Main Vaapas Aaunga had a big moment at the global box office for film director Imtiaz Ali. On Day 17 of its theatrical run, the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer crossed the Rs 70 crore mark worldwide, and it’s a story of how the movie is going from a slow start to a huge hit of 2026.

Main Vaapas Aaunga has been estimated to have received around Rs 70.88 crore worldwide. The film’s total is about Rs 55.23 crore gross and Rs 15.65 crore in overseas markets. In India, the film earned Rs 4.50 crore net on its 17th day alone and can be seen on the basis of its Day 16 collection and audience interest even in its third week.

Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari, Vedang Raina, and Naseeruddin Shah are in the film, with Imtiaz Ali as director. Set in the Partition era, the emotional love story has received very positive reviews from critics and audiences. A moderately low opening weekend and good word-of-mouth supported the film to a strong second and third weeks.

The film’s box office performance has been particularly impressive. After earning just over Rs 12 crore in its first week, the film saw huge growth in the following weeks in studio collections. Its second-week collections nearly doubled, and the momentum has continued into the third week, even though there is competition from bigger commercial releases. The film has been widely reported to have had good audience recommendations and emotional storytelling, which has been the key reason for its success.

Another of Main Vaapas Aaunga’s remarkable achievements is its inclusion in Imtiaz Ali’s filmography. The film is now up to the domestic box office collections of the director’s previous movies, such as his cult romantic drama Jab We Met and Highway. The movie is currently on the list of the top-grossing theatrical releases of the filmmaker and is rising.

The film’s success has also been supported by several film industry leaders. Imtiaz Ali recently thanked the audience and filmmakers for the overwhelming support. Reviews and moviegoers gave it a good review, and the film stayed on board even on the weekends.

Main Vaapas Aaunga has another week on the way, and industry experts believe the film still has room to grow before the big releases. If the current trend continues, the romantic drama may soon target the Rs 75 crore and even Rs 80 crore milestones across the board.

How did an anticipated slow-burning release become one of the most inspirational box office stories of the year, and how did audience appreciation, storytelling, and appreciation make the theatre successful even more so in a very competitive marketplace?