In a remarkable performance for imported animation, Doraemon: Castle of the Undersea Devil has registered a strong opening at the Indian box office, collecting an estimated Rs 2.9 crore gross on its first day.
The impressive debut marks a major leap for the long-running Japanese franchise in the domestic market, setting up the film for a lucrative opening weekend.
Holiday Boost Meets Franchise Popularity
The film’s opening day coincided with the national Gandhi Jayanti holiday on Oct 2, which undoubtedly fueled theatrical footfalls among children, families, and young adult anime enthusiasts alike. However, trade analysts note that a holiday alone cannot account for such numbers, pointing to a wider breakout momentum beyond the franchise’s typical audience base.
Historically, Doraemon theatrical releases in India have maintained a steady, dedicated following, generally finishing their entire lifetime runs around the Rs 5 crore gross mark. Castle of the Undersea Devil has managed to secure over half of that lifetime average in a single day.
Distributed across India by PVR INOX Pictures in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu—alongside premium 4DX formats—the 45th theatrical feature in the franchise benefits from wider accessibility and targeted multi-city marketing.
Weekend Trajectory and Box Office Projections
According to sources, if the film maintains its positive momentum through Saturday and Sunday, it could close its opening weekend with a gross collection of Rs 8 crore to Rs 9 crore. Achieving that threshold would firmly place Castle of the Undersea Devil as one of the highest-grossing anime feature films ever released in Indian cinemas.