Mumbai, Friday: The box office pulse in the city of dreams is racing again as the third Friday of February brings a fresh wave of competition.

Today is 20 February 2026, and the morning shows across Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore have set a very interesting tone for the upcoming weekend. The big news of the day is that Shahid Kapoor’s O Romeo has finally crossed the 50 Crore mark on its eighth day, but it faced a tough challenge from two new entries.

Siddhant Chaturvedi’s Do Deewane Seher Mein and Taapsee Pannu’s Assi have both opened with modest numbers, while the legends like Border 2 and With Love are still refusing to vacate the screens.

O Romeo earned 2.65 Crore today, Do Deewane Seher Mein started with 1.45 Crore, and Assi began its journey with 1.2 Crore, creating a very crowded and competitive market for the cinema-goers.

This Friday report is a massive wake-up call for the entire film industry because it shows that a high budget doesn’t always guarantee a clean sweep. Why does this matter?

It matters because O Romeo, with its 150 Crore budget, is now fighting for every single rupee just to keep its head above water. Meanwhile, the new releases are splitting the audience, making it harder for any single film to dominate the multiplexes.

Fans are already debating on social media if Shahid’s dark romance will be overshadowed by Siddhant’s fresh vibe or Taapsee’s gritty performance. This clash is creating a lot of curiosity about which film will actually show a jump on Saturday and Sunday. If you want to know who is winning the profit race and who is heading for a disaster, you have to look at the deeper numbers.

My hot take for the day is that the industry is currently suffering from “choice overload.” We have too many films in the theaters, and none of them is a clear, undisputed king right now. It is quite a strange situation.

We have a war epic, a dark romance, a urban rom-com, and a courtroom drama all playing at the same time! Is the audience getting confused, or are they just being very picky about where they spend their hard-earned money?

I think the era of “average” films surviving because of a holiday or lack of options is officially dead. You have to be extraordinary to survive this February heat.

The Second Week Reality for O Romeo

The big question in every trade circle right now is the survival of O Romeo. On its Day 8, which is the second Friday, the film managed to pull in 2.65 Crore.

“A Friday drop is normal, but for a 150 Crore film, the numbers need to be much bigger to avoid a lifetime struggle.”

Fact: O Romeo has finally touched the 50 Crore India Net mark today. Analysis: The film is showing stability, but it’s the kind of stability that makes producers nervous. Data:

• Budget: 150 Crore
• Day 8 Collection: 2.65 Crore
• India Net: 50.04 Crore
• Worldwide (WW): 75.26 Crore

While crossing 50 Crores is a psychological win, the 150 Crore budget is still far away.

The movie needs a 100% jump on Saturday to stay in the game. The worldwide total of 75.26 Crore is a decent number, but the domestic market is where the real recovery happens. Shahid Kapoor and Vishal Bhardwaj have a loyal audience in the cities, but the mass circuits are clearly looking for something else.

The New Challengers: Do Deewane Seher Mein and Assi

Friday saw the release of two very different films. One is a breezy romance, and the other is a hard-hitting drama.

Do Deewane Seher Mein, made on a 35 Crore budget, opened with 1.45 Crore. It’s a slow start, but for a mid-budget urban film, the growth usually comes from evening shows.

Siddhant Chaturvedi and Mrunal Thakur have a fresh pairing that could work if the word-of-mouth stays positive. On the other hand, Taapsee Pannu’s Assi, produced at 25 Crore, earned 1.2 Crore. Courtroom dramas usually start slow and pick up over the weekend, so the makers aren’t panicking just yet.

Data for New Releases:

• Do Deewane Seher Mein: 1.45 Crore (Day 1) | WW: 1.71 Crore
• Assi: 1.2 Crore (Day 1) | WW: 1.42 Crore

Both films are currently performing below the 2 Crore mark, which means they are relying heavily on a massive Saturday jump. The screen space is divided, and that is the biggest enemy for these new releases.

The Old Guard Refuses to Fade

Even on Day 29, the Sunny Deol starrer Border 2 is making its presence felt. It earned 37 Lakhs today. For a movie that has been playing for a month, this is nothing short of a miracle.

Fact: Border 2 is at a staggering India Net of 326.65 Crore. Analysis: It is the most successful film on the current chart by a huge margin. Data:

• Day 29: 0.37 Crore
• India Net Total: 326.65 Crore
• WW Total: 442.08 Crore

Then we have With Love, the biggest surprise of 2026. On Day 15, it earned 95 Lakhs, which is almost as much as the new releases! With a budget of only 10 Crore, this film is already a huge profit-maker with an India Net of 24.01 Crore and a Worldwide total of 31.57 Crore. It is a certified Super Hit.

Finally, Mardaani 3 is reaching the end of its theatrical journey. On Day 22, it earned 26 Lakhs, taking its total India Net to 46.46 Crore. While it is the highest-grossing film in the franchise, the 70 Crore budget means it will struggle to be called a clean hit in the theatrical run.

The Analysts Forecast for the Weekend

Looking at today’s numbers, the mood in the industry is very cautious. The news is actually a bit worrying for the big spenders. If O Romeo doesn’t cross 60 Crores by Sunday, the recovery will be impossible. For the new films like Do Deewane Seher Mein and Assi, the “Monday Test” will be a nightmare if they don’t double their collections on Saturday.

The real winners today are the low-budget films and the massive blockbusters like Border 2 that have already done their job. The audience is clearly telling the producers that they want either a massive “event” movie or a very relatable, low-cost “sweet” story. Anything in the middle is getting lost in the noise.

I’ve been tracking these charts for years, and this is one of the most crowded Fridays I’ve seen in a long time. Tomorrow is Saturday, and that is when the real story will be written. Will the youth flock to the new romances, or will they go for a second viewing of the older hits? Only the morning occupancy will tell!

Which movie are you planning to watch this weekend—the dark romance of O Romeo or the fresh vibe of Do Deewane Seher Mein? Let us know in the comments below!