Shahid Kapoor's much-anticipated action-thriller Deva was released on Friday, January 31, and while the film garnered significant attention leading up to its release, the box office performance on its opening day has been somewhat underwhelming. Early estimates suggest that the film managed to collect around Rs 5 crore on its first day, falling short of expectations. The film features a notable ensemble cast, including Pooja Hegde, Pavail Gulati, and Pravvesh Rana, and is a remake of the popular Malayalam film Mumbai Police. Despite its star-studded cast and high anticipation, Deva did not manage to generate the kind of explosive opening that Bollywood has seen with Shahid Kapoor's past releases.
The film’s opening day collections were modest compared to Shahid Kapoor’s recent films. For instance, his previous film Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya had a stronger start, collecting Rs 6.7 crore on its first day. Deva, however, failed to surpass this figure, which could indicate a lukewarm reception from the audience. In terms of Shahid Kapoor's career, his biggest opener remains Kabir Singh, which set a high benchmark by earning Rs 20.21 crore on its opening day. This highlights the gap in audience reception and the struggle for Deva to establish itself as a major hit, even though the expectations were high given the film’s genre and star power.
According to the tracking website Sacnilk, Deva’s Rs 5 crore opening day collection places it in the average category, signaling a lack of excitement or strong momentum among moviegoers. The film’s occupancy percentage also remained low, which further dampens its prospects at the box office. Despite this, the film still has a chance to improve over the weekend, depending on audience reactions and word of mouth. This remains critical, as films like Deva, which rely on a more niche audience base, tend to have a slow start but can pick up if they strike a chord with viewers in the coming days.
Reviews for Deva have been mixed. The film has drawn some criticism for its uneven pacing and failure to adapt the original material in a fresh way. India Today’s review noted that one of the film’s biggest flaws was its "uneven pacing," suggesting that the film could have benefitted from tighter editing. Moreover, the review questioned the decision to retain much of the original film's content, saying, "why cut out the best parts of the original and keep everything else the same?" On the positive side, the review acknowledged Shahid Kapoor’s performance, which was seen as the saving grace of the film. His "swag" and on-screen presence were praised for keeping the audience engaged, which makes Deva a one-time watch despite its flaws.
In the days leading up to the film's release, Shahid Kapoor shared an emotional note on social media, giving fans a glimpse into the hard work that went into making the film. He expressed his deep connection to the project, stating, "One year of blood, sweat, and tears. 2024 was all Deva! Mera dil meri jaan. Mera kaam meri shiddat. Mera acting ke liye pyaar. Meri audience ke liye mohobbat. Mera saalon ka experience, mera andar ka creative bachha—sab hai is Deva mein..." (My heart, my soul. My work, my dedication. My love for acting. My affection for my audience. My years of experience, my inner creative child—everything is in this Deva). This heartfelt post resonated with many of his fans, adding an emotional layer to the film’s release and reflecting the passion he invested in the project.
Directed by Rosshan Andrrews, Deva is a high-octane action film that features Shahid Kapoor in an intense role. While the film’s reception has been mixed so far, it still holds potential for growth. The real test for Deva will be the weekend collections, as films often see a significant shift in performance based on word-of-mouth. If the audience responds positively, Deva could potentially see an increase in collections over the weekend, which would improve its chances of becoming a box-office success. However, if the film fails to generate interest and sustain its momentum, it might struggle to reach its financial targets.
The film's success or failure will depend largely on its ability to sustain audience interest in the coming days. A stronger performance on Saturday and Sunday is essential for Deva to recover its costs and establish itself as a hit. It will also need to attract a larger segment of the audience, especially on single screens, where the film’s appeal could be stronger. Despite a less-than-ideal start, Deva has the potential to build a loyal fanbase, and with Shahid Kapoor’s consistent fan following, it might have a chance to increase its collections as the days progress.
In a year that has so far seen only a few successful films, Deva’s fate at the box office will be closely watched. It is now up to the audience to determine whether the film will improve its fortunes over the weekend or whether it will struggle to make an impact. Bollywood’s performance in 2025 has been under scrutiny, and Deva could be the film that either helps turn the tide or adds to the industry’s struggles if it fails to pick up traction.
