Ajay Devgn's ambitious sports drama, Maidaan, fell short of its box office expectations despite critical acclaim. The film, which chronicled the life of Syed Abdul Rahim, a legendary coach of the Indian football team, was produced on a massive budget of over ₹200 crore. While it garnered positive reviews upon its theatrical release, it struggled to attract audiences, ultimately grossing only ₹60 crore domestically.
Director Amit Sharma recently addressed the film's lukewarm reception in an interview with DNA. He revealed that despite the initial box office disappointment, Maidaan found a dedicated audience on OTT platforms, where it received an overwhelming response from viewers. A post shared by Amit Sharma (@iamitrsharma) Speaking to DNA, Amit said, “When the film was released, a lot of people did not watch it.
But whoever watched it only praised it. They all appreciated it. I was making rounds of the theatres, and I saw the reaction of the public watching it.
It was amazing. After it released on OTT, I was flooded with messages and mails. Many said they should have watched it in theatres, but at the end of the day, you can’t force people to go to theatres.
” He went on to add, “Of course, it comes to your mind as to why numbers are not increasing when the public is appreciating it and the reaction is positive. But I couldn’t find the reason for why the big numbers did not happen.” A post shared by Amit Sharma (@iamitrsharma) Maidaan, starring Ajay Devgn, Priyamani, and Nitanshi Goel, hit theaters on April 11.
The film was a joint venture between Zee Studios, Bayview Projects, and Fresh Lime Films. While it aimed to celebrate the legacy of Syed Abdul Rahim, its commercial performance fell short of its lofty ambitions. READ MORE: IC 814 Director Anubhav Sinha Calls Out CBFC Interference: ‘It Is A Compromise With The Creativity’.
