Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan makes a striking return to the silver screen with her latest film, The Buckingham Murders, which premiered in theaters on September 13. In this cinematic venture, Kareena takes on the role of Jasmeet Bhambra, a British-Indian detective. Directed by the acclaimed Hansal Mehta, the film showcases Kareena in a dynamic and authoritative character, marking a departure from her previous roles.
Despite the high expectations surrounding this suspense-thriller, The Buckingham Murders has struggled at the box office, casting a shadow over Kareena's illustrious career. The film's financial performance has been notably disappointing, raising concerns that it may become the lowest-grossing opener in Kareena’s career over the past 15 years. Reports from Filmibeat suggest that the film is projected to earn between ₹1.5 to ₹2 crore on its opening day, which, if accurate, would make it Kareena’s least successful film opening in recent years.
This underwhelming debut brings to mind a similar fate that befell Kareena's 2009 film Main Aur Mrs Khanna. Directed by Prem Raj and featuring Sohail Khan and Salman Khan alongside Kareena, the film failed to make a significant impact, earning less than ₹1 crore on its opening day a record low for her at that time. Now, 15 years later, The Buckingham Murders appears to be on a similar trajectory.
As of the latest updates, The Buckingham Murders has managed to accumulate only ₹12 lakh by 2:50 PM on its opening day, according to a Searchnilck report. This modest figure further underscores the film's struggle to captivate audiences. It is worth noting that Kareena co-produced this film in collaboration with Ekta Kapoor, adding another layer of personal investment in its success.