Mumbai’s cinemas buzzed this weekend with laughter as two comedy heavyweights, ‘Rahu Ketu’ and ‘Happy Patel: The Dangerous Spy,’ battled for audience supremacy. Released on January 16, these films starring familiar faces from Indian comedy circuits drew crowds eager for light-hearted entertainment amid the post-holiday slump.
Vir Das, the stand-up sensation turned director-actor, leads ‘Happy Patel,’ portraying an ordinary man thrust into the high-stakes world of espionage. The film blends slapstick humor with mild action and emotional undertones, promising a fun ride. It opened modestly at 1.25 crore rupees on Friday, picked up steam to 1.60 crore on Saturday, but tapered slightly to 1.50 crore on Sunday, totaling 4.35 crore over three days.
On the other side, ‘Fukrey’ duo Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma returned with ‘Rahu Ketu,’ capitalizing on their proven chemistry. The audience favorite surged from 1 crore on opening day to 1.65 crore Saturday and peaked at 1.75 crore Sunday, clinching a slim lead with 4.40 crore in weekend collections.
This neck-and-neck race highlights the competitive comedy landscape, where nostalgia and fresh gags vie for box office rupees. As weekdays loom, both films face the challenge of sustaining momentum against upcoming releases and streaming distractions. For now, ‘Rahu Ketu’ claims a marginal victory, but the real winner is the resurgence of desi comedy on the big screen.