September 12 is shaping up to be a blockbuster showdown. Mirai, the much-awaited Japanese anime film, Love in Vietnam, the quirky rom-com Mannu Kya Karega, Heer Express, and the Gen Z favourite Demon Slayer are all set to clash. Add the mega-hyped Bengal Files a week earlier on September 5, and it’s clear that the theatres will be flooded with crowd-pullers. But sneaking into this line-up is Ek Chatur Naar, a film that audiences neither demanded nor are remotely excited about. In fact, its presence in this release slot feels more like a bad joke than a serious contender.
The silence around the film is deafening. Unlike its competition, Ek Chatur Naar has failed to create even a ripple of interest. Look for promotional campaigns, trending hashtags, or fan excitement — you’ll find none. On social media, people are openly mocking its timing. One user wrote, “Is this a film or an elaborate prank? Who even knew this was releasing?” Another quipped, “By the time we buy tickets for Bengal Files and Demon Slayer, this one will be collecting dust.”
Divya Khosla, who headlines the film, is once again at the centre of criticism. From producing to directing, music videos to acting, her career has been a constant attempt to gain legitimacy. But after the flop response to her debut Saavi, her return with Ek Chatur Naar is being slammed as nothing more than forced relevance. Trolls have been brutal: “Stop trying to make Divya Khosla happen, it’s not going to happen.” Another wrote, “Every time Divya pushes a film, Bollywood takes two steps back.”
Neil Nitin Mukesh, once respected for powerful roles, is also facing heat for his script sense. His choice to star in a film that looks dead on arrival has baffled fans. Comments like, “Neil, blink twice if you need better scripts,” and “Why ruin your legacy with this circus?” reflect the mood online. Many argue that his presence won’t help the film’s fate, especially when heavyweights like Bengal Files are already dominating conversations.
Trade experts predict grim numbers: Ek Chatur Naar may not even crawl past an opening of ₹20-30 lakhs. Compare this with Bengal Files, which already has audiences hyped and theatres preparing for a rush, and the contrast is embarrassing. Netizens have made the comparison sharper, with memes floating around like, “Bengal Files will break records, Ek Chatur Naar won’t even break even.”
At the end of the day, when audiences recall September’s big releases, they’ll talk about Bengal Files, Mirai, and Demon Slayer. Ek Chatur Naar will be remembered only as that awkward, unnecessary release that nobody cared for. If anything, it proves one thing — not every film deserves a stage, and certainly not when it’s set up to be trampled. Ek Chatur Naar isn’t just releasing, it’s arriving DOA — Dead on Arrival.