Akshay ends his box office dry spell with ‘Housefull 5’

After a string of underwhelming films and nearly four years in a slump, Akshay Kumar is finally back in form — thanks to the roaring success of Housefull 5. The comedy franchise’s latest installment has crossed the ₹100 crore milestone at the domestic box office since its release on June 6, offering a much-needed boost not only for the actor but also for the struggling Hindi film industry.

Kumar, who had earlier admitted to facing a period of “16 consecutive flops,” stayed committed to working hard despite the setbacks. At the trailer launch of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, he had remarked, “I stood there and kept on doing work. I'll still do that.”

That perseverance seems to have paid off. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, Housefull 5 — made on an estimated ₹300 crore budget — has drawn audiences with its star-studded cast and dual endings (Housefull 5A and 5B). It features actors such as Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, and Sanjay Dutt, among others.

Promotional strategies played a key role in the film's reach. Media professionals were given BookMyShow coupons to attend the release day screening, while multiplexes like PVR INOX offered discounted tickets to lure audiences. In addition, fans could access the second version of the film at half price if they had already seen one.

This marks Akshay Kumar’s third release of the year, following Kesari Chapter 2 and Sky Force — both of which fell short of turning a profit despite strong opening numbers. While Sky Force almost broke even with ₹149 crore earnings on a ₹150 crore budget, Kesari Chapter 2 collected around ₹120 crore.

Housefull 5 comes as a ray of hope for Kumar, whose recent outings like Samrat Prithviraj, Ram Setu, and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan failed to impress at the box office. His appearances in films like OMG 2, Stree 2, and Singham Again were limited to cameos, while titles such as Atrangi Re and Cuttputlli were released directly on OTT platforms.

Speaking at the Sky Force trailer launch, Kumar reflected on his journey, acknowledging the tough phase but reaffirming his commitment to hard work. “People suggest I do one or two films a year, but if I can work, why not? That’s what my career has been built on,” he said.

If the current momentum holds, Housefull 5 may well mark a turning point for the actor — and reestablish his box office dominance, reports UNB.