Baaghi 4’s Rocky Ride: From A Certificate to Box Office Slide
Tiger Shroff’s high-octane action film Baaghi 4 opened with fanfare but has witnessed a steep drop — here’s a mid-September breakdown of its theatrical performance and challenges.
Baaghi 4 arrived in theatres on September 5, 2025, with grand expectations. The film, starring Tiger Shroff as Ronnie and Sanjay Dutt as the antagonist, was marketed as a darker, more violent chapter in the Baaghi franchise. It earned an A certificate from the CBFC, with 23 content cuts made to secure permission for release — including muted terms and trimmed scenes.
Initial box office returns were promising: Day 1 showed strong occupancy in metro cities, driven by action-lover fans and franchise followers. But by Day 5, the film’s collections plunged sharply, with trade analysts citing critical reception, heavy censorship, and audience fatigue as factors. The Baaghi brand’s momentum appeared unable to carry Baaghi 4 as far as its predecessors.
Industry chatter now focuses on a few key questions:
- Did the film’s tone—brutal, violent, and stylized—alienate casual viewers who preferred the earlier Baaghi films' balance of romance and heroics?
- Were the CBFC cuts too restrictive, reducing the coherence of key action sequences and emotional arcs?
- Did Baaghi 4 rely too heavily on spectacle without letting audiences connect emotionally with its characters?
Further complicating matters, reviews have pointed out inconsistencies in storytelling. While some praised its ambitious fight choreography and visual scale, others flagged a thin plot and underdeveloped villain arc. Sanjay Dutt’s antagonist, though visually imposing, was criticized for lacking narrative weight—his motivations felt rushed and underwritten, leaving some of the film’s tension hollow.
On the flip side, Tiger Shroff’s performance received a split response. Fans appreciated his physical commitment and stunt work, but critics argue that his character lacked a real emotional journey. In an interview, Shroff acknowledged the film’s shortcomings and said he believes the Baaghi series needs a fresher narrative arc to stay relevant going forward.
Looking ahead, Baaghi 4 is now being evaluated as a cautionary tale: as a reminder that star power and action spectacle alone may not guarantee success, especially when franchise expectations are high. As the film transitions to Prime Video, much will depend on whether digital audiences view it differently — and if it gains a second life outside theatres.
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