BY SACNILK

As the promotional cycle for Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana Part 1 moves into high gear before its Diwali release, the industry is already turning its attention to Ranbir Kapoor's next massive theatrical outing. According to a report by Variety India, the production team behind Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love & War is currently finalizing the first official look of the film, which is expected to be unveiled in the coming months. This early reveal is intended to begin the long-term marketing journey for the project, which remains one of the most talked-about ensemble pieces in modern Hindi cinema. The decision to release the first official asset before Diwali 2026 is a calculated move to build anticipation well ahead of the film's scheduled release on January 21, 2027. While the production house has yet to lock in a specific date for this unveiling, sources indicate that fans can expect the official character posters or a teaser image in the next few weeks. This strategy allows the film to establish its presence in the audience's mind even as Ranbir Kapoor dominates the narrative with his portrayal in the Ramayana epic. During his recent interaction at the San Diego Comic-Con, Ranbir himself confirmed the status of both projects, noting that he is actively working on both Love & War and Ramayana to ensure they meet their respective timelines. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The casting of Love & War is a significant draw, bringing together the powerhouse trio of Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal. However, the rest of the supporting cast has been kept strictly under wraps by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his team. Despite several alleged first look photos and leaked images circulating on social media over the last few months, the makers have maintained a tight lid on the actual production designs. The official advice for audiences has been to disregard these unofficial leaks, as the upcoming character reveals are designed to offer the first authentic glimpse into the aesthetic and tone of the film. Billed as an intense romantic drama, Love & War is set against the sprawling backdrop of a military conflict. This combination of intimate emotional stakes and grand-scale military action is a hallmark of Bhansali's storytelling style. The project arrives at a time when all three lead actors are experiencing major career milestones. Alia Bhatt is coming off the release of her action-packed role in Alpha, which arrived in theaters earlier this July. Vicky Kaushal’s last major outing was the historical drama Chhaava, released in 2025, where he received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Meanwhile, Ranbir Kapoor is preparing to lead the Diwali box office with Ramayana, which also stars Yash and Sai Pallavi. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) With Bhansali at the helm and a cast of this caliber, the expectations for Love & War are high. The film's January 2027 release window provides a clear path for it to dominate the first quarter of that year. As the production enters its next phase, the official first look will serve as the primary confirmation of the film's visual direction, effectively ending the months of speculation and leaked rumors that have followed the project since its announcement.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 17 - Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema's Evil Dead Burn has delivered a strong performance at the Indian box office, emerging as the biggest opening week for a horror film released in 2026. The supernatural horror title wrapped up its first seven days with an impressive 25 crore gross, comfortably surpassing the 22 crore-plus opening week of Curry Barker's Obsession. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film collected 2+ crore gross on its seventh day, taking its first-week total to 25 crore gross. Despite facing competition from multiple Indian releases, Evil Dead Burn maintained steady collections throughout the week, with South India and major metropolitan cities leading its business. The result underlines the growing appetite for horror films among Indian audiences. The latest instalment in Sam Raimi's iconic Evil Dead franchise has also achieved another significant milestone by making India the biggest international opening weekend market for the film. During its opening weekend, the movie grossed approximately 15+ crore, outperforming every overseas territory outside North America and highlighting the franchise's strong fanbase in the country. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) With positive word-of-mouth and limited direct competition in the horror genre, Evil Dead Burn now has an opportunity to extend its theatrical run over the coming weeks. Having already overtaken Obsession to register the biggest first week for a horror film in India this year, the film has established itself as one of Hollywood's notable box office successes in the Indian market in 2026. Earlier, Obsession had an excellent run at the Indian box office. Despite starting slowly, the thriller grew exceptionally over the weeks due to extremely positive word of mouth. It became only the second Hollywood horror title to surpass the 100 crore gross mark in India, to emerge as one of the biggest non-Indian titles. It needs to be seen how far Evil Dead Burn can go.

BY SACNILK

There is a lot of conversation happening in the trade circles regarding Salman Khan's ambitious project, Maatrubhumi. Originally announced as Battle of Galwan, the film has been one of the most talked-about movies in the superstar's upcoming lineup. However, according to a recent report by Bollywood Hungama, there is a strong possibility that the film's release might be pushed to 2027. While the makers were initially aiming for a release this year, certain technical and diplomatic hurdles seem to be slowing down the progress. The core reason behind this potential delay involves the subject matter of the film. Maatrubhumi is based on the 2020 border conflict between India and China. Given that diplomatic relations between the two countries have seen recent improvements, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) reportedly has some reservations regarding the specific mention of China and certain aspects of the content. In India, any film depicting the armed forces requires a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the MoD, and it appears the team is currently working through these discussions to ensure the film is presented appropriately. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A trade source mentioned that even if these issues are resolved quickly, finding a suitable release window in the current year is becoming a challenge. Most major holiday slots are already occupied by other big-budget films. Interestingly, the source highlighted Salman Khan's unique ethics when it comes to box office clashes. Unlike many others in the industry, Salman is known to be very fair and avoids clashing with other films unnecessarily. If he ever decides to take up a date already claimed by another producer, he makes it a point to inform them personally beforehand. This professional courtesy is one reason why the makers are being extra cautious with the scheduling. Industry insiders believe that if a 2026 release is still pursued, the Dussehra period around October 20 could be a viable option. It offers an extended five-day weekend, and with other major films like Ramayana potentially moving to late October, there could be a clear window. Currently, Rajkummar Rao's Raftaar and the Emraan Hashmi-Genelia Deshmukh starrer Gunmaaster G9 are eyeing the mid-October slot, but no official confirmation has locked them in yet. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) If the clearance issues persist, Maatrubhumi will officially move to 2027. This shift would actually result in a massive year for Salman Khan fans, as the superstar is already working on an untitled actioner directed by Vamshi Paidipally. That film, which features Nayanthara as the female lead, is also targeted for a 2027 release. Having two Salman Khan films in a single calendar year is a rare event and would certainly create a massive buzz at the box office. For now, Maatrubhumi remains a highly anticipated project because it brings Salman Khan into a gritty, real-life inspired military drama. Directed by Karan Butani and produced under the Salman Khan Films (SKF) banner, the movie is expected to showcase the actor in a very different light compared to his usual commercial entertainers. While the wait might get a little longer, the scale and the sensitivity of the subject suggest that the makers are taking the right steps to ensure the film reaches the audience in its best possible form.

BY SACNILK

Cocktail 2 has reached a significant milestone in its theatrical run as it enters its third week. The film has officially surpassed the lifetime worldwide collection of Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, which stood at 139 crore. With this achievement, Cocktail 2 has secured a spot in the top five highest-grossing romantic comedies in Indian cinema since 2012. This steady performance highlights the sustained interest in the genre when backed by a strong franchise name. On its twentieth day, which was a Wednesday, the film collected a net of 0.45 crore across India. When compared to the previous day’s net of 0.50 crore, this represents a 10 percent drop, which is a standard trend for a film at this stage. The movie maintained a presence across 1,172 shows during the day. Taking a closer look at the cumulative figures, the total India net collection now stands at 93.90 crore, while the total India gross has reached 111.93 crore. Globally, the film is performing well, with a worldwide gross collection of 142.33 crore achieved across more than 1,04,000 shows so far. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The international market continues to be a steady contributor to the film's success. On Day 20, the overseas collection was 0.10 crore, taking the total overseas gross to 30.40 crore. According to data tracked by Venky Box Office, the film earned 13,000 dollars in North America on Tuesday, bringing its total in that region to 1.45 million dollars. As the film's pace begins to slow down, it remains to be seen if it can cross the 1.5 million dollar mark by the end of its theatrical run. If it manages to reach this figure, it will be Shahid Kapoor's second film as a solo lead to hit the 1.5 million dollar milestone in North America, following Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, which finished with approximately 2.50 million dollars. In terms of audience engagement on digital platforms, BookMyShow recorded 6,520 tickets booked on Wednesday, following 11,530 tickets on Tuesday. This brings the total tickets sold on the platform to approximately 16,34,640. Looking at the performance in national cinema chains for Wednesday, PVR led the way with roughly 1,460 tickets sold for a gross of 4.75 lakh. INOX followed with approximately 840 tickets and a gross of 1.90 lakh, while Cinepolis contributed about 520 tickets with a gross of 1.17 lakh. In total, these major chains accounted for roughly 2,820 tickets and a combined gross of 7.80 lakh for the day. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The overall occupancy for the Hindi 2D version stood at 13.99 percent on Wednesday. Similar to previous days, the night shows saw the highest footfalls at 17.15 percent, while morning shows started at around 6.6 percent. Regionally, Mumbai led the occupancy charts among major hubs with 13 percent across 99 shows. The National Capital Region followed with 11.8 percent across 167 shows, while Ahmedabad and Bengaluru both recorded an occupancy of 10.3 percent. These numbers indicate that the film is still holding a decent grip in metropolitan areas even as new releases arrive. Top 5 Rom-Coms Since 2012 - Worldwide GrossMOVIE NAMEWORLDWIDE GROSSYeh Jawaani Hai Deewani₹ 318.00 CrTanu Weds Manu Returns₹ 258.00 CrTu Jhoothi Main Makkaar₹ 223.00 Cr2 States₹ 173.10 CrCocktail 2₹ 142.33 Cr

BY SACNILK

The Yash Raj Films Spy Universe has come a long way since its inception in 2012 with Ek Tha Tiger. Over the last decade, we have seen this franchise evolve from standalone actioners into a massive interconnected cinematic world featuring some of the biggest stars in Indian cinema. While the universe has largely been dominated by male leads like Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, and Shah Rukh Khan, Alpha marks a significant pivot as the first female-led installment. Starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, this film carries the weight of expanding the lore while maintaining the high-octane momentum established by predecessors like Pathaan and Tiger 3. On its sixth day, which was a Wednesday, Alpha earned a net collection of 2.85 crore across India. When we look at this in comparison to the previous day, it represents a 32.9 percent drop from Tuesday's net of 4.25 crore. However, it is important to note that Tuesday's numbers were slightly inflated due to it being a discounted ticket day, which is a common trend in the current exhibition landscape. The film maintained its presence across 7,321 shows on Wednesday, which indicates that exhibitors are still giving it a fair amount of breathing room despite the usual mid-week slump. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Taking a closer look at the cumulative totals, Alpha has reached a total India net collection of 44.95 crore, with the total India gross standing at 53.59 crore. While these figures represent the current standing after six days, they reflect a clear underperformance when considering the massive scale and franchise value of the Spy Universe. For a brand that usually commands much higher footfalls, these numbers indicate that the film is finding it difficult to live up to the high commercial benchmarks set by its predecessors. The audience engagement remains visible on digital platforms as well. On BookMyShow, the film saw 37,390 tickets booked on Wednesday, following a high of 82,920 tickets on Tuesday. This brings the total tickets sold on the platform to approximately 8,02,360 so far. If we break down the performance in national cinema chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the numbers give us a clearer picture of urban audience interest. For the selected day, PVR led the way with roughly 5,000 tickets sold, amounting to a gross of 15 lakh. INOX followed closely with approximately 4,400 tickets and a gross of 10.5 lakh, while Cinepolis contributed about 1,850 tickets with a gross of 4 lakh. In total, these major chains accounted for roughly 11,250 tickets and a combined gross of over 29 lakh. The overall occupancy for the Hindi 2D version stood at 9.79 percent, starting with a lower morning opening of 6 percent and peaking during the night shows at about 12.5 percent. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Regionally, the National Capital Region and Mumbai continue to be the primary drivers for the film. NCR recorded an occupancy of 10.3 percent across 743 shows, while Mumbai followed with 9.5 percent across 549 shows. Other cities like Pune and Ahmedabad also hovered around the 9 percent mark, showing a fairly uniform interest across major metropolitan hubs. This consistency is vital for the film as it heads into its second weekend, where it will need to see a jump in footfalls to sustain its long-term theatrical run. On the global front, the early estimates for the overseas collection stand at 1.50 crore for Day 6, taking the total overseas gross to 21.30 crore. According to data tracked by Venky Box Office, the film earned 119,000 dollars (approx. 1 crore) in North America on Tuesday, bringing its total in that region to 750,000 dollars (approx. 6.25 crore). When we combine the domestic gross of 53.59 crore with the overseas estimates, the total worldwide gross collection for Alpha is approximately 74.89 crore so far. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) To give you some context on these numbers, Alpha has already managed to surpass the lifetime worldwide collection of Alia Bhatt's previous solo-led film, Jigra, within its first six days. For comparison, Jigra ended its run with a worldwide gross of 56.93 crore and an India net of 31.98 crore. By crossing these milestones in less than a week, Alpha has demonstrated the added pull of the Spy Universe brand. The logical next step for the film will be to target the 100 crore worldwide mark as it enters its second week of release.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 7 - The Central Government has responded to the controversy surrounding the removal of Diljit Dosanjh's Satluj from ZEE5, stating that the decision was taken in view of national security concerns and issues related to the film's certification process (as per ANI). The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has also constituted a high-level Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) to conduct a detailed review of the film's content. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources, the IDC was set up on Monday, a day after ZEE5 took down Satluj from its platform. The committee has been tasked with examining the film, which is inspired by the disappearance of Punjab-based human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, and will assess whether any further action is required under the existing legal and regulatory framework. Explaining the takedown, ANI reported, citing government sources, that the film was released on the OTT platform without completing the mandatory certification process. Officials claimed that the project, which was earlier developed under the title Punjab 95, had faced objections during certification and was released as Satluj without resolving those issues. The Centre maintained that the removal directive was issued in accordance with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Honey Trehan and starring Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role, Satluj is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and depicts events linked to Punjab during the militancy era. The film premiered on ZEE5 before being removed from the platform following the government's direction, triggering widespread debate over censorship, freedom of expression, and regulatory oversight of OTT content. With the formation of the Inter-Departmental Committee, the government has now initiated a formal review of the film. The committee's findings are expected to play a key role in determining the Centre's next course of action and could influence whether Satluj returns to streaming in the future or faces additional regulatory measures.

BY SACNILK

Cocktail 2 has wrapped up its second week at the box office, but the numbers reveal a concerning trend for the makers. While the film appeared to be on a steady path with a first-week collection of 70.50 crore rupees, it faced a massive crash in the second week, adding only 18.90 crore to its domestic total. This sharp decline has brought the total India net collection to 89.40 crore rupees after 14 days, indicating that the initial momentum has faded much faster than anticipated. The financial standing of the film becomes even more difficult when we consider its massive 150 crore rupee budget. Although the producers managed to recover 50 percent of the cost through non-theatrical sales like OTT and satellite rights before the release, the theatrical performance has fallen short of expectations. To reach a safe breakeven point, the movie required a worldwide gross of approximately 180 crore rupees. With the current worldwide gross sitting at roughly 135.92 crore and show counts already reducing for the third week, achieving the required theatrical breakeven target looks increasingly difficult despite the film's decent raw numbers. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Cocktail 2 - Week 2 India Net CollectionsDAYINDIA NET COLLECTIONDay 8 (2nd Friday)₹ 4.00 CrDay 9 (2nd Saturday)₹ 4.25 CrDay 10 (2nd Sunday)₹ 4.40 CrDay 11 (2nd Monday)₹ 1.75 CrDay 12 (2nd Tuesday)₹ 1.85 CrDay 13 (2nd Wednesday)₹ 1.40 CrDay 14 (2nd Thursday)₹ 1.25 CrTotal Week 2₹ 18.90 Cr The cumulative performance of Cocktail 2 now stands at a net collection of 89.40 crore rupees in India. With a total India gross of 106.57 crore, the film has officially crossed the century mark in terms of gross earnings within the country. This performance has been supported by a massive distribution network, with the film running across a total of 97,344 shows over the last 14 days. In the major national theater chains, the second week alone saw over 99,000 tickets being sold, indicating sustained interest in metropolitan areas. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the digital front, the film continues to see active engagement. By the end of two weeks, Cocktail 2 has recorded approximately 1.56 million total ticket bookings on BookMyShow. The second week itself contributed significantly to this tally, with the second Friday and Saturday seeing the highest volumes at roughly 79,000 and 76,000 tickets respectively. This digital footprint suggests that the urban youth audience remains a primary driver for the film's theatrical run. The international box office contributed a total of 4.35 crore rupees during the second week, bringing the cumulative overseas gross to 29.35 crore. According to tracking data from Venky Box Office, the North American market remains a key contributor, reaching 1.37 million dollars, which is approximately 11.45 crore rupees in Indian currency. When these international figures are added to the domestic gross of 106.57 crore, the worldwide total for Cocktail 2 stands at 135.92 crore rupees. While these numbers are substantial, the cooling interest in overseas markets mirrors the domestic trend as the film struggles to maintain its initial momentum.

BY SACNILK

The latest addition to the Yash Raj Films Spy Universe, Alpha, has finally hit the theaters today. As the seventh installment in this successful franchise, the film carries significant weight, especially being the first female-led standalone action movie in the series. Directed by Shiv Rawail and produced by Aditya Chopra, the film brings Alia Bhatt and Sharvari Wagh into the spy world with a reported budget of approximately 100 crore rupees. Looking at the final advance booking numbers, the film has managed a steady start. In the national theater chains comprising PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the movie sold about 39,000 tickets for its opening day. This resulted in a gross collection of roughly 1.50 crore rupees from these major chains alone. When we break it down, PVR led the way with around 21,500 tickets, followed by INOX with 12,000, and Cinepolis with 5,500 tickets. The overall occupancy in these national chains settled at approximately 6 percent across nearly 2,800 tracked shows. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The regional data reveals that major metropolitan areas are providing the bulk of the early momentum. The National Capital Region led the way with a gross collection of 60 lakh rupees across 867 shows, followed closely by Mumbai at 56 lakh rupees from 697 shows. Other significant contributions came from Bengaluru, which recorded around 27 lakh rupees from 338 shows, and Hyderabad with 17 lakh rupees across 249 shows. Meanwhile, Pune added roughly 9 lakh rupees from 258 shows. These numbers show that while the film is playing across thousands of screens, these urban centers are currently the primary drivers of its box office revenue. On a pan-India level, including single screens and smaller regional centers, the total ticket sales for the opening day reached approximately 90,000 tickets. This resulted in an overall advance booking collection of 3.06 crore rupees. Most of these sales were concentrated in the standard 2D Hindi format, which accounted for over 8,200 shows nationwide. While niche formats like ICE and Dolby Cinema are available, they represent a very small fraction of the total bookings, suggesting that the general mass audience is sticking to traditional screens. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) An interesting trend emerged on digital booking platforms like BookMyShow in the final 48 hours leading up to the release. On July 1, the platform recorded about 16,000 ticket sales, but this number jumped significantly to over 54,000 on July 2. This suggests that the trailers and promotional material successfully built last-minute curiosity. With over 159,000 users expressing interest before the first show, the film has clearly captured the attention of the core movie-going demographic. Also the presence of seasoned actors like Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol, combined with the highly anticipated cameo of Hrithik Roshan reprising his role as Kabir, is expected to drive walk-in audiences throughout the weekend. For a film produced on a 100 crore rupee scale, the initial momentum suggests that the overall box office performance will rely heavily on positive word-of-mouth and growth in evening show turnouts.

BY SACNILK

Jana Nayagan. This project, featuring Thalapathy Vijay in what is expected to be his final cinematic outing, has faced a journey unlike any other. According to the latest reports from Valai Pechu, the production team is currently in New Delhi, making a final push to secure that elusive CBFC certificate. They are looking at a crucial date of June 19. If things go as planned, we might finally see a theatrical release by June 26 or July 3. What makes this situation particularly interesting from a business perspective is Vijay’s personal involvement. It is reported that he is willing to step in and refund distributors out of his own pocket if the certificate remains blocked. This kind of financial safety net from a lead actor is rare and speaks to the immense pressure surrounding this release. He is also prepared to cover the entire investment made by KVN Productions. For a film of this scale, such a move is a massive gamble, but it shows a commitment to the cinema fraternity that has been waiting in limbo for a very long time. To understand why this is such a significant moment, we have to look back at the original projections. Back in late 2025, the buzz for the January 9, 2026 release was record-breaking. Advance bookings had already seen over 4.5 lakh tickets sold, with refund amounts estimated between 42 to 50 crore rupees globally when the initial postponement happened. Comparing this to previous blockbusters, the loss of a prime festive window like Pongal was a huge blow to the film’s box office potential. The momentum was at an all-time high before the bureaucratic freeze began in December 2025. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) If you have not been following the saga from the start, here is a quick look at the hurdles this film has cleared—or tripped over. The trouble began when the CBFC withheld the certificate over concerns regarding religious and political themes, along with the use of certain military symbols. What followed was a legal marathon moving from the Madras High Court all the way to the Supreme Court. By February 2026, the producers had to withdraw their lawsuit to pursue the Revising Committee route. The lowest point came this past April when a high-definition version of the movie leaked online. Most films would have folded after a leak of that magnitude, but Jana Nayagan continues to seek a legitimate path to its audience. As we stand now, the stakes are binary. If New Delhi grants the clearance, we witness a historic, albeit delayed, theatrical event. If not, the team is exploring a direct OTT release or even shelving the project indefinitely. For the fans and the distributors, the next few days are more than just a waiting game; they are a defining moment for the commercial viability of big-budget cinema in the face of administrative roadblocks.

BY SACNILK

Deool Band 2 has just crossed its second Monday, and the results show a very consistent interest from the Marathi audience. The film's narrative, centered on Swami Samarth's teachings, has successfully resonated with viewers across the state. On its 12th day, the film added a net of ₹2.60 Cr to its tally, taking the total India net collection to ₹46.65 Cr. When we look at the trend, the Day 12 collection represents a 54.8 percent drop from the previous day's net of ₹5.75 Cr. Mind you, a drop of this scale on the second Monday is completely normal for a film that had a massive second weekend. The film operated across 1,981 shows yesterday and maintained an overall occupancy of 30.0 percent. The hold in key Marathi hubs like Pune was particularly strong, where it recorded 35.5 percent occupancy across 404 shows. Mumbai followed with 25.8 percent occupancy, showing that the buzz hasn't dried up in the metropolitan areas either. What is truly fascinating is the pace at which Deool Band 2 is chasing milestones. With a total net of ₹46.65 Cr, the film is now just ₹3.35 Cr away from the coveted 50 crore net mark. Based on the current trend, the film is expected to hit this milestone by Day 14 or at the latest by its 15th day. To put this in context, it is set to become one of the fastest films released only in the Marathi language to achieve this feat. For comparison, the massive hit Baipan Bhari Deva took 17 days to reach the 50 crore mark, while Ved reached it on Day 21. It is currently neck-and-neck with Sairat, which also crossed the line around the 14-day mark. The film has already cemented its legacy by entering the elite list of the highest-grossing Marathi films of all time. Within just 12 days, it has climbed into the top five, surpassing several long-standing records. It currently sits at the fifth spot, but given the current momentum, it won't be surprising if it climbs higher in the coming weeks. You can see how the leaderboard stands currently in the table below. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 5 All-Time Marathi Net CollectionsMOVIE NAMEMARATHI NET COLLECTIONSairat₹ 80.97 CrBaipan Bhari Deva₹ 76.00 CrRaja Shivaji₹ 70.00 CrVed₹ 61.00 CrDeool Band 2₹ 46.65 Cr Looking at the broader financial picture, the domestic gross collection has reached ₹54.88 Cr. Since the film is strictly focused on its primary regional market in India, there has been no overseas collection reported so far. This brings the total worldwide gross to the same figure of ₹54.88 Cr, with the domestic market being the sole contributor. It is quite rare for a Marathi-only release to generate this kind of volume across 20,898 shows in such a short period. The focus now shifts to how quickly the film reaches the 50 crore net milestone as it moves through the week. The audience connection with the film's themes has been a steady driver for these figures. If the current trend continues, it stands a good chance of moving further up the all-time Marathi list, potentially closing the gap with movies like Ved and Raja Shivaji.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 29 - Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar is gearing up to explore an entirely new cinematic space with Samuk, an ambitious alien survival thriller backed by producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah and directed by Kanishk Varma. The film, which is currently in pre-production, is being envisioned as one of the most technically advanced and genre-defining projects attempted in Indian cinema. "A Never-Seen-Before Cinema" (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Speaking about the film in an exclusive interaction with Variety India, Akshay Kumar admitted that Samuk instantly stood out because of its fresh concept and scale. The actor revealed that the project offers something Indian audiences have rarely experienced before in mainstream cinema. Calling it a "never-seen-before" thriller, Akshay shared that the film combines survival horror, intense action, and extraterrestrial suspense in a grounded yet cinematic manner. The actor also expressed excitement about stepping into the sci-fi genre in such a large-scale setup, blending military realism with high-intensity survival sequences. Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah emphasised that Samuk is not being treated as a conventional Bollywood entertainer. Instead, the makers are aiming to create a globally mounted sci-fi thriller with strong emotional storytelling and realistic action. Director Kanishk Varma reportedly drew inspiration from iconic international alien survival films but wanted Samuk to have its own identity rooted in Indian storytelling sensibilities. One of the film's biggest creative decisions is the use of practical creature effects instead of depending heavily on computer-generated imagery. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Hollywood Technician On Board To achieve that vision, the team has brought on board Hollywood creature designer Alec Gillis, best known for his work on globally acclaimed franchises like Alien and Predator. Gillis will design the extraterrestrial creature for Samuk, with the makers aiming to create a terrifying and physically realistic on-screen presence. The project has also roped in action expert Luke Tumber, who has worked on major international productions, including films from the Mission: Impossible franchise. Samuk also marks Akshay Kumar's reunion with Vipul Amrutlal Shah after several successful collaborations in the past. Their partnership has delivered multiple commercial entertainers over the years, and expectations are already high for this latest venture. At a time when Indian cinema is increasingly experimenting with new genres and storytelling formats, Samuk could emerge as a landmark project if executed successfully. The shoot of the film is expected to begin in August this year for a grand theatrical release in 2027.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 26 - Director Aditya Dhar's spy action thriller Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge have changed the game for Indian cinema in this genre. Grounded espionage and raw action are the core of the blockbuster franchise. Ranveer Singh's gritty performance as deep-cover agent Jaskirat Singh Rangi set a new gold standard for realistic Indian spy thrillers. If you love complex, chapter-based plots, tense standoffs, and nation-first narratives, these five Indian spy masterpieces will keep you on the edge of your seat. While Dhurandhar has definitely set the bar super high, these five films have been the gold standard in this genre. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Baby (2015) Where to Watch - JioHotstar, YouTube (rent) Directed by Neeraj Pandey, Baby is about an elite, unnamed Indian counter-intelligence team that sets out on a ticking-clock mission to track down a terrorist group and eliminate dangerous sleeper cells. Starring Akshay Kumar as lead agent Ajay Singh Rajput, alongside Rana Daggubati and Taapsee Pannu, the film opts for hyper-realistic action, gritty international locations, and a raw, professional look at the gruelling reality of spy work. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Madras Cafe (2013) Where to Watch - Prime Video, YouTube (rent), Apple TV This political thriller is directed by Shoojit Sircar and features John Abraham as the lead agent and Nargis Fakhri as an international journalist. In the movie, an Indian army special forces officer is recruited by the intelligence wing to infiltrate a war-torn island and break up a powerful rebel force. It feels almost like a documentary, exploring the dark, heavy realities of real-world spy craft. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) D-Day (2013) Where to Watch - Prime Video, MX Player, YouTube Directed by Nikkhil Advani, the film focuses on a highly secret, four-member R&AW team that infiltrates Pakistan to capture and bring back "Goldman," India's most wanted criminal mastermind. The film boasts a powerhouse cast including Arjun Rampal (who also stars in Dhurandhar), Rishi Kapoor, Irfan Khan, and Huma Qureshi. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Vishwaroopam (2013) Where to Watch - JioHotstar A seemingly effeminate Kathak dance teacher in New York is hunted by the FBI, only to reveal he is a highly lethal, top-tier Indian intelligence agent tracking a global terror network. Written, directed, and led by cinema legend Kamal Haasan, the movie also stars Rahul Bose and Pooja Kumar. It mirrors Dhurandhar's massive global scope, explosive hand-to-hand combat choreography, and clever use of shifting secret identities to outsmart dangerous adversaries. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Raazi (2018) Where to Watch - Prime Video, Netflix, Apple TV On the eve of the 1971 Indo-Pak war, a young, untrained Kashmiri girl is married into a high-ranking Pakistani military family to serve as a deep-cover spy. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, this critically acclaimed film stars Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal in lead roles. The film explores the heavy emotional weight of patriotism and the terrifying fear of operating behind enemy lines.