Taapsee Pannu’s latest courtroom drama Assi has opened to a modest response at the box office. Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the film hit theatres this Friday but registered a relatively slow start on its first day.
According to trade website Sacnilk, Assi collected approximately ₹0.95 crore net in India on Day 1, as per early estimates. The opening fell short of expectations and did not surpass the debut of Haq, the courtroom drama led by Yami Gautam, which had released in November 2025 with a stronger ₹1.75 crore opening. Haq eventually went on to record a lifetime domestic collection of ₹19.86 crore, setting a higher benchmark within the same genre.
The occupancy figures for Assi further reflected its muted start. Morning shows recorded a low 3.88% occupancy, which saw a slight uptick to 7.24% in the afternoon. Evening shows registered 6.92%, indicating limited growth throughout the day. Collections remained subdued across most major circuits, suggesting that the film struggled to generate significant footfalls on its opening Friday. However, Chennai emerged as a relatively stronger market, with occupancy nearing 20%, offering a small but encouraging sign for the makers.
The film has garnered mixed reactions from both critics and audiences. With a sensitive and socially relevant subject at its core, Assi now relies heavily on word-of-mouth appreciation and weekend growth to build momentum. Courtroom dramas often depend on audience discussions and critical endorsements to draw viewers beyond their initial core audience. The coming days will therefore be crucial in determining whether the film can witness an upward trend over Saturday and Sunday.
Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar and Anubhav Sinha under the banners of Benaras Mediaworks and T-Series Films, Assi features a strong supporting cast including Kani Kusruti, Revathi and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub in pivotal roles. The film also marks the third collaboration between Taapsee and Anubhav Sinha after their earlier projects, Thappad and Mulk, both of which were noted for tackling socially charged themes.
The title Assi, which translates to “80,” carries significant weight in the context of the film’s subject. It refers to the reported average number of rape cases filed daily in India, underscoring the alarming frequency of such crimes. The narrative aims to spark conversation around accountability, justice and societal introspection rather than merely placing blame on institutions.
Speaking to Press Trust of India, Anubhav Sinha elaborated on the significance of the number. He highlighted that the figure represents only reported cases, with many incidents going unrecorded. According to the filmmaker, the statistic becomes even more unsettling when broken down into time intervals — suggesting that such crimes occur every 18 to 20 minutes. He remarked that by the time a conversation about the issue concludes, another crime may already have taken place, illustrating the gravity of the situation.
Sinha further shared that the film was born out of a period of personal “antardwand,” or inner conflict. He questioned whether the problem could simply be attributed to the police or judiciary, or whether society as a whole needed to examine its own role. While it is easy to assign blame externally, he noted, it is far more difficult to hold oneself accountable. This introspection shaped the screenplay and the emotional core of Assi.
For Taapsee Pannu, the film adds to her repertoire of content-driven cinema. She was last seen in the 2024 releases Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba and Khel Khel Mein. Known for taking on layered and socially relevant roles, she once again steps into a narrative that seeks to provoke thought and dialogue.
With a modest opening behind it, Assi now looks toward the weekend to determine whether audience engagement and discussions around its theme can translate into stronger box office numbers.
