O Romeo has everyone buzzing, and not just because Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri light up the screen. The film saw a sharp jump on its second day, pulling in around ₹11 crore nett on Saturday. That brings its two-day India total to nearly ₹20 crore. Sure, that’s a promising rise, especially with Valentine’s Day crowds packing theaters, but there’s no ignoring the film’s hefty budget and its niche appeal. Monday’s when the real test begins.

Let’s rewind for a second. On Friday, February 13, O Romeo opened to ₹9.01 crore nett. Not bad, but still shy of the double digits many expected for a movie reportedly costing almost ₹125 crore. Early predictions hovered closer to ₹8.25-8.50 crore, but a last-minute surge in the evening and night shows pushed the total up.

Saturday is when things got interesting. The film saw a bigger-than-usual jump, with Valentine’s Day clearly giving it a lift. Couples and friend groups turned out, undeterred by the movie’s darker tone, a mix of romance, action, and thriller. Analysts say Valentine’s Day always brings crowds, whether the story’s all hearts and roses or not. O Romeo definitely rode that wave.

But here’s the catch: ₹11 crore is still a few steps behind the ideal ₹15 crore mark for a big-budget release like this. The film opened wide, with thousands of screens across the country, so expectations were sky-high. Its gritty take on love and violence sets it apart from the usual holiday blockbusters, which could limit its reach. Now, all eyes are on audience buzz and word of mouth.

Sunday, February 15, is a wild card. It’s Maha Shivratri, a holiday that usually boosts business for family-friendly and single-screen theaters. But there’s also the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match that evening, which could empty out theaters in cities. If people skip the night shows for cricket, O Romeo will have to make the most of morning and afternoon crowds to keep up its momentum.

Then there’s the elephant in the room: that massive budget. Reports confirm O Romeo is one of Vishal Bhardwaj’s priciest films, with costs around ₹125 crore. So, while ₹20 crore in two days is nothing to sneeze at, it’s not enough to call this a safe bet just yet. The real pressure kicks in on Monday, when the usual weekday audience decides how far the movie can go.

Looking at the numbers, Saturday’s occupancy at about 22 percent in the afternoon, climbing to 26-27 percent by evening. That’s a good sign, interest is building, helped by glowing reviews for Shahid Kapoor’s intense performance and the film’s slick action. The supporting cast, Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia, Disha Patani, Vikrant Massey, add real punch to the lineup.

Right now, O Romeo is at a crossroads. Two days in, it’s still in the running, but the high budget means “decent” isn’t good enough. It needs a strong Sunday, even with cricket fever in the air, and a steady Monday to stay afloat. If the positive buzz holds up, the film could pick up steam next week.

Fans of Shahid Kapoor and Vishal Bhardwaj are watching every move. The Valentine’s Day boost gave O Romeo a solid start, but the coming days will show if this dark, romantic action thriller can break past its big-budget hurdles and wide release. In the end, the film’s own merit will decide how far it goes at the box office.