Chand Mera Dil may have completed 10 days in theatres, but the film is still searching for the kind of audience response that could give its box office run a much-needed boost. Despite being backed by
Dharma Productions and featuring Ananya Panday and Lakshya in the lead, the romantic drama has found it difficult to maintain momentum since its release.
Directed by Vivek Soni, the film hit cinemas on May 22 and opened to mixed-to-negative reviews. While it managed to attract some footfall during its opening weekend, the collections began slowing down soon after, making its theatrical journey an uphill battle.
According to trade website Sacnilk, Chand Mera Dil earned ₹1.8 crore on its second Sunday, which marked its 10th day at the box office. The figure was only slightly higher than its Saturday collection of ₹1.75 crore.
The romantic drama had opened with ₹3 crore on day one. It then saw a weekend rise, collecting ₹3.75 crore on Saturday and ₹4.25 crore on Sunday. However, the film struggled to hold steady during the weekdays, with earnings witnessing a gradual decline. So far, its India net collection stands at ₹24.30 crore, while the India gross total has reached ₹28.59 crore.
The film also found itself trailing behind a new competitor. Hollywood horror release Obsession, which has been generating significant buzz on social media, outperformed Chand Mera Dil on Sunday by collecting ₹3.06 crore.
Set against the backdrop of Hyderabad, Chand Mera Dil follows two college students whose romance takes an unexpected turn after an unplanned pregnancy. The couple decides to embrace parenthood and gets married, but the pressures of their new reality begin to strain the relationship. As frustrations build, a heated confrontation changes the course of their lives and becomes the central conflict of the story.
Among the cast, Lakshya has largely drawn positive reactions for his performance. Responses to Ananya Panday, however, have been more divided. One of the biggest talking points around the film has been her Bharatanatyam fusion dance sequence, which went viral online shortly after release.
The performance sparked criticism from several social media users and Bharatanatyam practitioners, with many questioning both the choreography and its execution. Amid the debate, dancer-choreographer Sandip Soparrkar publicly defended the actor.
Reacting to the backlash, he wrote, “The outrage against Ananya Panday’s Bharatnatyam dance is absolutely rubbish. The same so-called gatekeepers of classical dance who are screaming today were completely silent when reality shows and social media blurred every line between classical, commercial and fusion dance years ago. Suddenly targeting one young actor for a cinematic performance is hypocrisy at its peak.”
