Kalees’ ambitious action drama Baby John was meant to be a game-changer for Varun Dhawan, marking his foray into the mass-action genre. The film aimed to tap into the audience’s growing love for larger-than-life entertainers. However, the movie failed to deliver, leaving critics unimpressed and fans disconnected. What was envisioned as a blockbuster has turned out to be a major disappointment at the box office.
An adaptation of Atlee’s Tamil hit Theri, Baby John treads a precarious line between being a near scene-for-scene copy of the original and attempting to introduce new elements—unfortunately, to its detriment. While Theri was celebrated for its gripping narrative and Atlee’s deft direction, Baby John feels like a poor imitation, lacking the charm or polish of its source material.
The film’s subdued promotions only worsened its fate, failing to create the pre-release excitement expected of a mass entertainer. This resulted in a weak opening of just ₹12 crore, a far cry from the numbers needed for a project of this scale. With a budget reportedly hovering around ₹160 crore, the earnings by its eighth day—₹35 crore in India and ₹47 crore globally—are alarmingly low. The drastic reduction in nationwide shows, from 4,300 on release day to 1,800 within eight days, paints a grim picture.
Trade analysts predict the film’s lifetime collection to fall below ₹60 crore, with notional losses exceeding ₹100 crore. Despite its potential, Baby John faltered on nearly every front. The movie’s failure is particularly glaring when compared to recent successes in the mass-action space, such as Jawan, Pathaan, and Gadar 2. These films proved that while audiences embrace formulaic storytelling, it must be executed with flair and precision. On the other hand, underwhelming ventures like Tiger 3, Bhaiyaa Ji, and now Baby John have demonstrated that merely ticking the boxes of a genre is not enough.
The debacle of Baby John should serve as a wake-up call for Bollywood. It underscores the importance of strong direction, compelling performances, and fresh presentation, even in formula-driven cinema. Mass action films may remain in demand, but audiences will no longer settle for mediocrity.
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