The opening of Selfie has been surprisingly low, raising alarm bells, particularly as the low first day numbers circulate.
The film was never expected to attract a large audience due to its artificial and parody-like nature.
From the trailer, the public becomes aware that the protagonist is playing a movie hero, so the songs and action are not integral to the story, leading to the film's downfall with mass audiences.
The only reason some audience members may have come is due to Akshay Kumar's presence. However, when a film fails to do justice to a star's presence, that star's value is insignificant.
The numbers are shocking for an Akshay Kumar starrer, and it is unlikely that any of his films have received such a response since he became a star in 1994, excluding long-delayed films that had a formal release.
Today, the fact is that when a subject is not worthy of a star, that star holds little value at the box office, especially for bigger stars like Akshay Kumar. Films with stars must have mass appeal.
In reality, the film should have gone straight to digital, but due to the downturn in streaming revenue, a theatrical release first is more profitable. A better title and music might have helped the film, but with such a low opening, it does not really matter.
The only thing that could have helped is if the film had been made and released before the pandemic.