Dulquer Salmaan has responded to the criticism surrounding the box office performance of his latest Malayalam film I’m Game, saying that filmmaking is influenced by several factors and that he continues to stand by the team behind the project.
I’m Game, directed by Nahas Hidhayath, was released in theatres on September 3, 2026. The film marked Dulquer Salmaan’s return to Malayalam cinema in a leading role after his previous Malayalam lead release King of Kotha in 2023. He had also made a cameo appearance in the 2025 film Lokah Chapter One: Chandra.
The fantasy action thriller was produced by Dulquer Salmaan under his production banner Wayfarer Films. The cast includes Kayadu Lohar, Antony Varghese, Mysskin, Samyuktha Viswanathan, Kathir and Vinay Forrt, among others. The film was released in multiple languages and was one of the Malayalam titles that attracted attention during the 2026 Onam season.
However, I’m Game received a mixed response from critics and audiences after its theatrical release. Some viewers appreciated the film’s premise, performances and portions of its first half, while others felt that the narrative became predictable after the interval. Critics also pointed to issues involving the screenplay, pacing and the handling of its fantasy and action elements.
The film initially recorded a reasonable opening at the box office. According to early trade reports, I’m Game collected more than Rs 5 crore in India on its first day, with the Malayalam version contributing the largest share. However, the film struggled to maintain its initial momentum in the following days.
The commercial performance later became a subject of discussion among fans and industry observers. Reports published after the theatrical release described the movie as underperforming compared with expectations surrounding Dulquer Salmaan’s comeback to Malayalam cinema.
The discussion became more prominent after a fan posted a detailed analysis on X, raising questions about the production and release strategy of I’m Game and suggesting that Wayfarer Films had made mistakes in handling the project. The post was later taken down.
Dulquer responded to the discussion on October 7. Rather than completely dismissing the criticism, he said that he had read the analysis and acknowledged that many of the points raised were understandable. At the same time, he explained that the final result of a film cannot always be attributed to one person or one decision.
According to Dulquer, a film involves hundreds of people working across different areas, including production, direction, writing, technical departments, marketing and distribution. He pointed out that circumstances outside the control of a production team can also affect the final outcome of a movie.
Dulquer also defended Wayfarer Films and said that he would continue to stand by his team. He argued that it is easy to analyse a finished film after its release, but the process of making a movie is far more complicated.
His comments came in response to criticism directed at the production house. While the actor acknowledged that some of the fan’s observations were valid, he did not agree that the entire outcome could be explained through a simple assessment of the production decisions.
Dulquer further emphasised that no actor or production company enters a project with the intention of making mistakes. According to his comments, filmmaking involves numerous decisions, and not every decision produces the result that the makers originally expected.
The actor concluded his response by making it clear that he would take responsibility rather than shift blame to the people who worked with him. He said that he would stand by his team and suggested that anyone looking for someone to blame could blame him.
The statement has attracted attention because Dulquer is both the lead actor and producer of I’m Game. His decision to publicly defend the production team comes at a time when the film’s commercial performance has been widely discussed online.
The movie had considerable expectations before release because it marked Dulquer’s return to Malayalam cinema in a leading role. His previous Malayalam lead film, King of Kotha, had also received a mixed commercial response, making I’m Game an important release in his Malayalam career.
I’m Game follows a gambler whose life changes after he becomes caught in a series of unexpected events. The film combines action, crime, mystery, drama and fantasy elements. Dulquer plays the central character, while the supporting cast includes several well-known Malayalam actors.
One of the key talking points around the film has been its unusual premise. Initial audience reactions indicated that some viewers enjoyed the first half and the film’s concept, while criticism was directed towards the second half and its predictable elements.
The film’s box office journey also illustrates the difference between an opening and sustained theatrical performance. I’m Game began with a significant level of audience interest, but reports later indicated a sharp decline in daily collections. This contributed to discussions about whether the movie had managed to convert its initial curiosity into sustained theatrical business.
Despite the commercial disappointment, Dulquer’s latest comments suggest that he is not distancing himself from the project. Instead, he has chosen to defend the people who worked on the film and accept responsibility for his role in the project.
His response also highlights the broader challenges of filmmaking. A movie’s performance can depend on audience reception, reviews, release timing, competition, marketing, distribution and several other factors. While these factors do not remove responsibility from filmmakers, they demonstrate why a film’s outcome can be difficult to attribute to a single decision.
For Dulquer Salmaan, I’m Game remains an important release because it represents his attempt to reconnect with Malayalam audiences in a leading role. The film may not have achieved the commercial expectations surrounding it, but the actor’s latest statement indicates that he intends to learn from the experience rather than publicly blame individual members of his team.
The response also adds another dimension to the ongoing conversation about I’m Game. Instead of focusing only on the film’s box office numbers, Dulquer has highlighted the collective effort involved in making a feature film and the uncertainty that comes with releasing it before an audience.
At present, the discussion surrounding I’m Game continues to centre on its mixed reception, commercial performance and the decisions made during its production and release. Dulquer’s comments provide his perspective on the situation while making it clear that he remains supportive of the people who worked on the film.
