Entertainment

Dulquer Salmaan's I'm Game Nears ₹19 Crore Mark After First Weekend

By Riya Sharma

Dulquer Salmaan's fantasy action thriller I'm Game has maintained steady box office collections over its opening weekend, according to trade data from Sacnilk. The film, which marks Salmaan's return to Malayalam cinema, was originally set to release during Onam but was postponed, finally hitting theaters on September 3.

I'm Game opened to ₹5.40 crore on its first day, followed by a drop to ₹4.90 crore on day two. Collections stabilized over the weekend, with the film earning ₹4.35 crore each on Saturday and Sunday. This brings its four-day net collection in India to ₹19 crore, with a gross collection of ₹22.20 crore across 2,190 shows.

The Malayalam market has driven most of the film's earnings, contributing ₹3.10 crore on Sunday alone. Meanwhile, in the Hindi market, I'm Game faces stiff competition from Hanuman Ansh and Mirzapur: The Movie, both of which continue to post strong double-digit daily collections.

Had it released as originally planned during Onam, I'm Game would have clashed with Prithviraj Sukumaran's Khalifa: The Ruler and Nivin Pauly's Bethlehem Kudumba Unit. Interestingly, after just four days, I'm Game is only a few crores short of surpassing Khalifa: The Ruler's entire lifetime collection of ₹21 crore. However, it remains significantly behind Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, which has grossed ₹123.41 crore net.

This release marks Dulquer Salmaan's comeback to Malayalam films after 2023's King of Kotha, which underperformed commercially, earning ₹17.54 crore in India against a reported budget of approximately ₹50 crore.

I'm Game tells the story of a fearless gambler who depends heavily on luck, only to find himself entangled in a series of unforeseen circumstances that alter the course of his life and present him with numerous challenges.

The film is directed by Nahas Hidhayath, who co-wrote the screenplay alongside Sajeer Baba, Ismail Aboobacker, and Bilal Moidu. It has been produced by Dulquer Salmaan and Jom Varghese under the Wayfarer Films banner. The ensemble cast features Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role, supported by Antony Varghese, Mysskin, Kayadu Lohar, Samyuktha Viswanathan, Kathir, Vinay Forrt, and Parth Tiwari.