Operation Valentine, an aerial action thriller film starring Varun Tej and Manushi Chhillar, was released on March 1, 2024. Directed by Shakti Pratap Singh Hada, the film is inspired by the 2019 Pulwama terrorist attack and the Balakot air strikes. Varun Tej delivers a strong performance as IAF Wing Commander Arjun Dev, while Manushi Chhillar impresses in her Telugu film debut. The film showcases riveting aerial battle sequences in the second half, evoking a sense of patriotism. However, some sequences fall flat and fail to captivate the audience. Director Shakti Pratap Singh Hada could have improved the film with a stronger story and a better-written script. Overall, Operation Valentine is a pleasant watch, although it may not resonate with all viewers.
Despite the mixed reviews, Operation Valentine has performed poorly at the box office. The film earned Rs 6 crore in India during its first weekend, with the Hindi version having almost nonexistent collections. Other films released on the same day, such as 'Chaari 111' and 'Bhootaddam Bhaskar Narayana', also had minimal box office earnings. Overall, it was a dull weekend at the box office. The poor performance of Operation Valentine is predicted to continue, with the film facing significant losses on Day 4 and in the coming days. Directed by Siddharth Rajkumar and produced by Vedantam Chauhan, the film stars Varun Tej, Manushi Chhillar, Ruhani Sharma, and Shakti Pratap Singh Hada. [5fbdc2f0]