When Ayushmann Khurrana first took on the unconventional role of Pooja in "Dream Girl" back in 2019, little did anyone know that the film would become a sensation, grossing over Rs 200 crore worldwide and becoming one of the defining hits of Khurrana's career. The remarkable success naturally led to discussions of a sequel, promising more laughter and entertainment. However, the global upheaval caused by the Covid-19 pandemic put these plans on hold, leaving fans eagerly waiting for the continuation of Pooja's story. Now, after much anticipation, "Dream Girl 2" is finally making its way to the screens.

The makers of the film have left no stone unturned in building anticipation through well-executed promotional campaigns. Yet, despite the fervor surrounding the sequel, the film seems to have taken a slower start at the advance booking counters. According to Sacnilk, the pre-release ticket sales have amounted to approximately 18,500 tickets, a figure that may not be staggering given the immense popularity of its predecessor. However, industry insiders remain optimistic, expecting the numbers to surge as the release date inches closer. At this point, the majority of the tickets have been snatched up in major metropolitan areas such as Mumbai and Delhi NCR, followed by Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Competing with other eagerly awaited releases, "Dream Girl 2" faces the challenge of standing out amidst stiff competition. Movies like Sunny Deol’s "Gadar 2" and Akshay Kumar-Pankaj Tripathi’s "OMG 2" have already captured the audience's attention. While "OMG 2" experienced a dip in its second week, the holiday weekend could potentially breathe new life into ticket sales for all competing films. This clash of cinematic offerings will undoubtedly provide a tough battleground for "Dream Girl 2" to showcase its worth.

In a recent interview with ETimes, Ayushmann Khurrana expressed his confidence in "Dream Girl 2," referring to it as a secure franchise. He noted that the decision to move forward with the sequel was based on the organic development of a compelling storyline that could match the benchmark set by the first installment. Working closely with Ekta Kapoor and Raj Shaandilyaa, Ayushmann emphasized that they were determined not to rush into the sequel until they were certain of its quality and comedic brilliance. He reassured fans that the sequel promises even more humor and entertainment, building on the foundation of its predecessor.

"Dream Girl 2" not only continues Ayushmann Khurrana's unique journey in portraying a character of the opposite gender, but it also offers a fresh take on the much-loved universe that was established in the first film. As the film's release date of August 25 approaches, fans and critics alike eagerly await the unfolding of this next chapter. Despite a relatively slow start at the ticket counters, the film's charm and Ayushmann's impeccable comedic timing are likely to win hearts once again, proving that sometimes, even slow beginnings can lead to phenomenal outcomes.