Dulquer’s I’m Game Loses Ground on Day 2 as Footfall Fails to Match Screens

Studio CarryOnHarry Entertainment Desk | 5 September 2026

Opening Weekend Off to a Rocky Start

Dulquer Salmaan’s highly anticipated Malayalam fantasy thriller I’m Game has had a turbulent beginning at the box office. After a moderate opening of ₹5.4 crore net in India on Day 1 — released strategically on Janmashtami to capitalise on the holiday mood — the film stumbled on its second day, collecting just ₹4.6 crore net.

That represents a 14% drop in collections, a decline made more glaring by the fact that exhibitors had actually increased the film’s screen presence by 400 to 500 additional shows. For all the latest Bollywood’s top stories, stay tuned to our entertainment desk.

Day-by-Day Box Office Breakdown

India Net Collections

• Day 1: ₹5.4 crore
• Day 2: ₹4.6 crore
• 2-Day Total (Net): ₹10 crore
• 2-Day Gross (India): ₹11.8 crore

Overseas and Worldwide Figures

• Overseas Day 2: ₹4 crore
• Overseas Total Gross: ₹8.5 crore
• Worldwide Gross (2 Days): ₹20.3 crore

How Does It Rank Among Dulquer’s Recent Releases?

Despite the dip, the opening day figure of ₹5.4 crore makes I’m Game Dulquer Salmaan’s fourth-biggest post-COVID launch in Malayalam cinema, trailing only Lucky Baskhar, King of Kotha, and Kurup. However, the mixed audience response has meant early momentum hasn’t been sustained.

Trade observers tracking entertainment industry coverage note that the film is currently mirroring the box office trajectory of King of Kotha (2023), which also began with strong curiosity but quickly lost steam due to tepid word-of-mouth.

Is I’m Game Following King of Kotha’s Troubled Path?

The 2023 Onam release King of Kotha was one of the most eagerly awaited Malayalam films of its year, yet it failed to live up to enormous commercial expectations. I’m Game appears to be treading a eerily similar path — promising start, weakening hold.

With mixed reviews circulating and no significant boost from the expanded show count, the film’s weekend performance will be critical in determining whether it can course-correct and find a wider audience before the weekdays arrive.

What’s at Stake for Dulquer Salmaan

For an actor of Dulquer Salmaan’s calibre and pan-India appeal, a 14% drop accompanied by a screens increase is not a comfortable sign. The coming days will reveal whether strong content or aggressive marketing can reverse the tide for I’m Game.

– Entertainment Desk, Studio Carry On Harry

Background & Timeline

Dulquer Salmaan made his Malayalam comeback with I’m Game after a string of pan-India projects. His previous Malayalam outing, King of Kotha (August 2023), opened as one of the biggest Malayalam releases of that year but ultimately underperformed commercially. Prior successes like Kurup (2021) and Lucky Baskhar had set high benchmarks. I’m Game was released on Janmashtami to leverage the partial holiday, positioning it as a fantasy entertainer aimed at a wide family audience across Kerala and beyond.

Critics’ Perspective

Trade analysts and critics are approaching I’m Game with cautious concern. While most acknowledge Dulquer Salmaan’s screen presence and the film’s technical ambition as a Malayalam fantasy thriller, several reviewers flagged a disjointed narrative that may have alienated casual audiences. Box office experts note that a 14% second-day dip paired with an expanded show count is an early warning signal — one that echoes the commercial disappointment of King of Kotha in 2023. The weekend numbers will be the real verdict.

What’s Next?

All eyes are now on the Day 3 and Day 4 weekend figures for I’m Game. A strong Saturday-Sunday hold is essential to restore trade confidence. If the film continues to mirror King of Kotha’s downward curve, it could struggle to recover its budget. Watch this space for daily box office updates as the picture becomes clearer.

Harry Johal’s Take — Studio CarryOnHarry

The ranking is the more revealing number here. A holiday release should be a structural advantage — yet Janmashtami still couldn’t push I’m Game past Dulquer’s own earlier benchmarks. That’s not a bad marketing call; that’s a signal that the appetite for Dulquer as a Malayalam-first star may be contracting as his pan-India positioning has grown. The real question isn’t whether this film recovers — it’s whether Kerala audiences still feel ownership over him the way they did during Kurup.

Editor’s Verdict

A 14% drop on Day 2 is concerning enough on its own — but when that fall happens alongside a screen expansion of 400 to 500 shows, it tells you something more troubling: audiences aren’t following the film, exhibitors are. That gap between industry confidence and public response is where box office stories quietly turn. The King of Kotha comparison isn’t unfair. Both films arrived with genuine anticipation around a compelling star, and both appear to have struggled to convert curiosity into conviction. For Dulquer Salmaan, whose cross-industry appeal remains one of Malayalam cinema’s most valuable assets, the weekend numbers aren’t just about this film — they’re about the kind of projects he attaches himself to next, and whether the fantasy thriller space suits where his audience actually wants to follow him. Beyond the headlines, it’s rarely the opening day that defines a star’s trajectory — it’s how gracefully, or urgently, they respond when the second day tells the truth.

Studio Ki Raye

Screen badhao aur collection phir bhi girे — yeh combination kisi bhi trade analyst ko chinta mein daal deta hai. Asli sawaal yeh hai ki Dulquer jैसे actor ke saath, jिनकी pan-India image Lucky Baskhar ne ek naye level par le jaake rakh di thi, kya audience ab selective ho gayi hai sirf naam par ticket nahi kaat rahi? Malayalam cinema ka core audience bohot samajhdar ho chuka hai — word-of-mouth wahan zyada tez chalti hai kisi bhi Hindi belt se. Agar weekend recovery nahi aayi, toh yeh Dulquer ke liye itna nahi jitna Malayalam fantasy genre ke liye ek signal hoga ki spectacle aur star power se zyada, story ka bharosa zaroori hai.

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