Love Guru & Deemak Score Big on Eidul Azha
KARACHI – Love Guru box office. The Urdu films Love Guru (directed by Nadeem Baig) and Deemak (helmed by Rafay Rashid), grossed the most in theaters over the Eidul Azha break. The Karachi multiplexes had a packed audience for the short holiday.
Crowds began lining up for hours before the premiere of Love Guru. It had been a while since a cinema had a complete “full-house” screening. The figures still need official confirmation, but preliminary estimates suggest that within days, the total nationwide figures combined were around Rs140 million.
Humayun Saeed Shares Impressive Figures
On Tuesday lead actor Humayun Saeed announced on social media that global international ticket sales for Love Guru were impressive. He claimed that the film grossed Rs282 million globally over its first weekend, which has rekindled excitement in the Pakistan film industry.
Bolstered by Hollywood Hits
Film exhibitor and entrepreneur Nadeem Mandviwalla said to Dawn that the change in fortunes for Pakistan’s cinema started to become obvious this summer. He noted that Final Destination: Bloodlines started to get theatres occupied, followed soon after by a strong return for Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. These Hollywood films warmed up the audiences, who then went to the theatre in mass to see Love Guru and Deemak. Mandviwalla shared that for both these local films it was estimated to have grossed over Rs130 million in tickets in the opening days.
He pointed out that unlike other Eidul Fitr releases in the past, local films were still being watched. Mandviwalla thought that Deemak had brought in over Rs30 million and Love Guru was over Rs100 million for opening sales period. He thinks that this run will continue to Sunday, June 15th.
Criticism and Industry Support
Despite their success, some local critics expressed concern about the films’ production quality. Online backlash also surfaced, targeting Love Guru’s lead actors — Humayun Saeed and Mahira Khan. However, producer Shehzad Rafiq defended the stars. He urged cinema lovers to support local films and praised the actors for their dedication.
Moreover, Mandviwalla echoed Rafiq’s stance. He stated, “It doesn’t matter what age you are as an actor, as long as you deliver a good movie.” His comment highlighted the importance of performance over age, especially in the eyes of moviegoers.
A Turning Point for Pakistani Cinema
These triumphs offer renewed hope for national cinema. With strong openings and enthusiastic audiences, Love Guru and Deemak signal a vibrant revival. They prove that quality storytelling and local talent can attract crowds—even amidst tough competition from major Hollywood titles.
