Entertainment

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Kajol’s supernatural horror film Maa, directed by Vishal Furia, continues its impressive run at the Indian box office by crossing the ₹24 crore net mark in just five days, solidifying its place as the actress’s tenth highest-grossing film.

Opening to strong weekend numbers—with Day 1 at ₹4.93 crore, Day 2 at ₹6.26 crore, and Day 3 at ₹7.24 crore—the film’s performance saw a dip on Monday, falling to ₹2.70 crore. However, it bounced back on Tuesday with around ₹3 crore, marking an 11 percent growth and bringing the total domestic net collection to approximately ₹24.13 crore as of Day 5.After taxes, the gross comes to about ₹28.47 crore.

Maa now ranks as Kajol’s 10th highest-grossing solo film. It has already surpassed We Are Family (2010) which earned around ₹21.64 crore, and is closing in on the ₹24.93 crore lifetime earnings of her 1997 hit Ishq. The film needs just another ₹80 lakh to entirely overtake Ishq for the 9th position.

Described as a mythological horror-drama, Maa weaves folklore and maternal strength in a tale of a mother who invokes Goddess Kali to shatter a terrifying curse. The narrative, complemented by Kajol’s powerful performance alongside Ronit Roy, Indraneil Sengupta, and Kherin Sharma, appears to be resonating with audiences.While some critics praised its immersive horror and strong performances, others felt the screenplay was predictable, and the visual effects lacked freshness.

Internationally, Maa has grossed approximately $0.42 million (₹3.59 crore), contributing to a worldwide gross of around ₹28.6 crore.

Despite its momentum, Maa now faces box office pressure from Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par, which, in its 12th week, continues to perform strongly with around ₹4 crore on Tuesday.The film’s upcoming competition includes Metro… In Dino and the dubbed Jurassic World Rebirth, both set to release this Friday.

At its current trajectory, Maa is projected to breach the ₹30 crore mark in India. But its ability to hold steady amidst fresh releases will determine its final standing. If Tuesday’s momentum sustains, the ₹25 crore milestone could arrive shortly—further climbing through Kajol’s chart of top-grossers.

Within five days, Maa has marked a significant resurgence in Kajol’s screen presence, reaching into her top 10 solo hits. Its blend of mythology, chilling thriller elements, and emotional storytelling has engaged audiences across India and abroad. As new challengers enter the box office arena, the film's continued appeal and word-of-mouth will be pivotal in defining its long-term success.