Dulquer Salmaan’s 'I’m Game' Chases Down Prithviraj Sukumaran’s 'Khalifa' Record

Dulquer Salmaan's Malayalam fantasy action thriller "I'm Game" maintained a steady run at the box office over its opening weekend, with its Day 4 India net collection nearing a figure that would put it within striking distance of matching Prithviraj Sukumaran's "Khalifa" over its entire theatrical run. According to trade tracker Sacnilk, "I'm Game" collected approximately ₹4.35 crore in India net on Sunday, September 6, taking its four-day India net total to around ₹19 crore, with a worldwide gross of ₹39.70 crore.

"I'm Game" marked Dulquer Salmaan's much-anticipated return to Malayalam cinema after a period away from the industry. The film was originally scheduled for an Onam release but was postponed, eventually hitting theatres on September 3. It opened to mixed reviews from critics but recorded a decent opening day collection of ₹5.40 crore, before dipping to ₹4.90 crore on its second day. The film then held relatively steady over the weekend, earning ₹4.35 crore on both Saturday and Sunday, suggesting the film has found a consistent audience base despite the initial mixed critical reception.

By comparison, "Khalifa," Prithviraj Sukumaran's Onam release directed by Vysakh, wrapped its entire theatrical run with a total India net collection of approximately ₹20.48 crore and a worldwide gross of around ₹43.60 crore after 14 days in cinemas. "I'm Game," having reached nearly ₹19 crore in India net after just four days, is now only around ₹1.5 to ₹2 crore short of matching what "Khalifa" ultimately earned domestically over its full run — a notable benchmark given that "Khalifa" had itself opened strongly before fading amid lukewarm word-of-mouth and stiff competition from Nivin Pauly's "Bethlehem Kudumba Unit" during the Onam season.

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"Khalifa," an action crime thriller centered on a gold-smuggling kingpin, had opened with ₹5.35 crore net in India on its first day — the second-biggest opening of Prithviraj's career at the time — before a steep decline saw it drop significantly over its opening weekend. The film, which also featured a cameo from Mohanlal, ultimately settled as one of the mid-tier grossers of the Mollywood 2026 season, finishing behind bigger hits released around the same period. Directed by Nahas Hidhayath, "I'm Game" follows a gambler whose reliance on luck draws him into a series of unexpected and escalating situations.

The film features Dulquer Salmaan alongside Antony Varghese, Mysskin, Kayadu Lohar, Samyuktha Viswanathan, Kathir, Vinay Forrt and Parth Tiwari, with music composed by Jakes Bejoy and cinematography handled jointly by Jimshi Khalid and Jomon T. John. The film is produced by Dulquer Salmaan and Jom Varghese under their home banner, Wayfarer Films. As "I'm Game" enters its first full week in theatres, industry watchers will be closely tracking its Monday performance to gauge how much of its opening-weekend momentum it can carry into weekday collections — a stretch that will prove crucial in determining whether the film can not only surpass "Khalifa's" full lifetime collection but also establish itself among the more successful Malayalam releases of the year.

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