The final reports for the first week are in and the mood in the trade circuits is as tense as a thriller climax.

Today is 20 February 2026, and as the sun sets over the Arabian Sea, the numbers at BoxOfficeWala are telling a story of survival and struggle.

O Romeo has managed to pull in 3.1 Crore on its seventh day, bringing its India Net to a total of 47.39 Crore, while the legendary Border 2 is still breathing down everyone’s neck even on its 28th day with a steady 0.55 Crore. Funky 2026 and With Love are fighting their own battles in the lower tiers, but the real shocker is Tu Yaa Main, which has almost vanished with a tiny 0.29 Crore collection today.

This data is not just about tickets sold; it is about the changing pulse of the Indian audience.

Why does this matter?

Because we are seeing a massive shift where a 150 Crore film like O Romeo is struggling to cross its first 50 Crores in a week, while a 10 Crore film like With Love has already tripled its investment. Fan wars are heating up on social media because Shahid Kapoor fans are defending the artistic value of Vishal Bhardwaj’s vision, while the mass audience is still busy celebrating the patriotic wave of Border 2. The industry is watching closely because if O Romeo doesn’t jump significantly in its second weekend, the producers might be looking at a very heavy loss that could change how big romantic dramas are funded in the future.

My take? The Valentine’s Day “bonus” is officially over, and we are back to the harsh reality of the content-driven market. It is quite funny, actually. Producers spend 150 Crores hoping for a blockbuster, but the audience is currently more interested in a film that is almost a month old! Is the era of the “Mega Romance” dead, or is it just that this particular Romeo didn’t have enough heart for the Hindi heartland? Think about it.

The Mid-Week Reality Check for O Romeo

The Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri starrer is at a critical crossroads right now. On Day 7, it stayed flat at 3.1 Crore, which is exactly what it did on Wednesday.

“Stability on a Thursday is good, but when you are sitting on a 150 Crore budget, you don’t need stability; you need fire.”

Fact: The film has finished its first week with an India Net of 47.39 Crore. Analysis: For a film of this scale, the first week should have ideally been around 70 to 80 Crore. Data:

• Budget: 150 Crore
• Day 7 Collection: 3.1 Crore
• India Net: 47.39 Crore
• Worldwide (WW): 72.14 Crore

The numbers show that the international market is supporting the film better than the domestic circuits. But let’s be real. Unless the second Friday shows a 50% jump, O Romeo is heading towards a very difficult “Flop” verdict. The cast and crew have worked hard, but the mass audience in Tier 2 cities seems to be staying away from this dark romance.

Border 2: The Unending Storm

If you want to talk about true stardom, look at Sunny Deol and this franchise. It is Day 28. Twenty-eight days! Most films are available on OTT by now, but Border 2 is still pulling 55 Lakhs on a working Thursday.

Fact: Border 2 is currently at an India Net of 326.28 Crore. Analysis: This film is the definition of a “Long Race Horse.” It doesn’t care about new releases. Data:

• Day 28: 0.55 Crore
• India Net Total: 326.28 Crore
• WW Total: 441.65 Crore

Every single rupee this film makes now is pure profit for the producers. This is what we call an All-Time Blockbuster in trade terms.

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The Small Giants: With Love and Funky 2026

With Love is the silent killer of the season. On Day 14, it earned 0.53 Crore. This might look small compared to O Romeo, but look at the budget.

Fact: With Love was made for only 10 Crore. Analysis: It has already earned 23.06 Crore in India. That is more than 2x recovery! Data:

• Day 14: 0.53 Crore
• India Net: 23.06 Crore
• WW Total: 30.45 Crore

Then we have Funky 2026, which is doing 0.63 Crore on its 7th day. It is doing okay for its 25 Crore budget, but it hasn’t become the youth anthem the makers hoped for. With an India Net of 8.35 Crore, it still has a long way to go to reach the safety mark.

The Disasters: Mardaani 3 and Tu Yaa Main

Mardaani 3 is sadly losing steam. On Day 21, it earned 0.46 Crore. Rani Mukerji’s performance was praised, but the 70 Crore budget is proving to be a mountain too high to climb. Its India Net of 46.20 Crore means it is still in the red.

Tu Yaa Main is the saddest story on the chart. On Day 7, it earned a mere 29 Lakhs.

• Budget: 30 Crore
• India Net: 4.26 Crore
• Verdict: Disaster.

The film failed to create any buzz, and most theaters are already planning to replace it with the new Friday releases.

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The Road Ahead

From where I sit, the news is a mixed bag. It is great news for Border 2 and With Love, showing that both massive spectacles and small, heart-touching stories have a place.

However, for O Romeo, this is a warning bell. A 150 Crore investment needs much more than a 47 Crore opening week. The industry needs to rethink its pricing and marketing strategies for high-budget niche films. If tomorrow’s new releases take away the screens, O Romeo might not even reach the 70 Crore mark in India.

I’ve been in this game for years, and I can tell you one thing. The audience is the only boss. They have clearly chosen the nostalgia and scale of Border 2 over the experimental romance of O Romeo. It’s a tough lesson, but that’s the box office for you!

Do you think O Romeo can still make a comeback this weekend, or is it already game over for Shahid Kapoor’s latest? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!