James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash (Avatar 3) continues to display resilience at the Indian box office as it enters its third week. On its 16th day—the third Saturday of its theatrical run—the sci-fi epic reached a significant milestone by crossing the ₹200 Crore Gross mark in India.
While the film is a certified “Clean Hit,” its pace remains steady rather than explosive, as it continues to navigate a crowded marketplace dominated by the domestic behemoth Dhurandhar and the steady war drama Ikkis.
Weekend Performance: Day 16 Breakdown
The film collected an estimated ₹3.21 Crore Net on its 16th day (Saturday). While early predictions suggested a major 30% jump, the actual trend remained steady, with a slight dip from Friday’s ₹3.4 Crore. The primary driver for the film remains the high-end premium formats.
Box Office Snapshot (Net India)
- Day 15 (Friday): ₹3.40 Crore
- Day 16 (Saturday): ₹3.21 Crore
- Total Net India (16 Days): ₹166.81 Crore
Steady Hold Amid Fierce Competition
The film has maintained its grip on premium screens despite a dual threat from domestic releases. Ikkis, the Agastya Nanda-starrer war drama, opened to ₹7 Crore but saw a sharp 50% decline on its first Friday (Day 2), managing only ₹3.5 Crore. This has allowed Avatar 3 to retain its position as the top choice for audiences seeking large-scale visual spectacle.
Milestones Achieved
- ₹200 Crore Gross Club: Officially the sixth Hollywood film to enter this elite group in India.
- 2025 Hollywood King: Surpassed F1 Movie (₹129 Cr Gross) to become the highest-grossing Hollywood film of 2025 in the Indian market.
The Long Run: The ‘Dhurandhar’ Juggernaut
The greatest obstacle to Fire and Ash matching its predecessor’s records is the unprecedented run of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar. The spy thriller has officially become a historic theatrical milestone, crossing the ₹750 Crore Net India mark and ₹1200 Crore Worldwide.
The Reality Check
When comparing trajectories, Fire and Ash is trailing significantly behind The Way of Water.
- Avatar 2 Week 2 Net: ~₹97 Crore
- Avatar 3 Week 2 Net: ₹50.7 Crore
Current projections place the lifetime Indian finish for Fire and Ash between ₹215 Crore – ₹240 Crore (Net). While a massive win, the 65% dominance of English (3D) formats suggests that the Hindi and regional versions are facing a steeper decline due to the overwhelming “Dhurandhar” wave.
