Day 3 at the box office wasn’t kind to Tu Yaa Main. Despite the hype, a Sunday holiday, and Mahashivratri, the Shanaya Kapoor and Adarsh Gourav survival thriller scraped together only about ₹1 crore. That’s a big drop from Saturday’s ₹1.5 crore, which had gotten a boost from Valentine’s Day. Just goes to show, one good day doesn’t promise a great weekend.

The film actually opened on Friday with a pretty soft ₹50-60 lakh. Valentine’s Day brought couples in and pushed numbers up, so for a minute, it looked like the movie might pick up steam. But then Sunday rolled around, and everything crashed. You’d think a festival and a weekend would help, but the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match stole the show. Let’s face it, when those two teams play, the country basically stops to watch. Theatres? Mostly empty, especially for smaller films like this one.

It’s a tough lesson for mid-budget movies. When a big sporting event lands on your release weekend, you’re almost guaranteed to lose out. And Tu Yaa Main isn’t just battling cricket, it’s also up against Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri’s O’Romeo, which is pulling in bigger crowds thanks to pure star power and a more mainstream vibe. Tu Yaa Main, on the other hand, depends on its tense, survival-drama hook and the curiosity around Shanaya Kapoor’s performance.

The reviews have been pretty good, and Karan Johar even called it a “traumatising survival ride,” urging people to go see it. And yet, good word of mouth just couldn’t cut through the cricket fever.

So, what’s the damage? Early signs say Tu Yaa Main ends its first weekend around ₹3 crore nett. Not a total disaster given expectations, but nowhere near a hit. The team will be hoping the film holds up in the next few days, maybe some folks who skipped it for cricket will catch up during the week, especially in the cities.

Honestly, this is a classic case of timing and tough luck. Mahashivratri brought families out, but the cricket broadcast won out for a lot of young people and men. Small films always face an uphill battle, even more so when a must-watch match is on. Survival thrillers demand your full attention, and with India-Pak drama on TV, that just wasn’t happening.

Still, there’s a bit to celebrate. Saturday’s surge showed the movie has some draw, and critics seem to appreciate Bejoy Nambiar’s tight direction. Adarsh Gourav brings his usual intensity, and Shanaya Kapoor gets a meaty role to sink her teeth into.

Now it’s all about the weekdays. The movie’s got a shot with urban audiences and those who missed out because of cricket. But the numbers so far are a reality check, sometimes, no matter how good your film is, timing really is everything.