After the eight-month shutdown, it was time for the first day, first show across cinemas in Mumbai. On Sunday, theatres lifted the curtain with the Diwali release, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari. As per early estimates, the Manoj Bajpayee, Diljit Dosanjh and Fatima Sana Shaikh-starrer recorded an average occupancy of 10 per cent. The permissible occupancy has been set at 50 per cent by the state government.

The stark difference can be noticed when compared to the box-office figures of last year's Diwali releases, Housefull 4, Saand Ki Aankh and Made in China. The three films had amassed Rs 62.47 crore over the opening weekend, with the Akshay Kumar comedy leading from the front. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says, "We can't expect numbers to pour in overnight. The industry was shut for such a long time. It's almost like being in the ICU; this is the healing phase before the industry starts running again. Moreover, one must consider that when survival is under threat, entertainment won't be high on people's priority list."