Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Box Office Collection Starts Slow Despite Mixed Reviews

Ayushmann Khurrana’s latest theatrical release, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, has opened to a mixed response from both critics and audiences, with its first-day box office numbers falling well below the benchmark set by the 2019 hit Pati Patni Aur Woh. Released in cinemas on May 15, 2026, the romantic comedy arrived with considerable attention due to its ensemble cast and its connection to the earlier successful franchise, but the initial collections suggest that audience turnout remained restrained on opening day.

According to early trade estimates, the Mudassar Aziz directorial earned approximately ₹3.85 crore nett across India on Day 1. The figure stands in sharp contrast to the ₹9.10 crore opening collected by Kartik Aaryan’s Pati Patni Aur Woh in 2019, making the new film’s debut noticeably softer despite a wider promotional push and strong online visibility leading up to release.

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Box Office Collection Sees Modest Opening

The film stars Ayushmann Khurrana alongside Wamiqa Gabbi, Rakul Preet Singh and Sara Ali Khan, and attempts to expand the familiar relationship-comedy formula into a larger ensemble-driven confusion comedy. While the cast generated interest among younger audiences, the film’s opening-day occupancy remained relatively low across several key markets.

Reports indicate that the movie recorded an overall occupancy of around 11.94 per cent on Friday, with morning shows beginning slowly before slight improvement in afternoon and evening screenings. Overseas business reportedly contributed another ₹1 crore gross, taking the worldwide gross collection to an estimated ₹5.62 crore on its opening day.

Trade analysts are now watching the weekend closely, as Saturday and Sunday collections are expected to determine whether the film can recover through positive word-of-mouth or continue to struggle against audience expectations and mixed critical reception.

Critics Divided Over Film’s Humour and Storytelling

One of the biggest talking points surrounding Pati Patni Aur Woh Do has been the sharply divided response from reviewers. Some critics praised the film for embracing situational comedy and delivering an entertaining chaos-driven narrative, while others felt the screenplay relied too heavily on exaggerated misunderstandings and repetitive humour.

Positive reviews highlighted the film’s comic pacing and its attempt to turn assumptions and prejudice into the basis for humour. Several viewers appreciated how the story moved beyond a standard love triangle and leaned into larger comedic confusion involving multiple characters and mistaken relationships. The second half, in particular, received praise from some reviewers for increasing the energy and delivering stronger laugh-out-loud moments after the story setup in the opening portions.

At the same time, other reviews were considerably harsher, describing the film as loud, overstuffed and lacking emotional depth. Critics from this side argued that the screenplay struggled under the pressure of balancing multiple lead characters, eventually falling into a pattern of repetitive lies, shouting matches and exaggerated comic situations that became increasingly predictable as the narrative progressed.

Ayushmann Khurrana Anchors the Film

Despite the divided reactions to the screenplay, Ayushmann Khurrana’s performance has emerged as one of the most consistently appreciated aspects of the film. Playing forest department officer Prajapati Pandey, Ayushmann once again steps into a familiar comic territory where an ordinary man becomes trapped in an increasingly complicated web of misunderstandings.

The story unfolds in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, where Prajapati’s relatively stable married life begins to collapse after he agrees to help his college friend Chanchal, played by Sara Ali Khan, elope with her boyfriend. To help conceal the relationship from disapproving family members, Prajapati pretends to be Chanchal’s partner, a decision that quickly spirals into chaos when his wife Aparna, portrayed by Wamiqa Gabbi, and colleague Nilofer, played by Rakul Preet Singh, become entangled in the misunderstanding.

The film relies heavily on confusion, assumptions and rapidly escalating lies, creating a comedy-of-errors structure that remains at the centre of the narrative from beginning to end.

Supporting Cast Draws Attention

Alongside Ayushmann, several members of the supporting cast have also received praise for their performances. Wamiqa Gabbi’s portrayal of Aparna has been widely appreciated for bringing emotional balance and intelligence to the otherwise chaotic narrative. Critics noted that her character avoids becoming a one-dimensional stereotype and instead adds grounding to the film’s louder moments.

Rakul Preet Singh’s performance has similarly been appreciated for her comic energy and screen presence, particularly in scenes involving escalating misunderstandings. Ayesha Raza’s supporting role also generated positive reactions, with many viewers finding her comedic timing effective in the film’s more exaggerated sequences.

Sara Ali Khan’s performance, however, has received more divided opinions. While some viewers enjoyed her energetic screen presence, others felt her performance appeared inconsistent when compared to the rest of the ensemble cast.

Music and Screenplay Spark Debate

The film’s music has also become a subject of discussion among audiences and reviewers. Some critics felt the songs interrupted the flow of the narrative and appeared inserted primarily for commercial appeal rather than storytelling progression. Certain dream sequences and musical moments were specifically criticised for slowing down the film’s pacing.

However, others appreciated the energetic background score and felt it complemented the fast-moving chaos that defines much of the film’s tone. The soundtrack itself may not have emerged as a standout element, but the background music helped maintain momentum during several high-confusion sequences.

The screenplay remains the film’s most debated aspect overall. While supporters describe it as a deliberately exaggerated comedy designed for mass entertainment, critics argue that the narrative loses focus as it attempts to juggle too many characters and misunderstandings simultaneously.

Weekend Performance Becomes Crucial

With a moderate opening and highly mixed reviews circulating online, the next two days will be especially important for Pati Patni Aur Woh Do. Romantic comedies have delivered unpredictable box office results in recent years, often depending heavily on audience recommendations and social media reactions after release.

The film has undeniably generated conversation, particularly around its humour, performances and comparison with the 2019 original. Whether that discussion converts into stronger footfalls over the weekend remains the key question for exhibitors and trade analysts.

For now, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do finds itself in a challenging position. It has managed to attract attention through its cast and franchise recall value, but its long-term theatrical performance will likely depend on whether audiences embrace its loud, confusion-driven comedy or move on in search of stronger alternatives currently playing in cinemas.

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