The return of Taapsee Pannu to theatres came without the usual opening-day rush. Her latest film Assi released on February 20 and posted a restrained start at the box office, despite steady nationwide screenings.

Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the courtroom drama collected an estimated Rs 1 crore net on its first day. Trade tracker Sacnilk reported the figure from 1,716 shows across India, with the gross tally marginally higher at around Rs 1.20 crore.

Occupancy remained low throughout the day, averaging 8.4 percent, reflecting a quiet opening rather than a sharp rejection. The numbers placed the film among the slower starters of February’s Hindi releases.

By comparison, Do Deewane Seher Mein earned roughly Rs 1.25 crore on its opening day. Other February titles maintained stronger cumulative totals, including O Romeo at Rs 49 crore India net so far and Tu Yaa Main at Rs 4.65 crore.

The film positions Pannu as a determined lawyer pursuing justice, set within an investigative courtroom narrative. A press note describes the story as one that challenges audiences to reconsider familiar crime reports and their everyday acceptance.

Speaking about the project, the actor said the intent was to bring together incidents people often read and move past, and to question why such realities become normalised. She added that the two-hour narrative felt personally moving because it forces viewers to confront situations they might otherwise ignore.

The supporting cast features Kani Kusruti, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Revathy, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Supriya Pathak Kapur and Naseeruddin Shah in prominent roles.

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For now, the film’s first-day business suggests a cautious audience response, leaving its theatrical trajectory dependent on word of mouth in the days ahead.