Akshay Kumar’s comedy franchise continues its blockbuster streak as Housefull 5 officially surpasses the lifetime collection of OMG 2 headlined by Pankaj Tripathi, becoming the superstar’s seventh biggest Hindi net grosser. In just 10 days, the multi-starrer comedy has managed to rake in Rs 154.47 crore in India, overtaking OMG 2, which had concluded its run with Rs 151.16 crore.The Sajid Nadiadwala production opened strong on its first Friday with Rs 24 crore and showed impressive growth over the weekend, collecting Rs 31 crore on Saturday and Rs 32.5 crore on Sunday. Despite the expected weekday drops, Housefull 5 maintained a steady hold, closing its first week at Rs 127.25 crore. The film’s performance in its second weekend reaffirmed its mass appeal, with Rs 6 crore on its second Friday, followed by a solid Rs 9.5 crore on Saturday and an estimated Rs 11.72 crore on Sunday, taking its 10-day total to Rs 154.47 crore.With this, Housefull 5 now sits comfortably at the seventh spot in Akshay Kumar’s highest-grossing films list. The actor’s top five still remain Housefull 4 (Rs 210.3 crore), Good Newwz (Rs 205.09 crore), Mission Mangal (Rs 203.08 crore), Sooryavanshi (Rs 195.55 crore), and 2.0 (Rs 190.48 crore), followed by Kesari at Rs 155.7 crore. Housefull 5 has not only crossed OMG 2 but is also within striking distance of Kesari’s lifetime collection, a feat it could achieve within its second week.The film’s success is particularly noteworthy as it marks the fifth installment of the Housefull franchise, a rarity in Bollywood where sequels beyond a trilogy seldom retain audience interest. Featuring an ensemble cast led by Akshay Kumar alongside Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek A Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Sonam Bajwa, Chitrangada Singh, and others, the film has banked heavily on its slapstick humor, larger-than-life sets, and re-call value of the franchise.The film was directed by Tarun Mansukhani of Dostana fame. While critics had mixed reactions to its storyline and gags, the audience response, especially in mass circuits and single screens, has been overwhelmingly positive. The franchise loyalty, combined with Akshay’s enduring fan base, played a crucial role in driving footfalls.As Housefull 5 continues its theatrical run, trade analysts are keenly watching to see if it can breach the Rs 170-Rs 180 crore mark, making it one of Akshay’s top five highest-grossing films.
