Punjabi film Ishqan De Lekhe, starring Gurnaam Bhullar, has emerged as a hit at the box office with an impressive worldwide collection of around Rs 20.50 crore. The film has maintained a steady trend and continues to perform well even in its third week despite competition from bigger releases.
The film collected approximately Rs 11.75 crore nett in India so far and is expected to touch Rs 12 crore nett by the end of the third week. Overseas, it has contributed significantly with earnings of around USD 700K, which is approximately Rs 6.50 crore.
Strong Hold Despite Competition
One of the biggest highlights of Ishqan De Lekhe is its sustained performance. The film’s second-week collections surpassed its first week, showcasing strong word-of-mouth among audiences.
In the third week, the film collected over Rs 1.50 crore nett in six days and is expected to close the week at around Rs 1.75 crore. Although the drop is around 70 percent, it remains notable as many competing films have already exited theatres.
Growth Beyond Punjab Becomes Key Factor
What truly sets Ishqan De Lekhe apart is its exceptional performance outside Punjab. Unlike most Punjabi films that rely heavily on Punjab and overseas markets, this film has seen strong traction in other regions of North India.
In the second week, Punjab contributed only about 35 percent of the total collections, while regions like Haryana performed even better. This is a rare trend for Punjabi cinema.
Cities in the NCR region, including Gurugram and Faridabad, have contributed around Rs 80 lakh nett in just two weeks, and the film is expected to cross Rs 1 crore nett in its full run in these areas.
North India and Hindi Belt Response
The film has also performed strongly in major cities like Delhi, Noida, and Jaipur, where it even emerged as the top-performing film of the week in several centres, beating bigger releases.
Its success in the Hindi belt is particularly noteworthy, considering it is a Punjabi-language film. This highlights the growing acceptance of regional cinema across wider audiences.
Genre Plays a Crucial Role
The film’s tragic love story theme appears to be a major factor behind its success. Over the past year, similar emotional romantic dramas have found surprising success among audiences.
Ishqan De Lekhe follows the same pattern, attracting viewers who enjoy intense love stories, and proving that such genres have strong appeal beyond language barriers.
Final Box Office Outlook
With a projected lifetime collection of around Rs 15 crore nett in India and over Rs 20 crore worldwide, Ishqan De Lekhe has established itself as a successful venture.
The film’s unique achievement lies in its strong domestic performance outside Punjab, making it a rare success story in Punjabi cinema and a clear indication of changing audience preferences across India.