Bollywood’s beloved comedy juggernaut is back, and it’s bigger, bolder, and utterly unpredictable! Housefull 5, the highly anticipated fifth instalment in the blockbuster franchise, has finally docked in cinemas, promising audiences a whirlwind of laughter, confusion, and a cinematic experiment never seen before in mainstream Indian cinema. Headlined by Akshay Kumar’s much-awaited return to full-throttle comedy, the film has stormed the box office, collecting an impressive ₹18.55 crore by 8 PM on its opening day (June 6, 2025), according to early estimates from Sacnilk.com.
The Billion-Dollar Question: Who is the Real “Jolly”?
Setting sail on a luxurious yacht, Housefull 5 plunges viewers into a classic farce with a lavish twist. A billionaire celebrating his centenary birthday drops a bombshell: a staggering inheritance of £69 billion is destined for his beloved “Jolly.” The celebration swiftly descends into pandemonium as three men step forward, each fervently claiming the identity and the fortune:
- Jalaluddin (Riteish Deshmukh)
- Jalbhushan (Abhishek Bachchan)
- Julius (Akshay Kumar)
The central mystery – “Who is the real Jolly?” – fuels a non-stop barrage of comedic chaos, mistaken identities, and over-the-top antics against the glamorous, rolling backdrop of the high seas.
A Stellar Ensemble Cast Anchors the Madness
The Housefull 5 cast is a veritable who’s who of Bollywood, reuniting franchise favourites and introducing exciting new dynamics:
- The Claimants: Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan
- The Leading Ladies: Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri (making a vibrant comeback), Sonam Bajwa, Soundarya Sharma
- The Veteran Charmers: Nana Patekar (stealing scenes with his viral ‘Phoogadi’ dance as Dagdu Sir), Jackie Shroff, Sanjay Dutt (a duo hailed by fans as unexpectedly brilliant)
- Franchise Favourites & More: Fardeen Khan, Chunky Panday, Johnny Lever, Shreyas Talpade (returning after Housefull 2), Ranjeet, Dino Morea, Nikitin Dheer, Akashdeep Sabir
- Star-Studded Cameos: Mohanlal, Prabhas, Kajal Aggarwal, and Akshay Kumar himself in a surprise second role!
Director Tarun Mansukhani (Dostana), orchestrating this “mad and magical” ensemble of 19 A-listers, described the experience: “Bringing together 19 A-listers sounds insane on paper, and it was just as mad in real life — in the best way. There was no ego, just pure love for the story.” He praised the “soul” brought by the three leads, the “spark” from the heroines, and the “effortless charm” of legends like Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, and Sanjay Dutt.
The Groundbreaking Twist: Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B
Housefull 5 isn’t just another sequel; it’s a cinematic gamble. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala revealed the film’s unique selling proposition: multiple endings. Released simultaneously as Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B, different screenings feature entirely different climaxes and resolutions to the central mystery – including revealing different “killers”! This bold strategy, a first for a major Indian comedy, has significantly fueled audience curiosity. Fans are actively requesting “no spoilers” online, wanting to experience the surprise twists firsthand in theatres.
Box Office Bonanza and Record-Breaking Scale
- Opening Day Surge: The film’s unique dual-ending strategy and Akshay Kumar’s comedy comeback pull resulted in a robust Housefull 5 box office collection of ₹18.55 crore by 8 PM on Day 1.
- Advance Booking Powerhouse: Prior to release, Housefull 5 recorded the 4th best pre-sales for Bollywood in 2025, amassing a whopping ₹13.94 crore in advance bookings (including block seats). Housefull 5A led with approx. ₹5.67 crore from 1.76 lakh tickets, while 5B added ₹2.35 crore from 76k+ tickets.
- Regional Strength: Maharashtra led advance sales (₹2.95 crore), followed by Delhi NCR (₹2.34 crore), Gujarat (₹1.25 crore), and Karnataka (₹1.02 crore).
- Unprecedented Release: With a release across over 5,000 screens nationwide, Housefull 5 boasts the widest opening ever for an Indian comedy film and the widest in Akshay Kumar’s illustrious career.
- Massive Budget: Carrying a reported production Housefull 5 budget of ₹225 crore (excluding P&A), it stands as the most expensive Indian comedy ever made, revised down from an initial ₹350 crore estimate. This places it among Akshay’s costliest ventures like Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Sooryavanshi.
Early Buzz: Laughter, Chaos, and Paisa Vasool?
Early audience reactions flooding social media paint a picture of a quintessential Housefull experience:
- Fans are calling it a “mad combo,” a “total paisa-vasool entertainer,” and a “hilarious joyride.”
- The sheer star power, particularly the pairing of Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff, and Nana Patekar’s performance, are receiving significant praise (“Sanjay Dutt x Jackie Shroff is the duo we didn’t know we needed”).
- While full Housefull 5 reviews from critics are still emerging, the initial wave of audience Housefull 5 movie rating sentiment leans heavily towards fun and chaos delivered as promised.
Star Support and Behind-the-Scenes Glimpses
The release saw heartfelt support from industry families:
- Amitabh Bachchan cheered for son Abhishek, calling him a father’s pride and praising the fun BTS video of the song ‘Laal Pari’.
- Genelia D’Souza shared loving wishes for husband Riteish Deshmukh with a “houseful of wishes.”
- Stars like Soundarya Sharma shared unseen glimpses from the challenging 40-day cruise shoot, which even involved navigating a real storm – an experience Shreyas Talpade described as terrifying but bonding.
The Verdict: Setting Sail for Success?
Housefull 5 marks a significant moment for the franchise, reinventing itself with a high-stakes mystery plot, an unprecedented ensemble, and the daring dual-ending experiment. With a record-breaking wide release, a massive budget translating to lavish visuals, and a strong opening day showing, the film has set sail with immense momentum. The crucial factor now is whether the Housefull 5 brand of over-the-top humour and its innovative gimmick resonate strongly enough with audiences nationwide to sustain this box office voyage and potentially become the highest-grossing entry in the Housefull series, surpassing predecessors like Housefull 4. One thing’s certain: Bollywood’s comedy flagship is back, aiming to conquer the box office with sheer, unadulterated chaos.
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