive feedback, Sharvari remarked, “I have been receiving a lot of love for being the surprise factor of Munjya. I can say this with a lot of humility that whatever appreciation I’m receiving is because of the vision of the makers who put their trust in me to pull off this role! It wasn’t easy for me to keep this massive secret from being revealed. Only my family knew it and I swore them to secrecy. So, for me and my family this is a huge moment to celebrate.”
The impact of ‘Munjya’ goes beyond its impressive box office numbers; it serves as a testament to the power of innovative storytelling and the influence of positive word-of-mouth in the film industry. The success of ‘Munjya’ is especially noteworthy given that the film lacks the support of star-studded casts and popular music, elements often deemed essential for a blockbuster hit.
With its unexpected rise to prominence, ‘Munjya’ has not only defied the usual industry conventions but also revitalized a genre that typically struggles to attract mass audiences. As ‘Munjya’ continues its theatrical run, it remains to be seen just how far this groundbreaking horror-comedy will go in carving out its place in Bollywood history. For now, one thing is clear: ‘Munjya’ has made a monumental impact, and its success story is far from over.
