BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 20 - Producer Sajid Nadiadwala's action thriller Baaghi 4, scheduled to release on September 5, is the most-anticipated Indian movie of 2025, according to IMDb's real-time popularity, as of August 20. The film has taken the top spot with a commanding 24.5% share of audience interest. ## The Tiger Shroff actioner, part of the popular Baaghi franchise, has been drawing audience interest, ever since the teaser was released recently. The film’s dominance on the anticipation charts highlights the continued appeal of mass action cinema in India. ## Close behind Baaghi 4 is Pawan Kalyan’s They Call Him OG, securing the second spot with 13.8%. The Telugu biggie, helmed by Sujeeth, has been generating enormous hype, particularly due to Pawan Kalyan's return in a stylish gangster avatar. Scheduled to release on September 25, the movie promises to be a big-screen action spectacle. ## At number three is Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor's romantic comedy Param Sundari (12.4%). The movie is slated to release on August 29. Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi's Jolly LLB 3 (9.9%), scheduled for September 19 release, finds itself in fourth position currently, proving that courtroom drama-comedies still hold wide audience appeal even in a crowded lineup of mega-budget entertainers. ## The fifth to tenth positions show a diverse mix of genres and industries, signalling how anticipation in Indian cinema is no longer confined to just one region or style. Anime-inspired Mirai (9.5%) has carved its way into the fifth slot, while Lokah Chapter One: Chandra (8.7%) and The Bengal Files (6.9%) further add to the range with fantasy storytelling and politically charged drama, respectively.## Raghu Dakat (5.3%) and Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 (5.2%) showcase how period dramas and franchise-driven sequels continue to attract attention, with Kaantha (3.9%) rounding off the top ten. The rating of the top 10 movies is based on IMDb's page views, which keep changing. ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, August 20 - Superstar Rajinikanth and director Lokesh Kanagaraj's much-hyped collaboration Coolie ignited hope of emerging biggest Tamil grosser of all-time, after the record numbers during the extended Independence Day weekend. The film set social media abuzz and drew massive crowds, cementing Rajinikanth's dominance at the box office yet again. ## But as they say, all that glitters is not gold, and that's what's happening with Coolie. Despite the spectacular start, the film is now showing signs of slowing down. With big drops during weekdays, it makes it almost impossible for the film to challenge the all-time Tamil box office record grosser, which is Rajinikanth's own hit 2 Point 0, which itself underperformed. ## The gangster action drama, after the record weekend of 385 crores worldwide, has dropped heavily on the first two working days with a combined total of around 33-35 crores worldwide. After 6 days, the film's total collection stands at around 418-420 crores worldwide, which could have easily been around 450 crores with a positive reception, which it did not have. ## Industry trackers, who were predicting Coolie to become the biggest Tamil grosser before release, suggest that it may wrap up its global run under 550 crore. It might stretch its total a little higher, but for that, the film has to show solid legs, which don't seem to be happening with the current trend. While 500 crores worldwide is still a big milestone, Coolie will fall short of the expectations, which is disappointing. ## Trade analysts note that after its historic opening, collections in certain overseas territories and the Hindi belt have not been as strong as expected, which has capped its long-term potential. In North America, where the movie had a huge weekend, the weekdays' collection dropped drastically, even below Hrithik Roshan Jr. NTR's War, which had an underwhelming run there so far. ## That said, Coolie has already achieved several milestones. It became the fastest Tamil film to cross the 100 crores, 200 crores, and 300 crores mark worldwide, apart from becoming the biggest Tamil opener and weekend grosser of all time. The movie also reinforced Rajinikanth's unmatched star power, as he continues to deliver films that not only perform in India but also create a stir in international markets. ## In conclusion, Coolie, despite the early promises, will not create the history, everyone thought it would. While it will still be among the top 5 biggest Tamil grossers of all time, the movie will end up as a flop or an average affair at the box office. The onus is now on Rajinikanth's next, which is the highly-awaited Jailer 2, to do the unfinished job. ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 20 - In an era where the box office has become highly unpredictable, who would have thought that an animated movie, which opened to just around 2 crores, would not only go on to become the biggest animated film of all-time, but also one of the biggest blockbusters of Indian cinema. ## The epic devotional action drama Mahavatar Narsimha is one such rare film, which has turned out to be a historic success at the global box office. Despite being an animated feature, a genre which has largely remained unexplored in India, the film has managed to strike a chord with audiences of all ages, combining state-of-the-art visuals with a deeply rooted Indian story. ## In India, the movie has demonstrated incredible staying power across multiplexes and family audiences, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where devotional subjects hold strong appeal. Overseas, too, Mahavatar Narsimha has seen a solid response, particularly in markets with a large Indian diaspora such as North America and Australia. ## Produced by Kaleem Productions in association with Hombale Films, Mahavatar Narsimha is about to do the unthinkable by achieving a milestone no one had thought in their wildest dreams, that is, topping the 300 crore worldwide gross, a rare first for an Indian animated title. As of now, the movie has grossed around 280 crores globally in 26 days, and will be crossing the milestone in the next week.## The scale of its success has also opened new doors for Indian animation. For the filmmakers of the country, this is a signal that audiences are ready to embrace animation as a mainstream medium when combined with powerful storytelling and cultural resonance. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK TEAM

The YRF Spy Universe is one of Bollywood’s most ambitious and successful cinematic franchises, created by Yash Raj Films under Aditya Chopra. Launched with Ek Tha Tiger (2012), the franchise has grown into a multi-film saga that brings together India’s biggest stars—Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, and Katrina Kaif—in high-octane espionage thrillers. With films like Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai, War, Pathaan, and Tiger 3, it has become a cultural phenomenon, ushering Bollywood into the era of franchise-driven cinema and establishing a new milestone in India’s global cinematic presence ##Let’s take a look at the worldwide box office collection ##Ek Tha Tiger (2012) Directed by Kabir Khan, produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, with Ranvir Shorey in a supporting role. Music composed by Sohail Sen.. The film introduces Avinash Singh Rathore aka Tiger, a RAW officer sent on a mission to observe a scientist suspected of sharing defence technology with Pakistan. While undercover, Tiger meets Zoya, who has her own secrets. Their romance complicates the mission, blurring the line between duty and love. This movie marked the first collaboration between Salman Khan and Kabir Khan. It was Shot in Ireland, Cuba, Turkey, and India. With the opening day collection of ₹32.93 crore, weekend collection of ₹100.16 crore and total gross worldwide collection of ₹320 crore, the film emerged as the highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2012, and it is this success that laid the foundation for the YRF Spy Universe. ## ## Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, produced by Aditya Chopra, starring Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, and Sajjad Delafrooz. Music by Vishal–Shekhar with background score by Julius Packiam. Inspired by real events, Tiger and Zoya return for a high-stakes mission to rescue Indian and Pakistani nurses taken hostage by a terrorist group in Iraq. The mission demands unity between the two agents despite their personal past. The movie was based on the real-life 2014 ISIS hostage crisis in Iraq. While the Major action sequences were shot in Austria, Greece, Morocco, and Abu Dhabi, the star, Salman Khan, trained extensively in firearms and close combat, while Katrina Kaif performed many of her own stunts. The movie broke Bollywood’s highest opening weekend record at that time. With the opening day collection of ₹34.10 crore, week 1 collection of ₹ 206.04 crore and total gross worldwide collection of ₹ 558.00 crore, Let's take a look at the history made by Tiger Zinda Hai at its box office collection Tiger Zinda Hai became the second highest grosser in 2017 after Baahubali 2: The Conclusion and the highest grosser in 2017 Bollywood films. It was the fourth highest Hindi movie (India Net Collection) after  Baahubali 2 [₹ 510.99 Cr,] Dangal [₹ 387.31 Cr] and Sanju [₹ 342.57 Cr]. It was also Salman Khan's highest movie, and after that, Bajrangi Bhaijaan [₹ 320.34 Cr] comes in the second position. ## War (2019) Directed by Siddharth Anand, produced by Aditya Chopra, starring Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, and Vaani Kapoor. Music by Vishal–Shekhar with background score by Sanchit and Ankit Balhara.The story follows Kabir, a top RAW agent who goes rogue, leading his protégé Khalid to hunt him down. Their cat-and-mouse game spans continents, uncovering hidden motives and deeper conspiracies. The pairing of Hrithik Roshan vs. Tiger Shroff was one of the most anticipated action face-offs in Hindi cinema. It was the First Bollywood film shot in the Arctic Circle, specifically in Finland, also the bike chase sequence in Portugal and Spain was praised as one of the best filmed in Indian cinema. With the opening day collection of ₹ 53.35 crore, week 1 collection of ₹ 238.35 crore and total gross worldwide collection of ₹ 471.00 crore, it became the highest-grossing Indian film of 2019. ## ## Pathaan (2023) Directed by Siddharth Anand, produced by Aditya Chopra, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham. Music by Vishal–Shekhar. Pathaan, an exiled RAW agent, is called back into action to stop a mercenary, Jim, from launching a biological attack on India. He teams up with ISI agent Rubina in a globe-trotting race against time, with explosive stunts and spy-universe cameos. The film was shot across eight countries, including Spain, the UAE, and France. This was the movie that marked Shah Rukh Khan’s return to the big screen after four years and featured Salman Khan’s extended cameo as Tiger. With the opening day collection of ₹ 57 crore, the week 1 collection of ₹ 364.15 crore and total gross worldwide collection of ₹ 1055 Cr crore, making it the highest-opening day worldwide for a Hindi film. It also set new benchmarks with the highest single day, opening weekend, and opening week for a Hindi release. Within just 17 days, Pathaan crossed the ₹900 crore worldwide mark, earning ₹558 crore in India alone—an unprecedented feat. Ultimately, it grossed over ₹1,050 crore globally, becoming the second-highest-grossing Indian film of 2023, the third-highest Indian film ever, and the highest-grossing Hindi film of its time. It was the first Hindi film to earn over US$100 million without releasing in China, and it broke multiple overseas records— becoming the highest-grossing Hindi releases in markets like the US, UK, UAE, Australia, and New Zealand. ##Tiger 3 (2023) Directed by Maneesh Sharma, produced by Aditya Chopra, starring Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, and Emraan Hashmi. Music by Pritam. The story follows Tiger, framed as a traitor, as he races to clear his name and protect his family while facing a deadly adversary. The plot deepens the emotional stakes for the character while advancing the YRF Spy Universe storyline. Tiger 3 became the first film in the Tiger franchise to be released in IMAX, adding to its grandeur. Released during Diwali 2023, it emerged as one of the year’s biggest festive blockbusters. The production spanned exotic locations in Turkey, Austria, and India. A major highlight was the highly anticipated crossover sequence featuring Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, which generated massive buzz among fans even before the release. With the opening day collection of ₹44.5 crore, week 1 collection of ₹187.65 crore and total gross worldwide collection of ₹464 crore, it continued the interconnected narrative, setting the stage for War 2 and future spy crossovers. ##From the romance-laced espionage of Ek Tha Tiger to the spectacle-heavy, interconnected narratives of Pathaan and Tiger 3, the YRF Spy Universe has matured into a consistent box office juggernaut. The latest instalment, War 2, starring Hrithik and Jr. NTR, has been released. Even though the movie hasn't performed as expected, it is another major entry in the growing Spy Universe. With Alpha, Pathan 2, and a possible Tiger vs Pathaan in the pipeline, this franchise isn't just about big stars—it's about building India's first sustained cinematic universe with global action sensibilities. ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 19 - Producer Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films, known for redefining the horror-comedy space with Stree, Bhediya, and Munjya, has now taken an unexpected turn by unveiling the teaser of its upcoming film in the StreeVerse or horror-comedy universe, Thama, starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Paresh Rawal. ## What sets Thama apart is that it will be the first "bloody" love story with a twist within the much-talked-about StreeVerse. The teaser with Ayushmann’s voiceover, "Reh paogi mere bina, sau saalon tak?” Rashmika replies, "Sau saal kya, ek pal bhi ke liye bhi nahi." The line instantly creates curiosity, before things started getting unfolded, leaving fans wondering who the vampire is in the movie. ## Unlike the quirky comic undertones of earlier films in the franchise, Thama promises to explore a darker and more intense territory. This fresh direction suggests that Maddock is expanding the cinematic universe beyond its established genre formula. ## Fans were taken by surprise as Maddock dropped the teaser without much build-up, keeping true to its reputation of delivering unexpected twists both on and off screen. Social media buzz quickly followed, with many appreciating the bold step of venturing into romantic horror. ## With Thama, Maddock Films continues to push the boundaries of the StreeVerse, offering audiences a different shade of storytelling. If the teaser is any indication, the film could set the stage for results for the movie as far as the box office is concerned. As reported earlier, the film will feature cameos of previous films of the horror-comedy universe, which is an advantage to its already solid buzz. ## Directed by Munjya fame, Aditya Sarpotdar, the film is scheduled to release on Diwali this year in cinemas worldwide. ## ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 19 - The year 2025 has been full of surprises at the Indian box office, and there are still five months left. Amid the frenzy of big-budget spectacles in 2025, a group of low to mid budget budget films stunned everyone by not only becoming critical successes but also box office winners. These films, spanning multiple languages and genres, didn't have the advantage of huge star power or massive marketing campaigns. Instead, they relied on storytelling, originality, and strong word-of-mouth to win hearts. Saiyaara (Hindi – Romantic Drama) - No one expected a debutant-led love story to become the biggest romantic hit in years, but Ahaan Pandey and Aneet Padda's chemistry, Mohit Suri's direction, and Mithoon's soulful music turned Saiyaara into a cultural phenomenon. Made on a budget of around 60 crores, the movie started strongly and exploded eventually as the week progressed, becoming the first Hindi romantic film to cross 300 crores net. Mahavatar Narsimha (Hindi – Animated Devotional Action Drama) - An animated retelling of the Narsimha avatar from the Puranas, Mahavatar Narsimha emerged as a surprise family favourite. Released with little hype and almost zero expectations, it tapped into the growing demand for Indian devotional content. Made on a budget of around 5-10 crores, the film's strong visuals and devotional storytelling led it to cross the 100 crore mark in just 10 days, making it the first Indian animated movie to achieve the feat. Dragon (Tamil – Coming-of-age Comedy Drama) - Starring Pradeep Ranganathan, Dragon is the biggest Tamil blockbuster of the year. It is a story about a college dropout who deceptively secures a high-paying job, but is forced to accept a major challenge to avoid being exposed. Made on a budget of around 20 crores, the movie went on to gross around 120 crores in India, as one of the highest-grossing Tamil titles of the year. Tourist Family (Tamil – Comedy Drama) - It is being hailed as one of the most heartwarming stories of the year. The story follows a Sri Lankan Tamil family who, following the Sri Lankan economic crisis, arrive in India in search of a better future. It was made on a budget of around 5 crores, and went on to gross over 70 crores in India, and became a big blockbuster. Here's a Look at The Top Sleeper Hits of 2025 That Conquered The Indian Box Office (As of August 18)Movie TitleOriginal LanguageBudgetIndia GBOCVerdictSaiyaaraHindi₹ 60.00 Cr₹ 391.00 CrSuper BlockbusterMahavatar NarsimhaHindi₹ 10.00 Cr₹ 253.00 CrBlockbuster Dragon Tamil₹ 20.00 Cr₹ 119.00 CrBlockbusterTourist FamilyTamil₹ 5.00 Cr₹ 71.75 CrBlockbusterSu From SoKannada₹ 4.00 Cr₹ 92.00 CrBlockbusterThalaivan ThalaiviiTamil₹ 25.00 Cr₹ 66.00 CrSuperhitAlappuzha GymkhanaMalayalam₹ 10.00 Cr₹ 50.60 CrSuperhitF1 MovieEnglish₹ - Cr₹ 120.00 CrSuperhit Su From So (Kannada – Comedy Drama) - Set in the coastal village of Marlur linked to Someshwara, the story follows Ashoka, a carefree young man whose innocent crush spirals into rumours of possession by a ghost named Sulochana, upending village life through a cascade of comedic supernatural events. It is already the highest-grossing Kannada movie of the year with a domestic gross collection of over 50 crores, against the budget of around 4 crores. Thalaivan Thalaivii (Tamil – Romantic Action Comedy) - Starring Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen, the film became another modest-budgeted Tamil box office hit of the year. It reportedly cost 25 crores the make, and it has already grossed around 60 crores domestically and is still going strong. Alappuzha Gymkhana (Malayalam – Sports Drama) - Directed by Khalid Rahman and starring Naslen among others, it is a story of a group of students, who, after failing exams, try entering college through sports quotas, picking boxing. They luck through district matches, but face uncertainty at higher competition levels. It was a success at the box office, grossing over 50 crores in India, against the budget of around 10 crores. F1 (Hollywood – Sports Drama) - Brad Pitt's F1, directed by Joseph Kosinski (of Top Gun: Maverick fame), was expected to perform well globally — but what surprised trade analysts was its exceptional run in India. Despite being a niche sports film centred on Formula 1 racing, F1 resonated with Indian audiences, thanks to sleek visuals, thrilling race sequences, and Brad Pitt's enduring star power. It grossed around 115 crores in India, emerging as one of the highest-grossing original Hollywood films. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 31 - 2025 has turned into a good year so far for Indian films in the overseas market, with movies from the Bollywood, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam industries making a splash at the global box office. From grand romantic sagas to star-powered action blockbusters, audiences across the world have embraced Indian cinema like never before. Sun Pictures' gangster action drama, Coolie, starring superstar Rajinikanth, was released on August 14, and within no time, it has stormed to the top spot among the biggest Indian grossers at the overseas box office. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film is yet to complete its first weekend, already grossing over 150 crores overseas in 5 days. Yash Raj Films' romantic drama, Saiyaara, starring debutante Ahaan Pandey and Aneet Padda, became a global sensation. This has been the biggest success story of Indian cinema this year. Directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara blended soulful music, passionate storytelling, and stunning visuals, making it a cross-cultural hit. The film's theme connected not only with Indian audiences but across the world, making it the biggest Indian blockbuster in the international market. The Malayalam megahit, Empuraan, starring Mohanlal and directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, was hit by controversy in India, but that didn't stop it from making a big hit at the box office, not just in India but also internationally. It continued the Lucifer saga with high-octane political intrigue and action. The film’s international fan base, built from the first part, turned Empuraan into a global blockbuster. Thudarum, one of the biggest Malayalam blockbusters in recent times, stunned the trade and went on to score big at the box office. The action thriller, starring Mohanlal, did wonders globally and became one of only three Malayalam titles to cross 200 crores worldwide, including close to 100 crores gross from overseas markets. The historical epic, Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, impressed both domestic and global audiences and is currently the biggest Indian grosser worldwide with over 800 crores in collection. This Laxman Utekar's directorial's grand battle sequences, rich production design, and a patriotic storyline drove its stellar overseas run with close to 100 crores gross. Housefull 5, Bollywood's favourite comedy franchise, returned bigger and zanier. Despite the disappointment of not living up to expectations, this Akshay Kumar-led film did decently at the box office and is so far among the top overseas grossers. The film's mixed slapstick humour, exotic locations, and star power captured the attention of family audiences abroad, especially in the Gulf and the UK. Directed by Adhik Ravichandran, Good Bad Ugly marked a major comeback for superstar Ajith Kumar, after the big failure of Vidaamuyarchi. Ajith's vintage avatar in the movie was celebrated by the fans worldwide. It became the first film of the actor to hit 200 crores worldwide gross, including a good performance in overseas markets. War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, has underperformed at the box office, be it domestic or overseas. In the first 5 days, the film grossed approximately 63 crores internationally. The movie is directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Yash Raj Films. After the failure of Laal Singh Chaddha, Aamir Khan returned to winning ways with Sitaare Zameen Par, a heartfelt comedy-drama that follows a suspended basketball coach who must serve community service by helping a team of players with disabilities prepare for a tournament. Just like Ajith Kumar, SZP proved to be a comeback movie for Aamir Khan by emerging as a box office hit in India and overseas. Sikandar, one of the major letdowns of the year, this Salman Khan-led action drama failed to perform to expectations despite featuring among the top 10 biggest overseas grossers. Directed by a seasoned director like AR Murugadoss, Sikandar finished below 200 crores worldwide, while its overseas performance was also not good. What Sikandar proved for Bollywood, Thug Life met the same fate for Kollywood. Kamal Haasan's much-awaited action-thriller, directed by Mani Ratnam, blended artful filmmaking with mass entertainment. The film's international premieres were major events, boosting its overseas revenue. However, it turned into a big disaster, failing to capitalise on the huge buzz. Before scoring his biggest grosser with Good Bad Ugly, Ajith Kumar had a big setback with the action-drama Vidamuyarchi. It was among the biggest failures. With heavyweights like War 2 and Coolie yet to arrive, the overseas box office race of 2025 is far from over. But for now, Saiyaara sits at the top, proving that heartfelt romance can still rule the world stage in the age of action spectacles. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, August 19 - Director Lokesh Kanagaraj might be up for another reshuffle in his future film timeline, and if that happens, actor Karthi, and more than him, the fans of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) will have to wait longer for the much-awaited sequel to Kaithi. ## After the blockbuster Leo, Lokesh teamed up with superstar Rajinikanth for the gangster action drama Coolie, which is currently playing in theatres. For a long time, the filmmaker had confirmed his plans to return to Kaithi 2 with Karthi after completing Coolie. But now, the latest buzz suggests that a different, and perhaps even bigger, project might take priority. ## The latest blockbuster buzz in Tamil media suggests that Lokesh is planning one of India's biggest multistarrers and has reportedly narrated a two-hero script to the superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for the same. The legendary duo is said to have given their nod, reportedly asking the filmmaker to move ahead with the project. ## Originally reportedly planned before the COVID-19 pandemic, this ambitious film is said to revolve around two ageing gangsters in a large-scale cinematic adventure, and will likely be produced by Kamal Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International (RKFI). If reports are to be believed, it could be Lokesh's immediate next. ## The news is indeed massive, and perhaps the biggest collaboration of Indian cinema in the recent past. But at the same time, it also brings a bittersweet feeling for fans awaiting Kaithi 2, wanting to see Lokesh get back to his strong zone of Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU). ## The stars are probably not aligning for Kaithi 2, for which the script is said to be ready, subject to some changes. Interestingly, it was supposed to be made before Lokesh's Leo with Thalapathy Vijay, but plans changed as the director picked up Coolie, while Karthi also had a few films to complete. ## That said, a film uniting two titans of Indian cinema, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, under Lokesh's vision promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime cinematic event. Fans may be ready to sacrifice the wait for Kaithi 2 if it means witnessing this dream project. However, an official confirmation from the makers is still awaited. ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, August 19 - Tamil director AR Murugadoss has been in the media headlines ever since his film, Sikandar with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, failed miserably at the box office and turned into one of the lowest-grossing films of the actor in many years. ## In one of the interviews, the Ghajini director reasoned that due to a language barrier, he couldn't properly execute his plans, which led to the downfall of the film. Now, a new report is circulating on social media where it is claiming that ARM blamed Salman for the film's box office failure. ## According to the many reports, referring to ARM's interview with Bhardwaj Ranjan, it is said that the filmmaker accused the Bajrangi Bhaijaan star of not coming on the set during the day, as they had to shoot the film only after 9 PM, even with school-going children. ## While it is true that ARM said the above thing, it is not entirely true that he put the blame on Salman. The filmmaker reasoned that due to death threats to the superstar (which are valid and genuine), they couldn't shoot the film during the day in open areas, and that is why they chose night schedules. ## Because of this unavoidable reason, the shooting of Sikandar had a lot of spot changes and involved CG work more than expected. The Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty director, however, claimed that he couldn't execute the original story, which was close to his heart. And that he was not the only one who was accountable for his poor execution, as he did not have a commanding unit. ## Meanwhile, ARM is gearing up for the release of Madharaasi, starring Sivakarthikeyan, which is scheduled for September 5. ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, August 19 - Director Lokesh Kanagaraj teamed with superstar Rajinikanth for the first time for a gangster action drama film Coolie, which had a record-breaking opening weekend ever, after the record opening day, for a Tamil title. The movie entered the 400 crores club at the worldwide box office on its 5th day, and led the director to an elite club. ## With Coolie, Lokesh Kanagaraj has officially entered the elite club of Indian filmmakers who have delivered three consecutive 400+ crore worldwide grossers, standing tall alongside legends like SS Rajamouli and Rajkumar Hirani. Arguably the most bankable director of Tamil cinema currently, Lokesh keeps winning at the box office. ## The filmmaker began this extraordinary streak with Vikram (2022), a Kamal Haasan starrer that revived the superstar's box office dominance and grossed over 400 crore worldwide. He followed it up with Leo (2023), featuring Thalapathy Vijay, which, despite polarised reviews, went on to collect over 600 crore worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of all time. Now with Coolie (2024), Lokesh has achieved the rare hat-trick, making him the only Tamil filmmaker to do so. ## This puts him in the same league as SS Rajamouli, who delivered path-breaking blockbusters like Baahubali: The Beginning, Baahubali: The Conclusion, and RRR, each setting new benchmarks not just in India but across the world, where his last two films went on to gross over 1000 crores worldwide. Similarly, Bollywood's titan Rajkumar Hirani struck gold with 3 Idiots, PK, Sanju, and Dunku, all surpassing the 400-crore milestone. ## For Lokesh, achieving the feat of delivering 3 consecutive 400 crores grossers in the relatively smaller Tamil market makes the accomplishment even more remarkable. His rise reflects the growing stature of Tamil cinema, even though it is yet to fully explore some of the key markets, including the Hindi belt. With his streak of consecutive blockbusters, he has proven that strong storytelling combined with star power and scale can deliver massive results. ## As he continues to shape the blockbuster Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), along with standalone films with some of India's biggest stars, the young filmmaker is now firmly established as one of the most powerful voices in Indian cinema today. Lokesh's next films promise bigger results with LCU's Kaithi 2, Rolex, and Vikram 2, and a standalone film with Aamir Khan in the pipeline. ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, August 18 - In the high-octane world of the box office, comparisons are inevitable, especially when two megastars go head-to-head. Coolie, superstar Rajinikanth's latest blockbuster, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, has officially the superstar's own hit 2 Point 0 to claimed the crown as the biggest opening weekend ever for a Tamil film.## Coolie amassed approximately 385 crore gross globally on its opening weekend, surpassing 2.0's previous record (estimated 375+ crore). However, a more suited comparison of Coolie could be with Thalapathy Vijay's Leo, as 2.0's data are compromised due to various reasons, one of them being the lack of a proper tracking system. ## Worldwide Opening Weekend Box Office Comparison of Coolie and LeoMovie Title1st Day WW GBOC2nd Day WW GBOC3rd Day WW GBOC4th Day WW GBOCTotal Weekend WW GBOCCoolie₹ 153.50 Cr₹ 91.50 Cr₹ 75.00 Cr₹ 65.00 Cr₹ 385.00 CrLeo₹ 142.70 Cr₹ 68.80 Cr₹ 75.50 Cr₹ 69.40 Cr₹ 356.40 Cr## In comparison with Leo, the Rajinikanth-starrer stands tall. Coolie now holds the record of the biggest opening day for the Tamil title with approximately 153 crores worldwide, beating the previous record of Leo, which minted around 143 crores. Both movies showed solid holds over the weekend, but Leo failed to beat Coolie with around 356.50 crores worldwide. ## At the domestic box office, Coolie has grossed approximately 230 crores, in comparison to 208.50 crores gross of Leo. The Rajinikanth-starrer also dominates the overseas opening weekend with around 154 crores, whereas Leo minted 148 crores. Leo is currently the second-largest Tamil grosser of all time, with approximately ₹ 606 crores worldwide. It needs to be seen how far Coolie can go. ##

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, August 18 - When it comes to the box office, superstar Rajinikanth is no stranger to rewriting history. In 2023, Jailer roared into theatres, amassing record-breaking numbers and cementing itself as a global blockbuster. Two years later, the legend has returned with Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, which opened to unprecedented hype and is already making headlines for its thunderous worldwide opening weekend. ## The clash of these two milestones offers a fascinating look at how the superstar continues to dominate across generations. Coolie stars Rajinikanth as a former smuggler, backed by a stellar ensemble including Shruti Haasan, Nagarjuna, Upendra, Aamir Khan (cameo), and others. On day 1, Coolie exploded with approximately 153 crores worldwide, as the biggest Tamil opener of all time. ## Worldwide Opening Weekend Box Office Comparison of Coolie and LeoMovie Title1st Day WW GBOC2nd Day WW GBOC3rd Day WW GBOC4th Day WW GBOCTotal Weekend WW GBOCCoolie₹ 153.50 Cr₹ 91.50 Cr₹ 75.00 Cr₹ 65.00 Cr₹ 385.00 CrJailer₹ 96.60 Cr₹ 46.40 Cr₹ 79.10 Cr₹ 85.90 Cr₹ 308.00 Cr## Since the opening day, even though the trajectory remained on the downward side, the film retained steam, earning another 250 crores worldwide from Friday to Sunday. With record-setting advances, a historic day, and sustained collections through the extended holiday period, the film has ended its 4-day opening week on a spectacular high with approximately 385 crores worldwide. ## This roaring opening weekend naturally draws comparisons with Rajinikanth's earlier juggernaut, Jailer (2023). Released on August 10, 2023, the Nelson Dilipkumar's directorial had kick-started its journey with a powerful 96.60 Cr worldwide gross. The movie then maintained a steady hold throughout the 4-day opening weekend, grossing 308 Cr globally. While Jailer stunned the industry in 2023 with its phenomenal opening weekend, Coolie has raised the stakes even higher in 2025 with the biggest weekend. ## Stay tuned...