Why Did Karan Johar and Gippy Grewals Film Akaal Earn So Much on Day One

Day One Evening Box Office Update – Akaal

The much-anticipated historical drama Akal hit theaters today, marking a significant collaboration between Punjabi cinema powerhouse Gippy Grewal and Bollywood’s Karan Johar under the banner of Dharma Productions. The film, which stars Gippy Grewal as Sardar Akal Singh, has been released not only in Punjab but also across the Hindi-speaking regions in a dubbed Hindi version—thanks to Dharma's distribution network.

Set in the Punjab of 1840, Akal had already generated considerable buzz ahead of its release. With a compelling story and high production values, the film offers a glimpse into an important historical era. Early viewers have been quick to draw comparisons to Baahubali, hailing Akal as a new benchmark in Punjabi cinema.

First-Day Box Office Performance

While the official budget of Akaal hasn’t been revealed, industry insiders estimate the production cost—including set design, VFX, cast, and promotion—could range between ₹15 to ₹20 crore. As a period drama, the film clearly demanded significant investment, visible in its scale and cinematic treatment.

As per early estimates, Akaal earned approximately ₹72 lakh by the evening of its opening day. Trade analysts suggest that the film is likely to cross the ₹1 crore mark by the end of the day, a strong start for a regional film.

The film is receiving an enthusiastic response, especially in Punjab. However, its Hindi belt performance has seen slight competition due to the simultaneous release of Sunny Deol’s Jatt. Still, with overwhelmingly positive word-of-mouth and glowing reviews, Akal is expected to pick up momentum in the coming days.

In short, Akal's strong opening can be attributed to its high production quality, compelling narrative, star power, and the strategic pan-India release facilitated by Dharma Productions.