John Abraham, one of Bollywood’s leading stars, recently opened up about the disappointing box office performance of his latest film, Veda. Released on August 15, Veda faced stiff competition from Shraddha Kapoor’s Stree 2 and Akshay Kumar’s Khel Khel Mein. While both Stree 2 and Khel Khel Mein managed to hold their ground, Veda struggled to attract audiences, becoming one of the biggest box office failures of the year.
Box Office Struggles
Veda, which was released in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi, failed to resonate with the audience. Despite high expectations, the film, which had a production budget of ₹50 crores, has only managed to earn ₹18 crores domestically and ₹21.20 crores worldwide in its first 10 days. This underperformance has made Veda one of the biggest disappointments in recent Bollywood history.
John Abraham’s Reaction
In an interview with Radio City, John candidly discussed the film’s poor performance. He acknowledged that Veda did not meet expectations but stood by the film’s content and message. “It is a film with a strong story, and I wanted to work with Nikhil [Advani] again after Batla House,” John said. He added, “We’re more focused on the message the film delivers than its success or failure. If people prefer lighter films, that’s their choice. I respect that, but I am proud of what we’ve made.”
Pride in the Film
John further emphasized his pride in the work done by the entire Veda team. “I am very proud that we made a good film. This is undoubtedly Nikhil and I’s best work together. Often, when a film doesn’t do well commercially, it’s disheartening. But with Veda, we did everything right—our actors delivered great performances, and every department, from cinematography to action, gave their best,” he stated.
Despite the film’s failure, John remains positive about the creative process behind Veda. He highlighted the efforts of the cast and crew, acknowledging that while the audience may have found faults in the screenplay, the film was still a product of hard work and dedication. “People will always have opinions, and that’s okay. We respect everyone’s viewpoint, but I am proud that we have made a good film,” John said.
Nikhil Advani’s Thoughts
Director Nikhil Advani also shared his thoughts during the same interview. With a touch of humor, Nikhil mentioned that if he could change anything, it would be to make Stree 2 the unsuccessful film of the year instead. On a more serious note, he agreed with John about the importance of the film’s message over its commercial success.
Nikhil stated, “Veda is a daring film with a heavy subject. We’ve told it in an entertaining way, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. If people aren’t interested in films with serious topics, that’s their choice. But these are the stories that need to be told, and I’m glad we took the challenge.”
John’s Recent Career
Veda is the latest in a series of films featuring John Abraham that haven’t performed well at the box office. Films like Attack: Part 1, Mumbai Saga, and Ek Villain Returns also failed to make a mark. However, John found success in 2023 with Pathan, where he played a villain opposite Shah Rukh Khan. Pathan became a massive hit, contrasting sharply with the fate of Veda.
