Shahid Kapoor is an actor who is liked unanimously and who is consistently delivering fine performances since he debuted with Ishq Vishk in 2003. Sadly, his box office track journey has been uneven. He reached a high with Kabir Singh (2019), which earned a whopping Rs. 278.24 crores. But in the last 15 years, barring R…Rajkumar (2013) and Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024), none of his solo films have been huge grossers. His latest release, O’Romeo, is expected to wind up below Rs. 60 crores at the domestic box office. We asked trade experts the reason behind it despite Shahid’s electrifying screen presence.
Despite being an all-round performer, why are big hits eluding Shahid Kapoor? Trade experts share their views: “He should change his advisors who suggest to him what films he should sign”
Trade veteran Taran Adarsh said, “I fail to understand why his stardom has not reached that point that he hits double digits on day 1. He did a very good job in films like Jersey (2022) and many other flicks. But the problem arises when you don’t deliver those numbers. Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha did quite well, but all his four films post-pandemic (Jersey, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha, Deva and O’Romeo) ideally should have opened at Rs. 10 crores plus. When that happens, then you’re a star in the running.”
Trade analyst Atul Mohan stated, “Shahid Kapoor should change his advisors who suggest to him what films he should sign. Despite having such a low strike rate, he still manages to have one big film every year, which speaks volumes about his talent and popularity. Last year, he had Deva (2025). He’s good-looking and is an exceptional dancer. He can effortlessly do action and comedy; not every actor can do so. However, he needs to rework the kinds of films that he picks up.”
Distributor and exhibitor Raj Bansal remarked, “His choice of films is very un-commercial. He doesn’t look at the prospects of delivering commercial hits. Maybe he selects his films based on his fondness for the story and director. I am sure he knew what Vishal Bhardwaj’s background as a director is, commercially. Yet, he went ahead and signed O’Romeo.”
On the other hand, Girish Johar, producer and eminent film business analyst, said, “I don’t think anything is going wrong with him. We all vouch for his acting capability; there’s no doubt about it. Also, in today’s times, when even delivering an opening of Rs. 3 or 5 crores is difficult, he does get the desired opening. At the end of the day, filmmaking is a collaborative effort. Sometimes, the director is weak or at times, songs fail to entice the audience. Such factors are causing an issue. Things fell in place beautifully with Kabir Singh and we all saw how it performed.”
He added, “There can be a lot of difference between what is written on paper, what is shot and what is edited. The final call is that of the director. Hence, the fault doesn’t lie with Shahid Kapoor. He has always done his job well.”
Nevertheless, the trade experts are optimistic that his next film, Cocktail 2, co-starring Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna, will surprise at the box office. Atul Mohan said, “When the first film was released, it was a fresh subject. Its music was a big hit. Even with Cocktail 2, we expect the same as Dinesh Vijan’s films always have at least one popular number, be it in Stree 2 (2024), Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (2023), Munjya (2024) or Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya.”
Girish Johar said, “Cocktail 2’s colour and flavour are youthful and will go ballistic in cinemas.” Meanwhile, Raj Bansal cautioned, “Your previous film affects the opening of your next. Hence, I feel Cocktail 2’s opening might be affected.”
Taran Adarsh signed off by saying, “I genuinely hope Cocktail 2 opens in double digits. Fingers crossed!”
Also Read: Shahid Kapoor shares birthday post that is all about ‘trusting the process’; actor shares reflective note
More Pages: O’ Romeo Box Office Collection , O’ Romeo Movie ReviewTags : Atul Mohan, Cocktail 2, Deva, Features, Girish Johar, Jersey, Kabir Singh, O’Romeo, R…Rajkumar, Raj Bansal, Shahid Kapoor, Taran Adarsh, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, Triptii Dimri, Vishal Bhardwaj
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