BY CHRISTA LINCY

Suriya has made a thunderous return to the silver screen with his latest release, Karuppu. While the movie centers on a raw and grounded plot rooted in rural justice and local deity worship, it is the cultural energy of the film that has truly set the box office on fire. The highlight for many fans has been the God Mode song, a high-energy tribute to the village guardian deity Karuppasamy. Across Tamil Nadu, reports have emerged of audiences entering a trance-like state known as Arul Vaaku during the screenings. This intense emotional connection to the films aggressive folk rhythms and vibrant visuals has transformed simple movie shows into massive communal celebrations. Looking at the financial performance, Karuppu has officially crossed the ₹50 Crore net mark in India within its opening weekend. On Day 3, the film collected a net of ₹28.35 Cr across 6,843 shows. This represents a solid 17.4 percent growth from Saturday's net of ₹24.15 Cr. If we look at the trajectory, the growth has been consistent throughout. On Day 2, the film saw a massive 55.8 percent jump from its opening day collection of ₹15.50 Cr. By the end of its first Sunday, the total India net collection reached ₹68.00 Cr, while the total India gross stood at ₹78.81 Cr. The surge in revenue is directly tied to the consistent growth in both show counts and theater occupancy throughout the weekend. On opening day, Karuppu started with 4,891 shows and a solid 46.9 percent occupancy. As positive word-of-mouth began to travel, the demand spiked on Saturday, with show counts rising to 6,288 and occupancy climbing to 56.8 percent. By Sunday, the film reached its peak with 6,843 shows and an impressive overall occupancy of 64.3 percent. Major urban centers drove these numbers, with Chennai recording a massive 92 percent occupancy across 860 shows on Sunday, while Coimbatore followed closely at 91.5 percent for its 296 shows. This upward trend extended to the Telugu markets as well, where Hyderabad and Vizag both crossed the 50 percent occupancy mark on Day 3, reflecting the film's strong regional hold. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The success is not just limited to domestic markets. On the international front, Karuppu has been performing exceptionally well. After grossing ₹11.00 Cr on Friday and ₹18.00 Cr on Saturday, the overseas total reached ₹29.00 Cr in just two days. By adding the three-day India gross of ₹78.81 Cr to the two-day overseas data, the film has comfortably secured over ₹107 Cr worldwide. This pushes Karuppu past several of Suriya's post-pandemic releases like Retro, Kanguva, and Etharkkum Thunindhavan. It has already overtaken previous hits like 24 and Singam 3, and is now sitting just behind Singam 2 as his career-biggest grosser. The success is not just limited to domestic markets. On the international front, Karuppu has been performing exceptionally well. After grossing ₹11.00 Cr on Friday and ₹18.00 Cr on Saturday, the overseas total reached ₹29.00 Cr in just two days. By adding the three-day India gross of ₹78.81 Cr to the two-day overseas data, the film has comfortably secured over ₹107 Cr worldwide. This pushes Karuppu past several of Suriya's post-pandemic releases like Retro (₹97.35 Cr), Kanguva (₹106.64 Cr), and Etharkkum Thunindhavan (₹71.40 Cr). It has already overtaken previous hits like 24 (₹118 Cr) and Singam 3 (₹113 Cr), and is now sitting just behind Singam 2 (₹124 Cr) as his career-biggest grosser. Suriya Films - Worldwide Gross CollectionMOVIE NAMEWORLDWIDE COLLECTION(Approximate)Singam 2₹ 124.00 CrKaruppu₹ 120.75 Cr Early Estimates(3 Days)24₹ 118.00 CrSingam 3 (Si3)₹ 113.00 CrKanguva₹ 106.64 Cr Note:Data are taken from various sources, which can be approximate or may have a huge difference. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In North America, the film is on track to become one of Suriya's highest-grossing titles. According to reports from Venky Box Office, the Day 2 gross alone was $328K, bringing the total gross in the territory to $590K. With $370K coming from the USA and $220K from Canada, the film is heading toward the $1 Million mark, which would be his second biggest after 24. The scale of this success is even more impressive considering the pre-release challenges. Producer T Siva recently shared that although they initially expected ₹90 Cr from OTT rights, they only secured ₹40 Cr. However, many producer friends and Suriya himself backed the theatrical release. That gamble has clearly paid off, with the movie now being hailed as the biggest hit of the year and a certified blockbuster. It marks a massive comeback for the actor. Audience demand has been reflected in ticket sales as well. On BookMyShow, the film sold nearly 1.96 million tickets over the weekend, with 497.6K tickets booked on Sunday alone. While this ranks slightly behind Jailer and Leo in terms of Sunday BMS sales, it remains a phenomenal feat. In national chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, Karuppu was the top movie for all three days. Total ticket sales in these national chains reached approximately 90,500 across the weekend, starting with 29,080 on Friday, peaking at 33,450 on Saturday, and closing the weekend with 28,023 on Sunday. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Karuppu 3-Day State-wise Gross Breakdown: Tamil Nadu: ₹48.50 Cr APTG: ₹12.50 Cr Karnataka: ₹9.85 Cr Kerala: ₹6.45 Cr Rest of India: ₹1.51 Cr Karuppu India Net Collection BreakdownDAYINDIA NET COLLECTIONDay 1 (Friday)₹ 15.50 CrDay 2 (Saturday)₹ 24.15 CrDay 3 (Sunday)₹ 28.35 CrTotal Opening Weekend₹ 68.00 Cr

BY CHRISTA LINCY

It is not often that we see a film maintaining a steady grip on the box office even in its ninth week of release. Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has proven to be an absolute juggernaut, continuing to draw audiences despite being in theaters for two months. The film has officially earned the status of an All-Time Blockbuster, and its performance over the ninth weekend shows exactly why. Even with several new releases entering the fray, this sequel has managed to keep its screen count and occupancy levels healthy enough to keep the registers ringing. The total worldwide gross collection for Dhurandhar 2 is now on the cusp of a massive milestone. By the end of its 60th day, the film reached a total worldwide gross of ₹1,798.19 Cr. This was driven by a staggering India gross of ₹1,371.52 Cr and a solid overseas contribution of ₹426.67 Cr. In terms of net collections, the film has now accumulated ₹1,145.98 Cr in India alone. These numbers place it in a very exclusive club of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time, reflecting the massive pan-India appeal of the franchise. Looking at the ninth weekend trend, the film followed a typical but impressive trajectory. On Day 58, which was the ninth Friday, the film saw a 25.7 percent drop from the previous day, collecting ₹0.26 Cr net. However, Saturday brought a significant turnaround. On Day 59, the movie witnessed a massive 103.8 percent growth, bringing in ₹0.53 Cr. The momentum stayed strong on Sunday, Day 60, as the collections grew by another 18.9 percent to reach ₹0.63 Cr. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The language-wise breakdown further highlights that the Hindi version remains the primary driver at this stage of the run. On Sunday, the Hindi version alone contributed ₹0.60 Cr net with an occupancy of 33 percent across 411 shows. The South Indian languages like Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada contributed smaller amounts, mostly maintaining a presence in select theaters. Across the three days, the show count saw a gradual increase from 389 shows on Friday to 436 shows by Sunday, as exhibitors adjusted to the sustained demand for the film. Dhurandhar 2 - 9th Weekend India Net CollectionDAYINDIA NET COLLECTIONSHOWSDay 58 (9th Friday)₹ 0.26 Cr389Day 59 (9th Saturday)₹ 0.53 Cr418Day 60 (9th Sunday)₹ 0.63 Cr436Total 9th Weekend₹ 1.42 Cr1,243 The ticket sales data from online platforms and national chains tell a similar story of endurance. On BookMyShow, the film sold a total of 29,660 tickets over the weekend, with Saturday being the peak day at 12,330 tickets. This brings the cumulative ticket sales on the platform to a historic 1.83 crore tickets since its release. In the national theater chains—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—the film managed to sell approximately 4,040 tickets across the three days. Friday saw 1,564 tickets sold, Saturday recorded 1,376, and Sunday closed with 1,095 tickets in these major multiplex chains. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has benefitted immensely from its predecessor's legacy and the high-octane emotional core of its storyline. As it enters its tenth week, it is interesting to wait and watch how much further it can push the boundaries. With the ₹1800 Crore worldwide milestone just about ₹1.8 Cr away, the film is expected to cross this landmark within the next few days, cementing its place as a generational blockbuster. Dhurandhar 2 - Cumulative Box Office SummaryCATEGORYCOLLECTION AMOUNTIndia Net Collection₹ 1,145.98 CrIndia Gross Collection₹ 1,371.52 CrOverseas Gross Collection₹ 426.67 CrWorldwide Gross Collection₹ 1,798.19 Cr

BY CHRISTA LINCY

If you have been following the box office journey of Bhooth Bangla, you would know that horror comedies have a unique way of staying relevant long after their release. This film is a perfect example of that longevity. Even in its fifth week, the movie is still drawing audiences to theaters, proving that a solid mix of scares and laughs can keep the cash registers ringing. Over its fifth weekend, the film showed a classic trend where it dipped on Friday but saw massive growth on Saturday and Sunday. The biggest headline of the weekend is that Bhooth Bangla has officially crossed the ₹250 Crore milestone in worldwide gross collections. By the end of Day 31, the total worldwide gross reached ₹253.13 Cr. This was achieved with a strong domestic performance, where the India gross hit ₹199.63 Cr, and the overseas markets contributed ₹53.50 Cr. In terms of net collections, the film has now reached ₹168.35 Cr in India, which is a commendable feat for a film in its second month of release. Let's look at the daily breakdown of the fifth weekend. On Day 29, which was the fifth Friday, the film saw a 40 percent drop from the previous day, collecting ₹0.75 Cr net. However, as the weekend kicked in, the numbers picked up significantly. Day 30 saw a massive 86.7 percent jump, bringing in ₹1.40 Cr net. The growth continued on Day 31, the fifth Sunday, with a 35.7 percent increase from Saturday, resulting in a net collection of ₹1.90 Cr. During these three days, the show counts remained stable, ranging from 2,297 shows on Friday to 2,442 shows by Sunday. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Bhooth Bangla - 5th Weekend India Net CollectionDAYINDIA NET COLLECTIONINDIA GROSS COLLECTIONDay 29 (5th Friday)₹ 0.75 Cr₹ 0.89 CrDay 30 (5th Saturday)₹ 1.40 Cr₹ 1.67 CrDay 31 (5th Sunday)₹ 1.90 Cr₹ 2.26 CrTotal 5th Weekend₹ 4.05 Cr₹ 4.82 Cr The theater occupancy also reflected this weekend surge. While the overall occupancy on Sunday was around 21 percent, major urban regions saw much better activity. In Mumbai, the film recorded 27 percent occupancy, while the National Capital Region followed with 23.5 percent. Even in markets like Ahmedabad, the occupancy stayed steady at 20 percent. These numbers suggest that the film is still a preferred choice for family audiences during the weekend, especially in the evening and night shows where occupancy often peaked between 22 percent and 36 percent. On the ticket booking front, BookMyShow data shows that the film is holding its own against other major hits. It currently ranks 7th in the list of movies with the highest ticket sales by the end of the fifth weekend, with a total of 3.14 million tickets sold so far. Over this specific weekend, the platform recorded 11,960 tickets on Friday, 24,360 on Saturday, and 29,790 on Sunday. This brings the total recorded ticket sales on the platform to over 3.13 million, showing consistent interest from digital bookers. In national theater chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film saw a steady flow of audience.These chains sold approximately 2,500 tickets on Friday, 1,700 tickets on Saturday, and 1,250 tickets on Sunday. While these numbers are naturally lower than the opening weeks, they indicate that the film is still filling seats in premium multiplexes across the country. With a total of over 2.11 lakh shows completed so far, Bhooth Bangla has established itself as one of the most durable hits of the year.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 17 - Ranveer Singh's all-time blockbuster Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is reportedly set for a unique two-phase OTT release strategy in India. After a historic theatrical run, the action spectacle will first stream on JioHotstar before arriving on Netflix India two weeks later. JioHotstar Release First, Netflix Later (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the film has already started streaming globally on Netflix and also reportedly Hotstar in several international markets, the Indian digital rollout has been planned differently. The movie will premiere on JioHotstar in India on June 4, followed by its release on Netflix India on June 19, as per reports. The dual-platform release strategy is being seen as an attempt to maximise the film's reach across different subscriber bases. Industry trackers believe the staggered release could help the film continue its dominance even after its theatrical run. Dhurandhar 2 - One of India's Biggest Blockbusters (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge turned out to be one of the biggest blockbusters in Indian cinema history. The spy action entertainer has grossed around 1800 crores worldwide and emerged not only as the career-best performer of the talent involved, but also the second biggest Indian grosser of all-time. The film stars Ranveer Singh in the lead role alongside R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, and Danish Pandor, among others. The sequel received praise for its large-scale action sequences, emotional drama, and mass appeal, which helped it sustain extraordinary box office momentum worldwide.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 17 - Tamil star Suriya's struggle to score a big success officially ends with Karuppu emerging as a bona fide success story at the domestic and worldwide box office. The actor, who once dominated the box office, had been struggling to score even a decent success, but RJ Balaji's directorial has ended his dry run. After a solid opening of 29 crores gross worldwide, the action drama exploded on Saturday to gross 40+ crores globally to push total collection to 74 crores in 2 days. The film witnessed a massive jump of over 55% domestically, which is a rarity in Tamil cinema. This was a clear indication of public acceptance of the movie. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Karuppu Set For 100 Crore Opening Weekend The action drama has been on a roll at the domestic box office with a 2-day collection of around 46 crores gross. On Sunday, it is expected to score another 20+ crore gross, taking its total India gross to around 66 crore. Overseas, it has already minted an estimated 28 crores, with the weekend expected to be in the range of 40 crores. In the post-COVID era, only Kanguva has managed to gross over 100 crores at the worldwide box office, and Karuppu will most likely be entering the club in its first 3 days and will be crossing or very close to beating Kanguva (106 crores) as the actor's biggest worldwide grosser this decade. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The unstoppable weekend momentum is expected to remain intact during weekdays. Of course, a clear picture will be known by Monday only, but the trend has been super positive so far, which often reflects in weekday numbers. The lack of competition is another major factor working for Karuppu, as the Tamil industry had been going through a rough phase, and the Suriya-starrer has come as a huge breather for the exhibitors.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 17 - Superstar Rajinikanth has reacted strongly to Thalapathy Vijay's political victory, calling it a historic achievement that even surpassed the political success of legendary actors-turned-politicians MGR and NTR. During his latest media interaction, Rajinikanth said Vijay had accomplished something extraordinary by winning independently while taking on both national and regional political giants, calling his victory remarkable. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) "Vijay has achieved something even bigger than what MGR and NTR did. He won independently while taking on the BJP at the Centre and the two major Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu. It gives me both surprise and happiness," Rajinikanth said. The statement has instantly gone viral across social media, with fans and political observers calling it one of the biggest endorsements Vijay has received from the film fraternity since entering politics. Rajinikanth's comparison with legendary figures like MGR and NTR has especially caught attention, considering their immense impact on both cinema and politics in South India. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Vijay's political rise has become a major talking point in Tamil Nadu over the last year. His independent political strategy and growing public support have positioned him as a serious force in the state's political landscape. The actor-turned-politician has been sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu with alliance support, after his own party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in the recently concluded assembly elections.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 16 - Tamil star Suriya's comeback arc is getting stronger with each passing day as he seems to have finally found his big-screen roar again, as action drama Karuppu is heading for a strong jump on its second day at the box office after an impressive worldwide opening of around 29 crores gross. Directed by RJ Balaji, the film opened to excellent occupancy across Tamil Nadu and performed strongly in Telugu markets and the rest of India markets as well. Despite the last-minute release delay caused by financial hurdles, the audience response remained solid, and the positive word of mouth appears to be pushing the film further on Saturday. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Karuppu collected around 15.50 crores net in India on Day 1, translating to nearly 18 crores gross domestically. Overseas markets also contributed strongly, taking the worldwide opening to the 29 crores mark, which is the third biggest for Suriya, and easily the biggest opening of 2026 for a Tamil film. Normally, South Indian films tend to drop on day 2 after a strong start, but Karuppu is defying the odds as it is showing a strong jump at the domestic box office. As of 5 PM, it has already almost matched the opening day figures (tracked gross), with strong evening and night shows expected to push the collection further. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) At this point, the film is looking to score 25+ crores gross comfortably, with chances of going close to 27-28 crores on its second day domestically. In Tamil Nadu, after 11.25 crores gross opening day, Karuppu is heading towards the 15+ crores range collection on Saturday, which is a solid jump. The other areas are also witnessing a similar trend, which is a heartening sign. The buzz around the film has been extraordinary over the last 48 hours. The delay in release, instead of hurting the film, has amplified curiosity among fans. On BookMyShow, the ticket sales touched record levels for a Suriya starrer on release day, signalling a strong comeback for the actor after a mixed theatrical phase.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 16 - Veteran actor-politician Kamal Haasan has made six major demands to the newly formed Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, seeking stronger support for the Tamil film industry. The actor personally met Vijay in Chennai and submitted a formal letter outlining the requests on behalf of the cinema industry and film audiences. In the letter dated May 16, 2026, Kamal Haasan congratulated Vijay on becoming the Chief Minister and praised his leadership vision. He stated that Tamil cinema is facing several challenges and needs government intervention to protect theatres, producers, distributors, and audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The six demands raised by Kamal Haasan are: - Launch of a Tamil Nadu Government OTT platform for Tamil films, documentaries, and independent cinema. - Abolition of the Local Body Entertainment Tax, which he said is hurting the film business. - Formation of a strong anti-piracy team under the Tamil Nadu Police Cyber Crime Department to tackle online piracy in real time. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) - Permission for 5 shows per day in theatres across Tamil Nadu to improve theatre revenues and support film exhibition. - A mandatory 8-week OTT release window for Tamil films to protect theatrical business. - Introduction of a film production incentive scheme offering up to 10% subsidy for films that complete more than 50% of their shooting in Tamil Nadu. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Kamal Haasan also highlighted that Tamil cinema is not just an entertainment business but a cultural identity for the state. He expressed hope that Vijay's government would help Tamil cinema regain its strength and global reach. The meeting has generated huge attention because both Kamal Haasan and Vijay have strong political and cinema backgrounds. Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10 after his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), emerged as the single largest party in the 2026 Assembly elections.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Dhamaal 4 has a new release date, with the film now scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 17, 2026. As per an exclusive report by Bollywood Hungama, the sequel has moved from its initial July 3 slot to avoid a potential box office overlap with Welcome to the Jungle, which is currently slated for June 26. This adjustment provides both big-budget comedies with a better opportunity to find their audience without competing for the same screens immediately upon release. What makes this move particularly noteworthy is the reported gentleman's agreement between superstars Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar. According to trade sources, the two actors had a direct conversation and agreed that releasing two large-scale comedies just a week apart would likely cannibalize each other's business. By shifting the dates, they have ensured that both projects have enough breathing space to maximize their box office potential in a very busy summer market. Welcome to the Jungle, directed by Ahmed Khan, remains the first big comedy event of the season. It features a sprawling cast including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, and Paresh Rawal, among many others. By moving Dhamaal 4 to July 17, the industry ensures a nearly three-week gap between these two tentpole releases. This window is considered ideal in today's theatrical environment, as it allows the first film to exhaust its primary run before the next major release arrives to claim screens and audience attention. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dhamaal 4 marks the return of the popular franchise under director Indra Kumar. The film brings back the beloved core cast of Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Sanjay Mishra, and Jaaved Jaaferi, while adding new faces like Ravi Kishan, Esha Gupta, and Sanjeeda Shaikh. Interestingly, Arshad Warsi is part of both ensembles, making the staggered release even more logical for the trade and for the actors involved, ensuring their work doesn't compete with itself. From a trade perspective, this reshuffle could turn the summer of 2026 into one of the biggest seasons for the comedy genre in recent history. Instead of fighting for the same screens, both films are now positioned as standalone theatrical events. This rare example of collaboration over competition reflects a maturing industry where stars and producers are increasingly prioritizing long-term profitability and word-of-mouth over high-profile clashes at the ticket window. The production of Dhamaal 4 involves a massive collaboration between T-Series, Devgn Films, and Maruti International. With Indra Kumar at the helm and a production team including Bhushan Kumar and Kumar Mangat Pathak, the film is poised for a wide release. The revised plan allows for a cleaner run to bring in the moolah, ensuring that the franchise has every opportunity to succeed when it hits theaters on July 17, 2026.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Raja Shivaji is showing solid staying power as it moves into its third week of release. While many films face a sharp decline after the initial two-week period, this historical drama has managed to keep a steady pace, continuing to be a reliable earner for the Marathi film industry. The film’s ability to maintain a consistent audience suggests that the subject matter is resonating well, allowing it to navigate the arrival of new titles without losing its core momentum at the ticket windows. On its 15th day, which was its third Friday, the film brought in a net collection of 1.45 crore. While this is a 23.7 percent drop from the previous day's 1.90 crore, it is a very resilient performance considering the arrival of new competition. This takes the total India net collection to 78.40 crore, while the India gross has climbed to 92.81 crore. The film operated across 2,142 shows nationwide, showing that exhibitors still have immense faith in its ability to bring in the moolah. The language-wise breakdown clearly shows where the film's primary strength lies. The Marathi version remains the heavy lifter, contributing 1.25 crore on Friday with a healthy 20 percent occupancy across 1,327 shows. The Hindi version added another 0.20 crore to the kitty from 815 shows. Even in its third week, the film is finding enough oxygen in the Hindi markets to keep the numbers ticking, though the Marathi heartland continues to be the driving force. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the performance in national multiplex chains, the film recorded approximately 5,350 tickets sold on Friday. Across the big three—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—it generated a gross of roughly 13 lakh. INOX led the segment with around 2,400 tickets, followed by PVR with 2,000 tickets and Cinepolis adding another 900. These numbers indicate a steady flow of urban audiences who are still catching up with the epic on the big screen. Digital engagement remains explosive as well, with BookMyShow recording 50.78K tickets for the day, pushing the lifetime total on the platform to a massive 21,30,390 tickets. Regional occupancy remains strongest in Maharashtra's core centers. In Mumbai, the Marathi version saw an overall occupancy of 18.5 percent across 333 shows, with night shows peaking at 25 percent. Pune performed even better, recording a 22.5 percent occupancy across 254 shows, with night screenings hitting the 30 percent mark. In the Hindi circuits, the film saw 9.8 percent occupancy in Ahmedabad and around 7.3 percent in both Surat and the National Capital Region (NCR). With its current total of 78.40 crore net, Raja Shivaji has already cemented its place in history by surpassing the lifetime collections of blockbusters like Ved and Baipan Bhari Deva. It now sits firmly in the second position of all-time Marathi grossers. The only target left to conquer is the legendary Sairat, which holds the top spot with a lifetime collection of 110 crore. With a steady trend and a lack of major competition in the regional market, the focus remains on whether this epic can bridge the gap and eventually claim the top spot as the highest-grossing Marathi film of all time.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 16 - The makers of the upcoming comedy entertainer Golmaal 5 have reportedly addressed the ongoing rumours surrounding Akshay Kumar and his reported remuneration for the film. Over the last few days, multiple reports claimed that Akshay was being paid a massive 35-40 crore fee for a short shooting schedule in the upcoming comedy entertainer. However, the production house, Rohit Shetty Picturez, has now dismissed all such reports as baseless and purely speculative. In an official statement (via Bollywood Hungama), the spokesperson clarified that the commercial details of the film are confidential and that the numbers being circulated online are not true. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The clarification came after it was reported in the media that Akshay Kumar was charging more than Ajay Devgn for the film. According to those reports, Akshay was allegedly receiving 35-40 crore for around 18-22 days of shoot, while Ajay Devgn was said to be working on a profit-sharing model. Despite the rumours, the makers have requested fans to support the film and avoid believing unverified financial reports. The makers stated that the team is making the film with a lot of love and urged audiences to focus on the excitement surrounding the project rather than speculation about actor fees. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Rohit Shetty, the film marks the fifth instalment of the hugely popular Golmaal franchise. Apart from Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar, the movie also stars Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Sharman Joshi, and Kunal Kemmu in prominent roles.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The sequel to the 2019 romantic comedy, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, has made a rather lukewarm entry at the box office. When the first film arrived five years ago, it hit the ground running with a solid 9.10 crore on its opening day. In contrast, this new installment has managed to collect less than half of its prequel's total, signaling a clear lack of momentum right from the start. It is a quiet beginning for a franchise that previously enjoyed a much stronger pull with the audience. On its first Friday, the film brought in a net of 4 crore across a very wide release of 6,822 shows. This translated into an India gross of 4.80 crore. While the massive show count provided plenty of oxygen for the film to perform, the actual moolah entering the kitty remains underwhelming. For a movie playing on over 6,800 screens, an opening of the 4 crore mark suggests that the content failed to generate the necessary early-day spark to fill those seats. The performance in the national multiplex chains reflects this struggle. Across PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film sold approximately 19,400 tickets on its opening day, contributing roughly 61 lakh to the gross. PVR accounted for about 10,400 tickets sold across 1,234 shows, while INOX and Cinepolis combined added another 8,900 tickets. Despite being available at roughly 380 venues within these national chains, the overall occupancy hovered around a low 3 percent. The wide availability of shows simply did not match the actual demand at the ticket counters. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the digital front, the film saw some activity as the day progressed. Approximately 1.69 lakh tickets were sold on BookMyShow for the opening day. The booking pace did see a slight peak during the evening hours, reaching between 35,000 to 39,000 tickets per hour. While this suggests that some urban viewers opted for late-night screenings, it was not enough to significantly move the needle or bridge the massive gap left by the 2019 original. Regional occupancy numbers across major circuits remained mostly in the single digits or low teens. In the National Capital Region (NCR), the film had 958 shows but could only manage a 9.8 percent occupancy. Mumbai was slightly better at 13.8 percent occupancy across 509 shows, while cities like Pune and Jaipur saw 14.5 percent and 13.3 percent respectively. Even in these metros, the morning and afternoon shows were extremely dull. With the initial Friday numbers coming in so low, the film now faces an uphill task to show any significant growth over the rest of the weekend.