The Bengal Files, released on September 5, 2025, entered cinemas with controversy and curiosity but has failed to maintain strong box office momentum. Despite a fair opening weekend, the film lost steam quickly due to stiff competition, limited audience access in Bengal, and the arrival of bigger releases. Nera News looks at its box office journey and why the film is nearing its end run below ₹20 crore.
The Bengal Files Box Office Collection
The film, starring Anupam Kher, was expected to create an impact similar to The Kashmir Files but could not repeat the phenomenon. According to industry tracking, the film earned ₹11.25 crore in its first week.
Week 1 Performance
- Day 1 (Friday): ₹1.75 Cr
- Day 2 (Saturday): ₹2.25 Cr
- Day 3 (Sunday): ₹2.75 Cr
- Day 4 (Monday): ₹1.15 Cr
- Day 5 (Tuesday): ₹1.35 Cr
- Day 6 (Wednesday): ₹1.00 Cr
- Day 7 (Thursday): ₹1.00 Cr
Week 1 Total: ₹11.25 Cr
Week 2 Drop
- Day 8 (Friday): ₹0.60 Cr
- Day 9 (Saturday): ₹1.15 Cr
- Day 10 (Sunday): ₹1.10 Cr
- Day 11 (Monday): ₹0.40 Cr
- Day 12 (Tuesday): ₹0.50 Cr
- Day 13 (Wednesday): ₹0.46 Cr
- Day 14 (Thursday): ₹0.26 Cr (early estimates)
Week 2 Total: ₹4.47 Cr
Overall Collection (14 Days): ₹15.72 Cr
Why The Bengal Files Struggled
No Release in West Bengal
The film’s primary target audience was in West Bengal, but state restrictions prevented its release there. This decision alone cut off a large portion of potential revenue.
Heavy Competition
On its release day, The Bengal Files faced direct competition from Baaghi 4 and The Conjuring: Last Rites. Both films diverted audiences, with Baaghi crossing ₹50 crore and The Conjuring outperforming both local releases.
Comparison with The Kashmir Files
While The Kashmir Files (2022) turned into a cultural and commercial wave, The Bengal Files has not managed similar traction. The lack of repeat audiences and low word of mouth weakened its box office power.
New Release Pressure
The arrival of Jolly LLB 3 starring Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi is expected to further push The Bengal Files out of cinemas.
Audience & Critical Response
- Anupam Kher called the film “shocking and disturbing” after watching it in theatres.
- Initial viewers were curious, but interest declined by the second week.
- Social media discussions were overshadowed by bigger Bollywood and Hollywood releases.
The Bengal Files was launched with ambition but could not translate controversy into commercial success. With its total standing at ₹15.72 crore in two weeks, the film is expected to end its run below ₹20 crore. For comparison, The Kashmir Files crossed ₹250 crore in India alone, highlighting the gap between expectation and reality.
