The 2025 supernatural thriller Nikita Roy, directed by Kussh Sinha and starring Sonakshi Sinha, Paresh Rawal, Arjun Rampal, and Suhail Nayyar, struggled at the box office. It grossed only ₹15–23 lakhs on its opening day, July 18, 2025, and faced difficulty reaching ₹1 crore globally over the weekend. With a budget of ₹25 crore, the film needed to earn ₹35 crore to break even, but it fell drastically short, making it one of Bollywood’s lowest openers of the year.
Despite receiving critical acclaim for Sonakshi’s compelling portrayal of a rationalist investigator, the film failed to attract audiences. This was largely due to limited screen availability and insufficient pre-release buzz. A significant factor in its failure was a clash with Saiyaara a romantic drama directed by Mohit Suri that starred Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, which earned ₹20 crore on its opening day. Backed by YRF’s strong distribution, Saiyaara dominated the box office, leaving *Nikita Roy* struggling for visibility.
Originally scheduled for release on June 27, 2025, *Nikita Roy* was postponed to avoid competition with Kajol’s Maa and F1: The Movie*. However, its July release still placed it against major films like Sitaare Zameen Par and Maalik, worsening its chances. An earlier release might have secured more screens and better audience traction. The film’s niche supernatural genre faced significant challenges against mainstream competitors, unlike successful horror films such as Stree 2 (₹48.5 crore opening) and Shaitaan (₹14 crore).
While Sonakshi Sinha's brand had been bolstered by her OTT successes like Dahaad and Heeramandi, Nikita Roy's flop impacted her reputation at the box office, reminiscent of her earlier theatrical misfire, Double XL* (2022). Although her performance was praised as a career highlight, the commercial failure has raised questions about her drawing power in theaters, even as her credibility in the OTT space remains intact. The film’s disappointing earnings also jeopardize its satellite and OTT rights deals, as platforms may lower their offers due to perceived lack of audience interest. A direct-to-OTT release could have capitalized on Sonakshi’s streaming popularity and the film’s psychological depth, potentially benefiting from the success of Dahaad
In hindsight, Nikita Roy's theatrical run was a risky gamble. Strategic missteps in timing and distribution, coupled with fierce competition, diminished its prospects. While Sonakshi’s acting talent keeps her relevant, the film’s failure highlights the challenges niche genres face in a crowded market, suggesting that OTT might be a better platform for it.
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