The mid-week box office battle on Wednesday (February 25) saw contrasting fortunes for three Hindi releases — O Romeo, Assi, and Do Deewane Seher Mein. While Shahid Kapoor’s gangster drama continued to hold steady in its second week, the newer releases struggled to build momentum.

According to industry tracker Sacnilk, O’Romeo outperformed both Assi and Do Deewane Seher Mein on Wednesday.

Let’s take a detailed look at how each film performed.

---

🎬 Assi Box Office Collection (Day 6)

Starring Taapsee Pannu and Kani Kusruti, Assi is a courtroom drama directed by Anubhav Sinha.

• Day 6 (First Wednesday): ₹0.55 crore
• Total India Collection: ₹6.30 crore

Despite positive word-of-mouth in select urban centres, the film has struggled to translate critical appreciation into strong box office numbers. The courtroom drama genre, combined with limited mass appeal, appears to have impacted its commercial performance.

The film also features veteran actors like Naseeruddin Shah and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub in key roles.

---

🎬 Do Deewane Seher Mein Box Office Collection (Day 6)

The romantic drama starring Mrunal Thakur and Siddhant Chaturvedi opened on February 20, 2026.

Day-wise Collection:

• Day 1: ₹1.25 crore
• Day 2: ₹1.50 crore
• Day 3: ₹1.45 crore
• Day 4 (Monday): ₹0.60 crore
• Day 5: ₹0.55 crore
• Day 6 (Wednesday): ₹0.40 crore
• Total India Collection: ₹5.75 crore

After a modest opening weekend, the film witnessed a sharp weekday drop. The declining footfall suggests that audience interest has not sustained beyond the initial curiosity factor. Competition from O’Romeo and limited promotional buzz may have contributed to the slowdown.

---

🎬 O’Romeo Box Office Collection (Day 13)

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, O’Romeo stars Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri in lead roles.

Released during Valentine’s week, the gangster romantic drama opened strongly:

• Day 1: ₹8.5 crore
• Day 2: ₹12.65 crore
• First Week Total: ₹47.1 crore
• Day 13 (Second Wednesday): ₹1.20 crore
• Total India Collection: ₹60.25 crore

Despite entering its second week, O’Romeo continues to outperform newer releases. Although collections have slowed compared to its opening weekend, the film has shown steady hold in urban multiplex circuits.

Crossing ₹60 crore puts the film in a comfortable position, and it now eyes a potential ₹70–75 crore lifetime finish, depending on weekend growth.

---

📊 Wednesday Box Office Comparison (February 25)

Film	Wednesday Collection	Total India Collection
O’Romeo	₹1.20 crore	₹60.25 crore
Assi	₹0.55 crore	₹6.30 crore
Do Deewane Seher Mein	₹0.40 crore	₹5.75 crore

---

📌 Box Office Analysis

• O’Romeo benefits from strong opening momentum and wider mass appeal.
• Assi and Do Deewane Seher Mein are facing weekday dips typical of content-driven or mid-budget films.
• The lack of a major holiday boost and strong competition has impacted collections.

With the weekend approaching, all three films will look to improve numbers. However, at present, O’Romeo clearly leads the mid-week box office race.

Weeks after announcing his retirement from playback singing, Arijit Singh has finally addressed his fans in an emotional message. The singer, known for delivering some of the most iconic romantic tracks of the last decade, expressed gratitude toward his listeners and assured them that several unfinished songs will continue to be released in the coming months — possibly extending into next year.

First heartfelt message after retirement

On Tuesday evening, Arijit took to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle to share his first detailed message since announcing his decision to step away from playback singing on January 27, 2026.

In a deeply personal note, he thanked his fans for their love and support. He clarified that while he has stopped accepting new assignments as a playback singer, he still has numerous pending songs to complete.

“Hello beautiful people! I just want to tell you all that I love you. Thank you so much for your kindness in this ruthless world. Although I have stopped taking new assignments, the list of pending songs are not less you know. I will have to complete a lot of songs.”

He further added that these unfinished tracks will continue to release gradually:

“There are so many unfinished songs, they are gonna keep releasing until done. Maybe through this whole year. Maybe it will touch next year too.”

He ended his message on a reflective note, encouraging peace and self-care, and added in a follow-up comment:

“Also who knows what lies ahead.!”

Retirement announcement earlier this year

For those unaware, Arijit officially announced his retirement from playback singing on January 27, 2026. In his New Year message, he wrote:

“I am not gonna be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey.”

He clarified that while he would no longer sing for films in the traditional playback format, he would continue making music independently and learning as an artist.

Importantly, he emphasized:

“Just to be clear that I won’t stop making music.”

What does this mean for Bollywood?

Arijit Singh has been one of Bollywood’s most dominant playback voices for over a decade. From romantic ballads to soulful heartbreak anthems, his voice has defined an era of Hindi film music. Songs like Tum Hi Ho, Channa Mereya, Raabta, and Kesariya became cultural milestones and chartbusters.

His retirement from playback singing marks a significant shift for the Hindi film industry, which has heavily relied on his vocal presence across major productions. However, his statement makes it clear that:

• He will complete previously committed projects
• Several unreleased tracks are already recorded
• Independent music may become his primary focus
• Fans can expect releases throughout 2026 — possibly even into 2027

Why the decision?

Although Arijit did not go into detailed reasons behind stepping away from playback singing, his messages hint at a desire for personal growth, peace, and artistic freedom. Known for staying away from media glare and controversies, the singer has often maintained a low profile despite massive stardom.

Industry observers speculate that the move may allow him to:

• Focus on independent and experimental music
• Explore composing and production more deeply
• Maintain a balanced personal life away from commercial pressures

What’s next for Arijit Singh?

While his chapter as a full-time playback singer may have closed, Arijit has made it clear that music remains central to his life. His upcoming releases — from pending film commitments — will likely continue dominating streaming platforms.

For fans, the message is bittersweet:
No new playback assignments — but plenty of unreleased music still on the way.

And as he wrote, “Who knows what lies ahead?”

The trailer of The Kerala Story 2 has finally been unveiled, and it sets a tense and unsettling tone from the very beginning. Positioned as a sequel to the controversial 2023 hit, the film aims to expand its narrative beyond Kerala, exploring new regions and characters while continuing its focus on sensitive socio-political themes.

The sequel also marks the big-screen debut of television actor Aditi Bhatia, generating early curiosity among audiences.

---

🎬 What Does the Trailer Show?

The trailer opens with a provocative claim suggesting that India could face drastic socio-religious changes over the next 25 years. From there, the story shifts across multiple states, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala.

Key Story Elements from the Trailer:

• A distressed Hindu family attempting to file a POCSO case, alleging forced religious conversion of their minor daughter.
• A young woman from Madhya Pradesh entering what appears to be a marriage that gradually turns into coercion.
• A relationship in Kerala where ideological and religious differences lead to escalating tension and violence.
• Themes of forced conversion, manipulation, and identity conflict.

The narrative appears to interweave multiple character arcs, presenting a broader geographic canvas compared to the first installment.

Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah has stated that the film is based on six to seven months of research, including the study of court documents and reported cases.

---

📅 Release Date

The Kerala Story 2 is scheduled to release in theatres on February 27, 2026.

The makers shared the trailer with a strong tagline:

“They targeted our daughters… This time, we will not remain silent.”

The film is backed by Sunshine Pictures.

---

💰 Box Office Context: How Did the First Film Perform?

The original The Kerala Story, starring Adah Sharma, released in 2023 and sparked nationwide debate.

Despite controversy and political discussions, the film emerged as a major commercial success:

• ₹286.5 crore net collection in India
• One of the highest-grossing female-led films of the year
• Strong performance in tier-2 and tier-3 markets

Given that commercial success, expectations for the sequel are naturally high.

---

🎭 Cast of The Kerala Story 2

The sequel introduces new faces while continuing the franchise’s intense storytelling approach.

Lead Cast:

• Aditi Bhatia (debut film)
• Ulka Gupta
• Aishwarya Ojha

Crew:

• Directed by National Award winner Kamakhya Narayan Singh
• Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah
• Co-produced by Aashin A. Shah and Ravichand Nallappa
• Written by Amarnath Jha and Vipul Amrutlal Shah

---

🎥 What Makes This Sequel Different?

Unlike the first film, which focused largely on Kerala, the sequel expands its scope across multiple states.

Possible differences include:

• Broader geographical narrative
• Multiple parallel storylines
• Younger central characters
• Higher emotional intensity

The trailer suggests a more layered structure rather than a single-character arc.

---

⚖️ Controversy & Anticipation

The first film was both commercially successful and politically debated. With similar themes and a strong tagline, The Kerala Story 2 is expected to generate discussion once again.

Whether it matches or surpasses the first film’s box office numbers will depend on:

• Audience reception
• Word-of-mouth
• Regional response
• Critical reviews
• Legal or political reactions

---

🔮 Box Office Expectations

Given:

• The franchise recall value
• The success of the 2023 film
• Aggressive marketing

Industry analysts expect a strong opening weekend, particularly in North and Central India.

However, long-term sustainability will depend heavily on public sentiment and reviews.

---

Final Take

The Kerala Story 2 arrives with:

• Franchise momentum
• A fresh cast
• Expanded narrative scope
• Strong ideological positioning

With Aditi Bhatia making her film debut and the makers doubling down on research-backed storytelling, the film is set to be one of the most talked-about releases of early 2026.

Whether it replicates the commercial storm of its predecessor remains to be seen — but it has certainly grabbed attention.