The opening day box office collection for “Family Star” appears worrying, with the Telugu romantic drama starting off sluggishly at the ticket counters. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the Vijay Deverakonda–Mrunal Thakur-starrer managed to clock in Rs 5.75 crore nett across India. Despite also releasing in a Tamil dubbed version, the film garnered negative reviews which seemed to have impacted its initial performance. Occupancy rates remained below 50 percent throughout the day, marking this as Vijay’s weakest opening in recent memory.
In contrast to his recent releases, which saw strong openings with double-digit figures, such as “Kushi” at Rs 15.25 crore, “Liger” at Rs 15.95 crore, “Dear Comrade” at Rs 11.90 crore, and “World Famous Lover” at Rs 7 crore, “Family Star” debuted with significantly lower numbers. Originally slated for a Sankranthi release to avoid competition, the film now faces the task of turning its fortunes around in the coming days.
“Family Star” holds significance for Vijay Deverakonda, as the actor hasn’t tasted success since “Taxiwaala” in 2018. Despite typically enjoying strong initial numbers due to his dedicated fan base, his recent films have struggled to sustain the pre-release excitement, highlighting the importance of “Family Star” in revitalizing his career.
“Family Star” marks Mrunal Thakur’s debut collaboration with Vijay Deverakonda, following her successful outings in Telugu cinema with “Hi Nanna” alongside Nani and the romantic drama “Sita Ramam” starring Dulquer Salmaan. In a review by Raghu Bandi for the Indian Express, the film was described as suffering from a story that feels “utterly dated,” with its treatment lacking any “spark.”
The review noted that despite being crafted as a potential blockbuster with Dil Raju as the producer, “Family Star” occasionally falters in maintaining its portrayal of middle-class sensibilities, instead leaning towards a grand spectacle it aspired to be. This shift may have been forgivable had the film been engaging. However, director Petla’s emphasis on style over substance results in a simplified narrative that often feels uninspired.
