By Krishna Dua 
Baaghi 4 Advance Booking Hits ₹5 Crore Ahead of Sept 5 Release
MUMBAI – The roar of the audience, often reserved for the opening day of a major cinematic spectacle, has already begun. In a powerful statement to the box office, Sajid Nadiadwala’s highly anticipated action film, Baaghi 4, has shattered expectations, with its advance bookings for Day 1 already soaring to an estimated ₹5 crore. This is a monumental figure for any film, but for the fourth installment of the iconic Baaghi franchise, it marks a significant resurgence and a resounding validation of its bold new direction. With the film’s theatrical release scheduled for tomorrow, September 5, all indicators point towards a spectacular opening, fueled by a polarizing yet brilliant marketing strategy centered around its unflinchingly gory and visceral trailer.
The pre-release momentum is a culmination of a calculated gamble. After a string of commercially challenging releases for lead star Tiger Shroff, the pressure was immense. However, the decision to pivot to a darker, more unhinged narrative has paid off handsomely. The advance booking figures are a clear signal that the audience is ready to embrace a grittier, more intense version of Ronnie, an evolution that the trailer promised with every blood-soaked frame. This isn’t just a hit; it’s a personal and professional triumph for Shroff, who is now poised for a grand comeback, proving that his star power as a bona fide action hero remains unmatched when he is backed by a compelling script and a fresh vision.
The Box Office Juggernaut: A Detailed Breakdown
The advance booking numbers for Baaghi 4 are nothing short of phenomenal. According to trade analysts and major booking platforms, the film has already sold over 1.10 lakh tickets for its opening day across major multiplex chains and single-screen theatres. This translates to a gross collection of an estimated ₹2.67 crore. What truly pushes the figure to the astronomical ₹5 crore mark is the inclusion of “blocked seats”—a practice where corporate entities, distributors, and bulk purchasers secure tickets in advance for private screenings or for promotional purposes. When these blocked bookings are factored in, the film’s Day 1 collection from advance sales is projected to be an astounding ₹5.07 crore.
This performance places Baaghi 4 in an elite category of films with exceptional pre-release buzz. It has already outpaced several major releases of 2025, and its performance against the film it is clashing with, The Bengal Files, is a complete blowout. While The Bengal Files has found its audience in select urban pockets, Baaghi 4 has demonstrated a massive appeal across all circuits, particularly in mass belts and single-screen theatres, where the franchise has always held a stronghold. The early booking trends confirm that Tiger’s film has a decisive lead, selling nearly six times more tickets and generating a staggering 60 times higher advance collection than its competitor.
This financial success is a clear indicator that the film’s unconventional promotional strategy has worked. The makers had also entered into a unique partnership with a major ticket-booking platform, offering a 50% discount on tickets for the first day. This clever move not only boosted pre-sales to record levels but also created an incentive for fans to flock to theatres on the opening day, ensuring packed houses and generating a positive word-of-mouth that could propel the film’s weekend collections even higher.
The Gory Trailer: A Bold and Blood-Soaked Gamble
The buzz began not with a song, but with a symphony of screams and shattered bones. The trailer for Baaghi 4 was a visceral shock to the system, a complete departure from the franchise’s trademark slick and stylized action. Directed by A. Harsha in his Hindi directorial debut, the trailer introduced a different kind of hero: a tormented, mentally unstable Ronnie, played with raw intensity by Tiger Shroff.
The film’s plot, which reportedly takes inspiration from the 2013 Tamil film Ainthu Ainthu Ainthu, revolves around Ronnie, a man haunted by a devastating train accident and a blurred line between reality and hallucination. The trailer opened with a jarring sequence of a blood-soaked Ronnie, wielding an axe with a primal, unhinged fury. The action was brutal and unapologetic, with close-up shots of bone-crunching, limbs flying, and a constant spray of crimson. This wasn’t the heroic Ronnie of old; this was a man consumed by a dark rage, his face a mask of psychological turmoil.
The trailer’s central hook was the mystery surrounding Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu’s character, Alisha. Is she real, or is she, as the film’s promotional material suggests, a figment of Ronnie’s fracturing mind? This psychological element, a first for the franchise, intrigued viewers and added a layer of depth to the high-octane action. The true masterstroke, however, was the introduction of Sanjay Dutt as the menacing antagonist. Dutt, with his scarred face and chilling dialogue delivery, promised a villain who was as unhinged as the hero. A particularly unsettling scene in the trailer, where he menacingly kisses a severed finger, left an indelible mark on the audience’s mind.
The “gory trailer” was a calculated risk. While some critics found it too violent, it was this very edginess that captured the imagination of the youth and the die-hard action enthusiasts. Social media platforms were flooded with reactions, fan theories, and discussions about the film’s ultra-violence. The taglines used by the makers, “A darker spirit, a bloodier mission” and “This time he is not the same,” resonated with the audience, promising a film that would break new ground for the franchise and for Bollywood action films in general. The trailer’s final shot, a chilling one-liner from Tiger Shroff, “Maine pehle bhi bola tha, jo tumhara torture hai… woh mera warm-up hai,” has already become a viral sensation.
The Architects of the Resurgence: Cast and Crew
The success of Baaghi 4 is a testament to the collective vision and execution of its cast and crew. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala, the man behind the franchise, has once again demonstrated his knack for understanding the pulse of the audience. He took a bold step by greenlighting a darker, more violent film, a move that is already paying rich dividends. The story and screenplay, co-written by Nadiadwala and Rajat Arora, seem to have found a unique blend of high-octane action and psychological drama that has hooked the audience.
Director A. Harsha, making his debut in the Hindi film industry, has brought a fresh perspective to the franchise. Known for his work in Kannada cinema, he has a reputation for crafting larger-than-life action sequences with a raw, visceral feel. The trailer of Baaghi 4 suggests that he has successfully translated his unique style to the Bollywood canvas, creating action scenes that are both stylish and bone-chilling.
In the acting department, Tiger Shroff is the undisputed star. His transformation from a charming, acrobatic hero to a vengeful, unhinged beast is being lauded by fans. He has clearly pushed himself both physically and emotionally for this role, and the audience has taken notice. Matching him step-for-step is the veteran Sanjay Dutt. His portrayal of the menacing antagonist is being hailed as one of the best villainous performances of his career. The showdown between Shroff and Dutt is being highlighted as the film’s major USP, and the audience is flocking to the theatres to witness this epic face-off.
The film also features the talented Sonam Bajwa and the debutant Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu in pivotal roles. While the trailer focused primarily on the action, the songs released, like “Guzaara” and “Akeli Laila,” have also generated significant buzz, showcasing the chemistry between the lead pair and adding a touch of glamour to the proceedings. The ensemble cast, including the likes of Mahesh Thakur and Sunit Morarjee, adds a layer of depth to the narrative, promising a complete cinematic experience.
What Lies Ahead: A Gory Storm at the Box Office
The strong advance bookings for Baaghi 4 are a promising sign, but the true test of the film’s success will be its performance over the weekend. With the kind of buzz the film has generated, a strong opening day is almost guaranteed. The real question is whether it can sustain the momentum and have a long, successful run at the box office.
The word-of-mouth from early screenings and the first-day reactions will be crucial. If the film’s narrative and action live up to the promise of the trailer, Baaghi 4 could very well become a major blockbuster. The film’s makers are reportedly aiming for the ₹500 crore club, a lofty goal, but given the current momentum, it is not entirely out of reach.
Ultimately, the success of Baaghi 4 will not only redefine Tiger Shroff’s career but also signal a shift in Bollywood’s approach to action cinema. The audience’s enthusiastic response to a grittier, more violent film suggests that they are hungry for content that pushes boundaries and breaks away from the conventional. The franchise, which has always been about setting new standards for action, seems to have done it again. As the first-day shows begin, all eyes will be on the final box office numbers, but one thing is already clear: the gory trailer of Baaghi 4 has worked its magic, and the storm it has unleashed is only just beginning