On its opening day, Yami Gautam’s latest Bollywood film, Article 370, has emerged victorious in the clash with Vidyut Jamwal’s action-packed movie, Crakk. Article 370 collected ₹5.75 crore on February 23, the day of its release. Directed by Aditya Jambhale and produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Lokesh Dhar, and Aditya Dhar (who is also Yami’s husband and the director of Uri: The Surgical Strike), the film has garnered praise from Shehla Rasheed, a vocal critic of the Narendra Modi government’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomous status.
Shehla Rasheed commended the film for its casting, action sequences, strong female characters, and sensitivity. However, with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, some are labeling Article 370 as a “propaganda” film in support of the Modi government.
Yami Gautam, in response to these criticisms, stated that the film is meant for the majority of the audience and should not be judged based on preconceived notions. In terms of box office performance, Article 370 has surpassed Crakk, as Vidyut Jamwal’s film earned ₹4 crore on its first day.