Ayan Mukerji’s sophomore film is the kind of cult classic that you cancel plans for so you can watch it one more time with your friends at a PVR-INOX or Cinepolis over ridiculously overpriced cola and popcorn.
Even if you have streamed it countless times over the last decade and remember most of its dialogues word for word, the joy of dancing to Badtameez Dil, Balam Pichkari, Dilliwaali Girlfriend, or even Ghagra step for step in a dark theatre equipped with Dolby sound is unmatched.
With the phenomenon of re-releasing beloved films picking up like wildfire last year, it was only a matter of time that Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani made it back to theatres. Such is its enduring popularity that the video invite that Kalki Koechlin shared on her Instagram asking everyone to attend the “reunion” of the OG millennial gang has got 22.2 million views, 1.7 million likes, and 29,400 comments within two days.
The Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone starrer continues to rule hearts even after over 11 years, so much so that the film sold more than 25,000 tickets in advance booking. It had a limited re-release with 750+ shows on January 3. But the demand was heartening that the number was more than doubled on the second day with 1,600 shows playing across the country on Saturday, according to film trade website Sacnilk.
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani was an undisputed winner when it first released in the summer of 2013, minting a whopping ₹319 crore (worldwide gross). It was the fourth-highest grossing film of that year after Dhoom 3, Chennai Express, and Krrish 3. The Dharma blockbuster continues to be a winner even today. As per Sacnilk, the romantic-dramedy earned an impressive ₹3.6 crore (net) in India in the first two days of its re-release. If it continues to ride high on the nostalgia wave, YJHD is likely to make north of ₹6 crore in its opening re-release weekend.
What is it about this film that speaks to countless millennials in the way only a few chosen films can? The beauty of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is that for most people of my generation, it is that one film that made us feel seen, packing in the chaos, confusion, choices, and concerns that defined our 20s. It tapped into the core of every young urban Indian, giving us a coming-of-age story that dabbled with everything we cared for or were struggling with—friendship, travel, hustle, dr