Vishwanath and Sons Opening Weekend Box Office: Grosses ₹110 Cr worldwide to become 2026's 3rd highest Tamil opener as director Venky Atluri scores a ₹100 Cr hat-trick

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Yash has finally cleared the air regarding the multiple release date shifts for his upcoming action drama, Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups. During a recent promotional interaction, the actor addressed the intense speculation surrounding his decision to move away from a potential box office battle with Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar 2. Rather than viewing the move as a retreat, Yash explained that the decision was rooted in a commitment to his craft and a sense of self-respect for the final product he intends to deliver to his fans. When asked about the rumors of avoiding a clash out of fear, Yash was quite direct in his response. He stated that he has never intentionally entered into a clash. Addressing on that he said , he typically announces his release date first, and if another film chooses the same slot afterward, it is the other party creating the collision. He further remarked that he has nothing in life that he is afraid of losing, so he carries no fear. Regarding the potential loss of ₹200 crore at the ticket window, he noted that moving the film was a matter of self-respect rather than an ego trip to protect a superstar image by forcing a competition for the sake of it. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The actor also touched upon his humble beginnings to provide context for his perspective on financial risks. He laughed off claims of being scared of monetary losses, pointing out that everything he has achieved today feels like a bonus. For him, prioritizing the quality of the movie over a forced release date was more important than protecting a perceived status in the industry. He emphasized that the film simply was not fully ready for the fans yet, and pushing it back allowed the team to perfectly polish the final cut. The production journey for Toxic has seen several adjustments over the last year. Initially, the gangster drama was slated for April 10, 2025, but faced standard production and shooting delays. It was later moved to March 19, 2026, which put it directly against Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge. After deferring that date, a brief June window was considered but eventually dropped due to international logistics and distribution challenges. The team has now firmly locked August 26, 2026, as the final release date, strategically coinciding with the festive period of Onam, Varamahalakshmi, and Raksha Bandhan. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film boasts an expansive ensemble cast featuring Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, and Huma Qureshi. In a move to capture a global audience, the movie has been filmed simultaneously in English and Kannada and will be released in dubbed versions across Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam. Jointly produced by KVN Productions and Yash's own Monster Mind Creations, the project remains one of the most anticipated releases of 2026. By choosing a Wednesday release on August 26, the makers are looking to capitalize on a major holiday window featuring Onam, Varamahalakshmi, and Raksha Bandhan. Following the trailer launch on August 8 in Bengaluru—a date marking exactly two years since the film began production—the conversation has successfully moved past release date rumors and is now focused on the cinematic world the team has created.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 17 - Emraan Hashmi has locked his next big-screen outing after the latest blockbuster Awarapan 2. The actor will headline Gunmaaster G9, an action entertainer directed by Aditya Datt, with the makers officially announcing November 27, 2026 as the worldwide theatrical release date. The film brings together Emraan, Aditya and music composer Himesh Reshammiya once again, nearly two decades after their earlier collaborations. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Gunmaaster G9 stars Emraan Hashmi, Genelia Deshmukh and Aparshakti Khurana in key roles. The film is being produced by Deepak Mukut, Sangeeta Ahir and Hunar Mukut and presented by Soham Rockstar Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. With action at its core, the project is expected to showcase Emraan in another action-oriented avatar following his return to the spotlight with Awarapan 2. The reunion of Emraan Hashmi, Aditya Datt and Himesh Reshammiya is one of the major talking points surrounding the project. The trio previously collaborated during the peak of Emraan's career in the 2000s, making their return together particularly interesting for audiences who remember their successful musical-action collaborations. Himesh will once again be responsible for the music, adding a strong nostalgic element to the new film. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film also marks another collaboration between Soham Rockstar Entertainment and Himesh Reshammiya after the musical successes of Sanam Teri Kasam and Genius. While Sanam Teri Kasam has developed a strong cult following over the years, its recent theatrical re-release also demonstrated the enduring popularity of its music among audiences. For Emraan Hashmi, Gunmaaster G9 comes at an interesting point in his career. Following Awarapan 2, which is currently playing in theatres with a blockbuster collection, the actor is continuing to explore action-driven projects, and the November release gives the film an important theatrical window toward the end of the year. With Genelia Deshmukh and Aparshakti Khurana joining him, the makers are looking to package the film as a commercial action entertainer. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) #GunmaasterG9 is locked, loaded and ready to fire up the big screen on 27th November. And this time, it’s not just bullets firing. It’s romance, music and action coming to steal your heart.#G9 #GunmaasterProduced by @DeepakMukut #HunarMukut @sangeetaahirPresented by… pic.twitter.com/PDS3of8H6Z— Emraan Hashmi (@emraanhashmi) August 17, 2026

BY CHRISTA LINCY

DC (Tamil) is showing impressive resilience as it completes its second weekend at the box office. For a project led by a debutant actor, the ability to maintain a consistent audience volume after the initial hype is a significant indicator of success. The collaboration between director Arun Matheswaran and Lokesh Kanagaraj has clearly resonated with the public, helping the film cross the 50 crore net milestone in India. When you look at the audience trajectory, it is evident that the film is not just relying on its opening momentum but is benefiting from steady word of mouth across the southern circuits. The strength of this hold is best reflected in the tracked footfall data for the Tamil version. During the first weekend, the film recorded approximately 588,000 tracked footfalls, excluding blocked seats. It is quite rare for a newcomer's film to retain such a large portion of its audience, but the second weekend saw a very healthy 408,000 tracked footfalls on the same basis. Retaining nearly 70 percent of the opening weekend audience volume during the second weekend confirms that the movie has successfully transitioned from a curiosity-driven start to a sustained run. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) As of its tenth day, DC (Tamil) has achieved a worldwide gross collection of ₹84.31 Cr. The domestic market has contributed ₹63.06 Cr to this total, while overseas territories have added ₹21.25 Cr. The film officially crossed the ₹50 Cr net milestone in India during this period, reaching a cumulative net of ₹54.76 Cr. This is a commendable feat, particularly given the competitive landscape of August releases. The movie has successfully maintained a high show volume, running across 36,688 shows globally so far. The second weekend started with a quiet Friday but saw an explosive growth of over 92 percent on Saturday. This surge was expected given the national holiday, but the Sunday performance confirmed that the film has genuine legs at the box office. Let us look at the day-wise net collections for the second weekend. DC (Tamil) - 2nd Weekend India Gross CollectionDayGross CollectionDay 8 (Friday)₹ 3.29 CrDay 9 (Saturday)₹ 6.38 CrDay 10 (Sunday)₹ 5.21 CrTotal (2nd Weekend)₹ 14.88 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) One of the most surprising aspects of this box office run is the regional contribution. It is quite rare for a film led by a newcomer to witness nearly identical collection figures across three major southern states. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana (APTG) regions have all contributed close numbers, suggesting that director Arun Matheswaran’s gritty storytelling has bypassed traditional regional barriers. Specifically, the total gross from Tamil Nadu stands at ₹19.18 Cr, while Kerala and APTG followed very closely with ₹16.03 Cr and ₹16.75 Cr respectively. This level of parity is a strong indicator of the film's universal appeal in the southern circuits. In terms of theater metrics, Sunday saw the film running with 2,216 shows across India. Occupancy levels remained healthy, particularly in the Tamil version, which recorded an overall turnout of 60.51 percent on Sunday. Key cities like Chennai led with 67.8 percent occupancy, followed by Bengaluru at 59 percent and Kochi at 57.5 percent. The Telugu dubbed version also saw decent traction in centers like Hyderabad and Vijayawada, maintaining an overall occupancy of roughly 33.6 percent on its tenth day. • Tamil Nadu Gross: ₹ 19.18 Cr • APTG Gross: ₹ 16.75 Cr • Kerala Gross: ₹ 16.03 Cr • Karnataka Gross: ₹ 7.74 Cr • Rest of India Gross: ₹ 3.36 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The performance over the second weekend highlights how the film has successfully maintained its reach across different linguistic markets. The weekend started on Friday with a net collection of 2.86 Cr across 2,062 shows, maintaining an average occupancy of 32.1 percent. Saturday witnessed a massive surge, coinciding with the Independence Day holiday, where collections jumped to 5.50 Cr. On this peak day, the show count increased to 2,154 and occupancy hit a weekend high of 50.1 percent, with the Tamil version alone contributing over 4 Cr to the daily net. The momentum continued into Sunday with 2,216 shows, the highest count for the weekend. The film added another 4.50 Cr to its total with an average occupancy of 42.2 percent. Looking at the linguistic split, the Tamil version remained the primary driver, contributing a cumulative 9.40 Cr over these three days. However, the Telugu dubbed version showed remarkable stability, adding 3.40 Cr to the weekend total. Even the Hindi version saw minor activity across its limited shows. This collective effort brought the three-day weekend total to 12.86 Cr, ensuring the film remains on a firm footing as it enters its second full week. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) When looking at the total India net collections so far, the Tamil version remains the primary contributor with a total of ₹38.00 Cr. The Telugu dubbed version has also shown impressive strength for a debutant-led project, reaching a cumulative net of ₹14.35 Cr. The Hindi version currently stands at a total net of ₹2.41 Cr. These figures bring the overall India net collection to ₹54.76 Cr, confirming that while the film is rooted in Tamil cinema, it has managed to find a receptive and consistent audience in the Telugu-speaking regions as well. In the national multiplex chains, the film saw consistent activity through its second weekend. On Sunday alone, chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis sold roughly 27,000 tickets, generating a gross of about ₹56 Lakh. PVR led this segment by moving approximately 17,500 tickets with an occupancy rate of nearly 40 percent. INOX and Cinepolis contributed another 7,000 and 2,500 tickets respectively. This stable performance in the premium chains, especially after the holiday surge on Saturday, suggests that the urban audience is continuing to support the film as it heads into its next set of weekdays.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Vishwanath and Sons has reached the ₹110.22 Cr worldwide gross mark in just three days, making it the fastest film in Suriya's career to enter the 100 crore club. While the domestic market provided a strong foundation, the rapid pace of this achievement was significantly aided by the response from international audiences. This global momentum has ensured that the film remains one of the most talked-to releases of the season. The international market accounted for nearly 39 percent of the total worldwide earnings, with an overseas gross of approximately ₹43.00 Cr. This level of contribution shows that the film has established a wide reach outside of India. From a business perspective, the opening day performance alone has already secured a significant portion of the overseas breakeven target, giving the project a very productive start in foreign territories. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) North America has emerged as a key region for this release, with the premiere and opening day numbers setting a strong pace at $676,000. It is worth noting the linguistic split here, as the Telugu version contributed $436,000 while the Tamil version brought in $240,000. This multi-market appeal reflects the director's ability to connect with diverse audience segments effectively. By the end of Saturday, the total in this region had already climbed to $1.24 million, with many locations reporting high occupancy levels. The momentum is expected to carry through the weekend, with trade analyst Venky projecting a Sunday gross of around $350,000 in North America. If these numbers hold, the regional total will rise to approximately $1.59 million by the end of the opening weekend. This consistent performance in the U.S. and Canada has significantly bolstered the overall international numbers. On Sunday alone, the film grossed another ₹10.00 Cr across all overseas markets, pushing the cumulative international total to ₹43.00 Cr. This strong support from the diaspora has been a major factor in driving the film’s global collections past the hundred-crore mark so quickly. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The momentum did not slow down as the weekend progressed, with Sunday projections showing that the film has comfortably crossed the $1.5 million mark in the North American region alone. Given that the breakeven target for this territory is set at $1.8 million, the movie is already within striking distance of becoming a profitable venture. This surge has allowed Vishwanath and Sons to achieve a major career milestone for Suriya, as it officially surpasses the long-standing record held by his previous film, 24. It is now the highest career grosser for the actor in this region, a feat that highlights how his international fanbase has evolved over the period of just 2 films. This success cements a hat-trick for director Venky Atluri, who has now delivered three consecutive hundred-crore grossers. Vishwanath and Sons has also become his career-best performer in the overseas market, earning ₹43 crore in its opening weekend. This figure significantly surpasses his previous international records, such as Lucky Baskhar, which earned ₹27.10 Cr, and Vaathi, which brought in ₹25.00 Cr. With these strong international numbers providing a solid base, the film is well-positioned as it targets the ₹200 Cr worldwide mark. It remains to be seen how this global momentum will sustain as the movie moves into its first full week of screening.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 16 - Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures' Spider-Man: Brand New Day has created history at the worldwide box office. The Tom Holland-led blockbuster has crossed the $2 billion mark globally, becoming the first Spider-Man movie in history to achieve the milestone. The film's extraordinary theatrical run has now taken it into one of the most exclusive clubs in cinema history. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The achievement is even more remarkable considering the speed at which Brand New Day has reached the milestone. The film has crossed $2 billion in just 20 days, making it the second-fastest movie ever to reach the $2 billion mark, behind only Avengers: Endgame, which achieved the feat in 11 days. Ne Zha 2 took 33 days, while Avatar: The Way of Water needed 39 days and Avatar took 47 days. The milestone represents a phenomenal turnaround for the Spider-Man franchise. Spider-Man: No Way Home previously stood as the highest-grossing Spider-Man film worldwide, finishing its theatrical run at around $1.92 billion. Brand New Day has now comfortably surpassed that figure by the third Sunday and has established a new franchise benchmark. It had already become one of the biggest theatrical successes of 2026 after crossing $1 billion worldwide in just six days. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's journey to $2 billion has been powered by an extraordinary opening and strong legs across domestic and international markets. Brand New Day opened to around $941.8 million worldwide, including a record-breaking $360 million domestic (North America) opening weekend, before continuing its momentum through subsequent weeks. With the $2 billion milestone now achieved, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has become only the 8th movie in the world to do so and has officially joined the most elite group in box-office history. More importantly, it becomes the first Spider-Man film to cross $2 billion worldwide, giving Tom Holland's superhero film a record that previous franchise entries could not achieve. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Films That Crossed $2 Billion Worldwide S. No. Movie Release Year Worldwide Gross Days To $2B 1 Avatar 2009 $ 2.92 Billion 47 Days 2 Avengers: Endgame 2019 $ 2.80 Billion 11 Days 3 Avatar: The Way of Water 2022 $ 2.33 Billion 39 Days 4 Titanic 1997 $ 2.26 Billion — 5 Ne Zha 2 2025 $ 2.20 Billion 33 Days 6 Star Wars: The Force Awakens 2015 $ 2.07 Billion 53 Days 7 Avengers: Infinity War 2018 $ 2.05 Billion 48 Days 8 Spider-Man: Brand New Day 2026 $ 2.02+ Billion 20 Days As of August 16, 2026.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Vishwanath and Sons has hit the theaters with the kind of momentum that only a well-oiled cinematic machine can produce. Director Venky Atluri seems to have found a foolproof formula for success, officially scoring a hat-trick of ₹100 Crore grossers following the acclaim of Vaathi and Lucky Baskhar. The film arrives at a perfect time for the lead star, who is successfully carrying forward the winning streak established by his previous hit, Karuppu. If you have been watching the screens this weekend, the energy in the theaters makes it clear that this family drama has connected deeply with the audience across the southern states. The opening weekend has been nothing short of prolific, with the film achieving a worldwide gross collection of ₹110.22 Cr within its first three days. The domestic market has been the primary engine of this growth, contributing ₹67.22 Cr in gross collections. What is equally impressive is the international reception, where the film has already grossed ₹43.00 Cr. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The journey started on Friday with a solid India gross of ₹17.74 Cr across 5,034 shows. While the opening was strong, the real magic happened on Saturday. Coinciding with the Independence Day holiday, the film witnessed a massive 45 percent growth, pushing the day two gross to ₹25.72 Cr. This surge was reflected in the occupancy rates, which jumped from an average of 42.2 percent on Friday to a staggering 59.0 percent on Saturday. Even on Sunday, the film held its ground with a gross of ₹23.75 Cr, showing only a minor 7.6 percent dip from the holiday peak. This kind of stability suggests that the word of mouth is exceptionally positive. When we look at the regional performance, the film has shown incredible strength in its home territory and the neighboring Telugu states. Chennai and Coimbatore have been the standout performers in Tamil Nadu, with Chennai recording a peak occupancy of 84 percent on Saturday. Similarly, the Telugu market has embraced the film wholeheartedly, contributing significantly to the overall domestic numbers. Here is a detailed look at the state-wise gross collections over the opening weekend: • Tamil Nadu: ₹27.50 Cr • APTG (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana): ₹26.00 Cr • Karnataka: ₹7.95 Cr • Kerala: ₹4.75 Cr • Rest of India: ₹1.02 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Beyond the monetary figures, the sheer volume of people heading to the theaters tells the real story of the film's success. Vishwanath and Sons recorded over 2.03 million footfalls across the South within its first three days, and it is important to note that these are actual tracked footfalls calculated without including blocked seats. Specifically, the Tamil version drew in approximately 1.13 million viewers, while the Telugu version followed closely with over 905,000 attendees. This performance, measured strictly without BlockSeats, brings it incredibly close to the massive benchmark set by the star's previous hit, Karuppu, which had recorded 2.21 million footfalls on the same basis in its opening weekend. When a film manages to match nearly 92 percent of the audience volume of a previous career-best, it is a clear sign that the actor's popularity is staying at a peak level rather than just benefiting from a one-off hit. Looking at the specific performance in the Tamil language market, the film has secured a strong position among the top earners of 2026. Its opening weekend net collection in Tamil is currently the third highest of the year, trailing only behind the actor's previous blockbuster and the top opener of the season. Top Tamil Opening Weekend Net Collections (2026)Movie1st Weekend Net (Tamil)Jana Nayagan₹ 70.05 CrKaruppu₹ 57.70 CrVishwanath and Sons₹ 34.45 CrParasakthi₹ 27.60 CrLIK: Love Insurance Kompany₹ 18.20 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The digital footprint of Vishwanath and Sons on BookMyShow is quite impressive when you look at the context of the rankings. The film recorded a total of 1.57 million tickets sold over its first three days. While it currently sits at the 10th spot on the all-time list for Tamil cinema's opening weekends.Blockbusters like Leo, Jailer, Coolie, and JanaNayagan, which occupy the top spots, all benefited from extended 4-day holiday weekends. For Vishwanath and Sons to achieve this volume in just a standard 3-day window shows a high level of audience density. It is also a testament to the star's consistency, as the ticket volume is trending similarly to his previous blockbuster, Karuppu, which had secured the 8th spot with nearly 2 million tickets in a 3-day run. National multiplex chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis were a major driving force, accounting for over 319,000 tickets across the weekend. On Saturday, coinciding with Independence Day, these chains recorded a peak of approximately 119,000 tickets with a strong occupancy of over 55 percent. PVR led the charge with roughly 67,000 tickets, while INOX and Cinepolis contributed around 35,000 and 17,000 tickets respectively. The momentum remained very steady on Sunday, with national chains moving another 117,000 tickets. PVR continued its dominance with 64,000 bookings, followed by 36,000 at INOX and 18,000 at Cinepolis. Seeing the occupancy hold firm at nearly 49 percent even after the holiday peak indicates that the film has successfully captured the high-end urban audience, which is critical for its long-term sustain. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking ahead, the path seems clear for Vishwanath and Sons to join the prestigious ₹200 Crore club. Reaching this milestone will be crucial for the film to achieve its breakeven point . Given the current trajectory and the lack of major competition in the coming week, the film has a very high chance of maintaining its steady pace. Venky Atluri has once again proven that soulful storytelling combined with star power is a winning combination at the box office.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Batwara 1947 arrived in theaters during a high-stakes holiday weekend, but it quickly became clear that the film was struggling to find its footing against the Awarapan 2 wave. While the clash was expected to be competitive, the Emraan Hashmi-led sequel dominated the multiplexes from the opening show, leaving little room for Sunny Deol's latest period drama to breathe. For many younger viewers, this was supposed to be a re-introduction to the man who defined patriotic cinema with Gadar, yet the market data shows that the audience preference leaned heavily toward the urban thrill of its competitor. Even with a significant holiday boost on Saturday, the film could not escape the shadow of the weekend's primary blockbuster, resulting in an opening that feels underwhelming when compared to the record-breaking numbers seen elsewhere. The film concluded its opening weekend with an India net collection of ₹26.50 Cr, which highlights the struggle it faced in a crowded market. Even with the star power involved, these domestic net earnings place the movie as the 10th highest-grossing Bollywood opening weekend of 2026. When compared to the massive benchmarks set by Sunny Deol's recent hits like Border 2, it is evident that this release is performing on a significantly smaller scale, failing to draw the same volume of audiences across the country. 1. Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge - ₹290.94 Cr 2. Border 2 - ₹121.00 Cr 3. Awarapan 2 - ₹81.75 Cr 4. Dhamaal 4 - ₹65.00 Cr 5. Welcome To The Jungle (Welcome 3) - ₹60.00 Cr 6. Bhooth Bangla - ₹54.25 Cr 7. Cocktail 2 - ₹47.50 Cr 8. Alpha - ₹34.00 Cr 9. O Romeo - ₹30.15 Cr 10. Batwara 1947 - ₹26.50 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Take a look at the daily net earnings within the Indian market. The trend shows a very distinct spike on Saturday followed by a sharp correction on Sunday. Batwara 1947 - India Net Collection (Opening Weekend)DayNet CollectionDay 1 (Friday)₹ 5.75 CrDay 2 (Saturday)₹ 13.50 CrDay 3 (Sunday)₹ 7.25 CrTotal₹ 26.50 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The gap between the weekend's two major releases was evident from the very first show. While Awarapan 2 enjoyed a much stronger start in terms of occupancy, Batwara 1947 faced a relatively quiet opening day despite having a similar volume of shows. On Friday, the film ran across 8,721 shows but could only manage an overall occupancy of 15.0 percent. In major circuits like the National Capital Region, it started with 829 shows and an 18.3 percent turnout, while Mumbai saw a modest 12.5 percent occupancy on 644 shows. It was clear that the initial audience preference was leaning toward its competitor, leaving the patriotic drama to rely on the big holiday ahead. The real turning point came on Saturday. While Awarapan 2 was busy adding shows to accommodate its massive demand, Batwara 1947 actually saw its show count dip to 8,071 as screens were realigned. However, the Independence Day holiday acted as a massive catalyst. Despite having fewer shows, the net collection surged by an incredible 134.8 percent to reach ₹13.50 Cr. The overall occupancy more than doubled to 34.0 percent during this peak. This surge was most visible in the National Capital Region, where occupancy jumped to 44.5 percent, and in Ahmedabad, where it rose to nearly 23 percent. This holiday boost was exactly what the film needed to offset its slow start and remain relevant in a very competitive weekend. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The difference in audience pull becomes even more apparent when we look at the tracked footfall data, which measures the actual number of tickets sold without accounting for blocked seats. Batwara 1947 managed to record approximately 1.05 million footfalls across the country over its first three days. While this is a respectable figure in isolation, it was heavily overshadowed by Awarapan 2, which drew in nearly 2.80 million viewers in the same period. This stark contrast in footfalls confirms that despite Sunny Deol's legacy, the current audience preference leaned much more heavily toward the urban thriller, with more than double the number of people choosing it over the period drama. Unfortunately, the momentum did not sustain through the rest of the weekend. On Sunday, the film witnessed a 46.3 percent drop, with collections falling back to ₹7.25 Cr. The show count also declined to 7,239, and the overall occupancy settled at 24.12 percent. Regional data reflected this cooling off, with Mumbai occupancy dropping from 30.0 percent on Saturday to 20.5 percent on Sunday. While the Saturday surge provided a much-needed boost, the steep decline on Sunday indicates that the film might struggle to find a stable footing during the coming weekdays. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) BookMyShow recorded approximately 414,000 tickets sold over the weekend. This included 51,000 tickets from pre-sales, followed by 104,000 on Friday and a peak of 180,000 on Saturday. Sunday saw a significant dip to around 79,000 tickets. National cinema chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis contributed approximately 114,000 tickets to the overall weekend total. Similar to the general trend, these chains saw their highest activity on Independence Day, accounting for over 54,000 tickets on that day alone. While the overall weekend might be considered underwhelming for a project of this scale, it still manages to find a place among Sunny Deol's top career openers. By netting ₹26.50 Cr, it has surpassed the opening weekends of some of his earlier successful ventures. Here is how Batwara 1947 compares to the actor's top five opening weekends: 1. Gadar 2 - ₹ 135.98 crore 2. Border 2 - ₹ 121.00 crore 3. Batwara 1947 - ₹ 26.50 crore 4. Ghayal Once Again - ₹ 23.38 crore 5. Yamla Pagla Deewana - ₹ 22.50 crore

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 17 - With Avengers: Doomsday shaping up to be one of the biggest Marvel Cinematic Universe events yet, Disney+ has officially revealed a list of essential projects that fans should watch before heading into the highly anticipated Avengers movie. The curated lineup brings together several major MCU entries as well as key projects from the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises, highlighting the multiverse connections expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming film. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The official Disney+ guide features 15 movies and television seasons, beginning with X-Men (2000) and X2: X-Men United (2003). The list then moves through several major MCU milestones, including Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. It also includes both seasons of Loki, which are particularly important to the MCU's multiverse storyline. The remaining recommendations include Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The selection makes it clear that Marvel wants viewers to be familiar not only with the Avengers' history but also with the franchise's expanding multiverse and its newly integrated legacy characters. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Interestingly, Disney+'s list includes the original X-Men movies, Deadpool & Wolverine, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This suggests that the legacy Marvel universes will be significantly connected to Avengers: Doomsday, particularly with the return of several X-Men and Fantastic Four characters. Robert Downey Jr.'s transformation from Iron Man to the villainous Doctor Doom is another major storyline that is expected to drive the film. The absence of some other MCU titles, including The Marvels, is also noteworthy. While several projects have explored the multiverse or introduced characters who could potentially connect to Doomsday, Disney+ appears to have deliberately narrowed its recommendation list to the projects it considers most important for understanding the upcoming crossover. With Avengers: Doomsday scheduled to arrive on December 18, 2026, Marvel fans now have an official roadmap for their rewatch. Given the scale of the movie and its expected connections between the MCU, X-Men and Fantastic Four universes, the 15-project lineup could provide the essential groundwork before the Avengers return to the big screen.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Awarapan 2 has arrived at a time when the audience was craving a solid mix of nostalgia and modern storytelling. The franchise returns after years, and seeing Emraan Hashmi back in this intense avatar seems to have struck the right chord. The opening weekend has not just met the buzz; it has translated into significant numbers that put the film among the top performers of the year. For Hashmi, who defined an entire era of his filmography with successful franchises like Raaz, Murder, and Jannat, this film marks a massive commercial milestone as a solo lead. While the 2007 original film is often cited as one of his most critically acclaimed performances and has enjoyed a long-standing cult status, the overwhelming response to this sequel proves that the character has deep roots . Awarapan 2 has arrived at a time when the audience was craving a solid mix of nostalgia and modern storytelling. For much of the Gen Z audience, this release marks the first time they are witnessing Emraan Hashmi as a leading man in theaters. It is an opportunity for a new generation to understand the significance of an actor who practically ran a parallel Bollywood during the first decade of the 2000s. The film wrapped up its first three days with a worldwide gross collection of ₹110.10 Cr. Out of this, the domestic market contributed ₹98.10 Cr in gross value, while the overseas regions added a steady ₹12.00 Cr to the total. This global performance has helped the movie secure its spot as the third highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2026 so far. On the all-time charts, it now holds the 32nd position for the highest opening weekend collections in Hindi cinema history. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The momentum saw a steady spike through the weekend. The film saw a massive jump on its second day, which coincided with the Independence Day holiday, followed by a respectable hold on Sunday. Awarapan 2 - India Net Collection (Opening Weekend)DayNet CollectionDay 1 (Friday)₹ 22.00 CrDay 2 (Saturday)₹ 33.75 CrDay 3 (Sunday)₹ 26.00 CrTotal₹ 81.75 Cr The film began its journey on Friday with 9,033 shows, recording a healthy overall occupancy of 45.0 percent. The initial interest was immediately apparent in major circuits, with the National Capital Region starting at 858 shows and Mumbai at 687 shows. This set a solid foundation, but the real momentum shifted on Saturday. The total show count was increased to 10,496 to meet the rising demand, leading to a massive 53.4 percent growth in net collections. During this peak, overall occupancy climbed to 55.0 percent. Looking at the regional performance, NCR saw its shows rise to 1,051 with occupancy hitting 68.3 percent, while Mumbai show counts increased to 814 with occupancy reaching 54.5 percent. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Moving into Sunday, the film maintained a strong presence even after the significant holiday surge. The show count remained at a solid 9,403, which was notably higher than the opening day volume. While the net collection saw an expected 23 percent drop to settle at ₹26.00 Cr, the overall occupancy held steady at 45.0 percent. In key markets like NCR and Mumbai, the film continued to run with 947 and 751 shows respectively, both figures remaining above Friday levels. This steady trend of high show volume coupled with consistent occupancy across the weekend highlights a strong and widespread acceptance among the audience. Awarapan 2 managed to sell approximately 1.59 million tickets over its opening weekend. This started with a strong 443,000 tickets on Friday, which then peaked at 537,000 tickets on Saturday. By Sunday, the sales remained steady with around 324,000 tickets being booked. This collective volume shows that despite heavy competition from other 2026 hits like Dhurandhar 2 and Chhaava, the film carved out its own significant space in the market. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The contribution from national chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis was equally vital, accounting for roughly 410,000 tickets across the three days. On the opening day, these chains moved about 140,000 tickets. As the word spread and the holiday crowd stepped out on Independence Day, this number spiked to over 150,000 tickets. Even on Sunday, the momentum continued with national chains recording sales of approximately 120,000 tickets. Seeing these figures across the weekend confirms that the film maintained a very healthy presence in the premium multiplex segments throughout its first three days. Even with a 23 percent drop on Sunday after the Saturday peak, the film has comfortably crossed the 80 crore net mark in India. This performance has rewritten the record books for Emraan Hashmi, easily becoming his biggest opener to date. Here is a look at where Awarapan 2 stands compared to the actor's previous top opening weekends: 1. Awarapan 2 - 81.75 crore 2. Baadshaho - 43.3 crore 3. Raaz 3 - 36.1 crore 4. Jannat 2 - 23.47 crore 5. Murder 2 - 22.34 crore

BY SACNILK TEAM

Here is the Telugu movie Hushar Pittalu box office collection which is a Drama Romantic film. This film is directed by Bikshu koyagura and produced by . ## Hushar Pittalu stars , Vasavi Ganeshan, Ansh Thorat, Prani Reddy, Govardhan Reddy, Ramesh Nakirekanti in key roles. ## Hushar Pittalu Review ## Hushar Pittalu Review: What Public Has To Say About This Movie ## Hushar Pittalu Box Office Collection Day Wise | All Language DayIndia Net Collection Day 1 [1st Saturday] ₹ - Cr * may earn Total ₹ - Cr ## India Net Collection ₹ - Cr ## Worldwide Collection ₹ - Cr ## Overseas Collection ₹ - Cr ## India Gross Collection ₹ - Cr ## Hushar Pittalu Budget: ₹ 1 Cr * Approx ## Hushar Pittalu Verdict: Coming Soon ## Hushar Pittalu Screen count ## India: - * expected ## Overseas: - * expected ## Worldwide total: - ## Release Date: 15th August 2026 ## For more and the latest news about Tollywood Box Office Collection, Stay tuned to us.

BY JITU JANGIR

Kevin Nash once challenged The Ultimate Warrior to a $100,000 MMA-style fight after the two exchanged shots on Twitter. Years later, Nash revealed what happened when they finally met face-to-face. The former WWE Champion looked back on his unusual feud with Warrior during a recent interview with Inside The Ropes, recalling how a simple Twitter exchange turned into a challenge for a three-round fight. The incident began in 2012 after a fan asked Warrior why he didn't dye his hair. Warrior responded with a comment about not being someone who tried to steal the spotlight from younger talent. Nash took the comment personally and fired back. "I thought we got on well," Nash wrote before challenging Warrior to put up $100,000 for a three-round fight under MMA rules, with the winner taking everything. Looking back, Nash admitted he knew the challenge would get a reaction. "I knew it would strike a nerve because I knew he was deathly afraid of me," Nash said. Nash also claimed he spent only about 30 seconds writing his response, while Warrior took considerably longer to respond. "It took me, I don't know, maybe 30 seconds to type that," Nash recalled. "He spent three days to put together a seven-minute tirade that had about 45 edits." Nash said he never seriously expected the fight to happen. In fact, he believed the two could have turned the situation into a profitable spectacle if Warrior had played along. "I just said, 'Jesus, dude, it was a work,'" Nash said. "If he was smart we could have done the Jake Paul before Jake Paul was even Jake Paul." When asked what he would have done if Warrior had actually accepted the challenge, Nash didn't hesitate."Beat his bottom up," he said. Despite their public argument, Nash and Warrior eventually made peace. The two crossed paths backstage at the 2014 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, where Scott Hall was inducted. Warrior was also being presented with his Hall of Fame induction by Vince McMahon. Nash recalled seeing Warrior and deciding to put the old feud aside. "I went up and I hugged him," Nash said. Nash remembered Warrior being visibly soaked with sweat despite the room being extremely cold. The moment took on greater significance because Warrior died only a few days later at the age of 54. Looking back now, Nash's story about Warrior is less about their old Twitter argument and more about how quickly things can change. The veteran wrestler also spoke about losing many of the people he came up with, including Scott Hall and Hulk Hogan. "When you go to the dog park... you get to a point and you say to yourself, well, the average age is kind of 76. So, I got 10 years. Which means I got 520 weekends left," Nash said. "That's not a lot of weekends."

BY JITU JANGIR

WWE Monday Night Raw returns this week on August 17, 2026, live from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The show streams live on Netflix in the United States starting at 8:00 PM ET, continuing the post-SummerSlam build as several ongoing storylines head toward their next chapter. The card is headlined by Chad Gable defending his newly won Intercontinental Championship against Rey Mysterio, alongside two first-round matches in the World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender's Tournament, a Women's Intercontinental Championship match between Sol Ruca and Lyra Valkyria, and the long-awaited return of Roman Reigns, who is set to be on hand as Jey Uso delivers Solo Sikoa to him following weeks of Bloodline fallout. WWE Raw 8/17/26 Confirmed Match Card WWE Intercontinental Championship: Chad Gable (c) vs. Rey Mysterio Gable won the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam by defeating Penta, and he wasted no time lining up his first challenger. On the following episode of Raw, Gable approached Mysterio backstage and called him "the greatest luchador of all time," offering him a shot at the title as a sign of respect. Mysterio, who is currently juggling in-ring competition with his role as General Manager of AAA, accepted on the spot. Gable said he'd get Raw GM Adam Pearce to make it official, and Pearce has now confirmed the match for this week's show. It will be just the second-ever singles meeting between the two, with Mysterio winning their first encounter back in October 2022. Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria This one grows out of the increasingly tense dynamic in the women's division. Ruca has been chasing a rematch for the Women's Intercontinental Championship, while Valkyria — the first-ever holder of that title — has grown more erratic in recent weeks, repeatedly bringing up her attack on Bayley at Madison Square Garden. The two clashed backstage after Ruca and IYO Sky's tag win on August 10, arguing over who deserves the next shot at the title. That unresolved tension sets up this singles matchup, with both women looking to establish themselves as the top contender. Roman Reigns Returns Roman Reigns is advertised to make his return to WWE television this week, stepping back into the spotlight as the World Heavyweight Championship picture continues to take shape around him via the ongoing No. 1 Contender's Tournament. Jey Uso to Deliver Solo Sikoa to Roman Reigns This segment is the payoff to a stipulation match earlier on Raw, where Jey Uso defeated Solo Sikoa under terms that determined Sikoa's future with the Bloodline. Had Sikoa won, he would have been free of the group for good; instead, Uso's victory means Sikoa must fall back in line, and Uso is set to personally deliver him to Reigns on this show. World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender's Tournament: Rey Fenix vs. El Fiscal One of two first-round matches set to determine who eventually earns a shot at Reigns' World Heavyweight Championship, pitting Fenix's high-flying lucha style against El Fiscal in a first-round showdown. World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender's Tournament: Dragon Lee vs. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. The second first-round tournament match of the night, continuing WWE's push to spotlight top lucha libre talent as part of the road to crowning Reigns' next challenger. Predicted Match Card Chad Gable retains the Intercontinental Championship in a competitive back-and-forth with Rey Mysterio, likely with some form of outside interference or a controversial finish, given how protective WWE has been of new champions so soon after a title change. Solo Sikoa doesn't go quietly when Jey Uso brings him in front of Roman Reigns — expect a chaotic segment, possibly with another Bloodline member inserting themselves, rather than a clean, peaceful resolution. Dragon Lee and Rey Fenix both advance in their respective tournament matches, setting up a lucha-heavy path toward the next World Heavyweight Championship contender. Where and When to Watch WWE Raw WWE Raw airs live in the United States on Netflix at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT. United Kingdom & Ireland: 1:00 AM BST (Tuesday) on Netflix India: 5:30 AM IST (Tuesday) on Netflix Australia: 10:00 AM AEST (Tuesday) on Netflix Mexico: 6:00 PM CST (Monday) on Netflix