The paid preview culture in Bollywood continues to gain momentum in 2026. After films like Dhurandhar The Revenge, Bhooth Bangla, and Welcome To The Jungle experimented successfully with early screenings, Huma Qureshi’s upcoming action thriller Baby Do Die Do has become the latest Bollywood release to embrace the growing trend.
Ahead of its official theatrical release on July 3, the makers of Baby Do Die Do have scheduled special paid preview screenings on July 2, allowing audiences to experience the film a day before its nationwide release.
‘Baby Do Die Do’ Opens Advance Bookings for Paid Previews
Moviegoers across several Indian cities were pleasantly surprised when advance bookings for Baby Do Die Do opened with show listings available on Thursday evening.
While the makers had not previously announced the paid preview strategy publicly, theatre chains have already started listing shows beginning from 7:00 PM on July 2. As of now, advance bookings have commenced in major cities including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Pune, with additional cities expected to join in the coming days.
The move reflects Bollywood’s increasing confidence in paid previews as a powerful tool to generate early audience reactions, boost word-of-mouth publicity, and strengthen opening weekend collections.
Paid Preview Strategy Gains Popularity in Bollywood
The paid preview model has emerged as one of Bollywood’s notable theatrical trends this year. Earlier, Dhurandhar The Revenge reportedly recorded impressive business through advance paid screenings, encouraging other filmmakers to adopt a similar release strategy.
Subsequently, Bhooth Bangla and Akshay Kumar’s Welcome To The Jungle also benefited from pre-release audience screenings, creating strong buzz before their official release dates.
Industry experts believe that paid previews help films build momentum organically by generating social media conversations, audience reviews, and increased excitement ahead of the opening weekend.
Huma Qureshi Plays India’s First ‘Desi Hitwoman’
Directed by Nachiket Samant, Baby Do Die Do presents a unique and intriguing storyline centered around what is being promoted as India’s first desi hitwoman.
The film stars Huma Qureshi in the lead role of a deaf and mute assassin, offering a character unlike anything previously seen in mainstream Bollywood action cinema. The combination of action, suspense, and a distinctive protagonist has already sparked curiosity among movie enthusiasts.
The project is jointly produced by Huma Qureshi and her brother Saqib Saleem under their production banner, Saleem Siblings.
With its unconventional premise and action-packed narrative, Baby Do Die Do aims to carve out a fresh identity in the evolving landscape of Indian cinema.
Hollywood’s ‘Minions & Monsters’ Also Adopts Paid Preview Model
Interestingly, Baby Do Die Do will not be the only film offering paid previews this week.
The Hollywood animated family entertainer Minions & Monsters is also scheduled to host advance screenings on July 2. However, unlike Baby Do Die Do, its paid preview shows will begin earlier in the day, starting at 4:00 PM, before its full-scale release on July 3.
The simultaneous use of paid previews by both Bollywood and Hollywood releases highlights the growing acceptance of this theatrical strategy among distributors and exhibitors.
Major Box Office Clash With Alia Bhatt’s ‘Alpha’
Adding further excitement to this week’s box office battle is the release of Alpha, the highly anticipated YRF Spy Universe action thriller starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari.
Interestingly, both Alpha and Baby Do Die Do revolve around powerful female assassins, creating an intriguing thematic clash at the ticket window. Produced by Yash Raj Films and directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha also features Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor in pivotal roles.
With two female-led action films arriving simultaneously and both targeting different audience segments, the first weekend of July promises to be one of the most exciting box office battles of the year.
Will Paid Previews Become Bollywood’s New Normal?
As more filmmakers embrace the strategy, paid previews are rapidly becoming an important part of Bollywood’s theatrical business model. Whether Baby Do Die Do can replicate the early success enjoyed by previous releases remains to be seen, but one thing is certain — the competition at the Indian box office is getting more interesting than ever. The source of this news is From Bollywood Hungama.