Action drama Jaat surprised many on its opening day, pulling in a strong ₹9.62 crore nett across India on Thursday. Released to align with the partial Mahavir Jayanti holiday, the film overcame limited advance bookings to deliver a solid day-one performance—driven largely by last-minute ticket sales and strong turnout in mass circuits.
Despite a slow start in urban multiplexes, Jaat picked up momentum through the day, especially in single-screen theaters across North India and central belts. The late opening of bookings, which only began on Wednesday, had led to conservative expectations of around ₹7 crore. However, energetic walk-ins and strong word-of-mouth at the grassroots level pushed the film beyond early projections.
The film's appeal in smaller cities and towns has been key to its opening day success. While metros remain lukewarm, the potential for growth in multiplexes outside the big cities could play a crucial role over the next few days. With Baisakhi falling over the weekend and Ambedkar Jayanti on Monday, the film has a valuable window to maximize collections across a four-day extended run.
Friday may see a minor dip due to regular working hours, but industry insiders are optimistic about a strong rebound on Saturday and Sunday. If Jaat continues to attract footfalls across its core audience, it could well be on its way to a solid week-one total, establishing itself as a crowd-puller in the mass-market space.