Actor Taapsee Pannu’s crime-drama Assi, opened up to an underwhelming response as it earned Rs 1 crore net at the box office on its first day. The Anubhav Sinha’s directorial which deals with the issue of crime against women, could not manage to beat the opening collections of Suparn Verma’s courtroom drama Haq (2025).
Assi had an opening of Rs 0.95 crore net in India, as reported by Sacnilk. In comparison, Yami Gautam’s Haq, which arrived in cinemas in November 2025, also saw a quiet start with an opening of Rs 1.75 crore, according to the report. Over the course of its theatrical run, the film eventually went on to secure a lifetime domestic total of Rs 19.86 crore.
Assi struggled with low attendance throughout the day. Morning shows saw a mere 3.88% turnout, which slightly improved to 7.24% in the afternoon and 6.92% during the evening, as reported by Sacnilk.
Chennai proved to be a stronger market than northern cities, recording a 20% occupancy rate, the report added. Given the polarised critical reception, the project now faces a high-stakes weekend to demonstrate its commercial staying power.
Directed by Anubhav and backed by producers Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, and the director himself, Assi is a joint venture between Benaras Mediaworks and T-Series Films. Alongside Taapsee, the ensemble features Kani Kusruti, Revathy, and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub.
This film marks the third collaboration between Taapsee and Anubhav. The duo previously teamed up for the critically acclaimed films Thappad and Mulk.
India Today, in its review of Assi, wrote, “You may walk out debating the film’s craft, its choices, even its tone. What is harder to debate is the reality it gestures toward. Because somewhere, every twenty minutes, another story begins or ends.”
The film theatrically released on February 20, 2026.
