Maa box office day 1 collection: Kajol’s horror film opens with Rs 4.5 Crore, among her biggest openers

Maa saw remarkable walk-ins throughout the day, with audience turnout in single screens and mass circuits surpassing expectations, despite the fact that horror as a genre is frequently niche in India.

Despite fierce competition from Formula One and Sitaare Zameen Par, the response was clear, and analysts think that the opening figure could have easily surpassed Rs 5 crore with a more carefully thought-out release.

Given the popularity of the genre and the region's penchant for psychological horror and folklore, it is not surprising that West Bengal was the best-performing region. It's possible that the regional connection increased tourism in that area of the nation.

Occupancy data from Friday paints a clear picture of the film’s growing momentum through the day. Maa recorded an overall Hindi (2D) occupancy of 20.52%. The breakdown was as follows:

Morning shows: 8.23%
Afternoon shows: 20.08%
Evening shows: 21.16%
Night shows: 32.61%

The sharp spike in nighttime attendance suggests strong word-of-mouth, boding well for Saturday and Sunday figures.

With genre intrigue and the star power of Kajol, Maa seems to be the latest proof that horror, when done right, can deliver big at the Indian box office.

Also Read: Shefali Jariwala’s husband Parag Tyagi covers his face, looks in bad shape as he leaves hospital after his wife’s shocking death, watch

With positive word of mouth already building, Maa is now poised for a strong weekend. Projections indicate that the film could collect upwards of Rs 25 crore over its first three days—an excellent result for a female-led horror film.

The Shaitaan Universe’s prior success has clearly had a carry-over effect, drawing in audiences who are already invested in this growing franchise.