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.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 16 - After years of experiments, mixed results, and films that failed to fully tap into his mass appeal, Suriya has finally returned in the form fans had desperately missed. Karuppu is not just another release in his filmography — it feels like the comeback of the vintage Suriya who once dominated the box office with powerful screen presence, intensity, and crowd-pulling charisma. For a long time, there has been a feeling among fans that Suriya was moving away from the zone where he looked most comfortable. While some of his recent films earned appreciation for performances and storytelling, the larger-than-life aura associated with the actor was missing. Karuppu changes that instantly. From the promotional material to the theatrical response on opening day, everything points towards the return of "mass Suriya". (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film arrived with solid buzz despite facing release hurdles. Originally scheduled to release a day earlier, the shows were cancelled due to financial and distribution-related issues. Instead of hurting the film, the delay only increased curiosity and online conversation. Once the film finally hit theatres, the response turned explosive, especially on booking platforms where ticket sales surged rapidly. It grossed around 18 crore in India and close to 25 crore worldwide on its opening day, which is the second biggest opening for the actor. One of the biggest talking points has been the overwhelming reaction to Suriya's screen presence. Fans are celebrating his intense dialogue delivery, action sequences, body language, and vintage swagger that had been missing for some years, especially since the pandemic. The actor appears fully charged in a role that perfectly blends emotion with mass appeal, reminding audiences why he became one of Tamil cinema's biggest stars in the first place. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Director RJ Balaji appears to have delivered something unexpected with Karuppu. Instead of relying only on social messaging or comedy, the film embraces a full-fledged commercial format while still retaining emotional depth. Early audience reactions suggest this balance is working strongly among both family audiences and hardcore fans. Karuppu is heading towards a big success story, with the second day expected to be on par or bigger than the opening day, which is a rarity in Tamil cinema. The film also arrives at an important stage in Suriya's career. The actor has consistently experimented with scripts over the years, but theatrical success on a large scale had become increasingly elusive. With the current response, the film has the potential to become a major turning point and possibly his biggest commercial success in recent years. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) What makes the response even more significant is the emotional connection audiences seem to have developed with the film. Many viewers are calling it "the Suriya comeback they were waiting for," while social media has been flooded with celebrations comparing his performance to his peak commercial era. If the momentum continues over the weekend, Karuppu could emerge as more than just a box office hit.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 16 - Superstar Ram Charan’s much-awaited sports action drama Peddi continues to show excellent momentum in overseas advance booking. The film has now sold 10,000 tickets for its North American premiere shows, nearly three weeks ahead of release. Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the big-budget entertainer had already created a record by becoming the fastest Indian film to cross $100K in North America pre-sales, achieving the milestone within just four hours of bookings opening. According to the latest trade reports, the premiere pre-sales in North America have now surpassed the $300K mark, signalling strong buzz for the film among overseas audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's strong advance booking trend is being driven by Ram Charan's growing popularity after RRR, along with the strong response to the promotional material and songs. Trade circles are expecting Peddi to emerge as one of the biggest premiere grossers for a Telugu film in North America if the current pace continues over the coming days. Reports suggest Peddi is aiming for a massive release with hundreds of premiere shows planned across the USA and Canada. The film stars Janhvi Kapoor as the female lead alongside Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, and Divyenndu in key roles. The music has been composed by A. R. Rahman. Produced by Vriddhi Cinemas and IVY Entertainment, Peddi is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on June 4, 2026.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 16 - After a series of underperformances, Tamil superstar Suriya seems to have come back in the game with action drama Karuppu. The film has had its struggles to hit the big screens. It was supposed to be released on May 14, but the financial issues forced the makers to cancel the shows for the entire day, and it eventually hit the big screens on May 15. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's advance booking was disrupted due to the last-minute changes. Before the film was pushed to May 15, Karuppu had sold over 500K tickets in advance for May 14. This, as said, eventually became worthless once the film was pushed back by a day, as advance tickets sold for May 15 were around 75K. However, the delay in the release amplified the buzz as Karuppu was all in its glory on the release day. It sold 700K tickets on BookMyShow for both Tamil and Telugu versions on May 15 only, making it the fourth highest Tamil film, and highest ever for a Suriya starrer, in terms of ticket sales on BMS on the release day. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Karuppu's hourly BMS ticket sales peaked at 46.2K, which is again a record for the Singham star. There is no denying that the cancellation of the original day 1 fueled the massive response on the BooMyShow, but the numbers are still huge for an actor who hasn't had a success in recent times. Meanwhile, superstar Rajinikanth's Jailer is the number one film in terms of BMS ticket sales on the release day with 1 million tickets. Thalapathy Vijay's Leo is the second in the list with 756K tickets sold, followed by Rajinikanth's Coolie with 715K tickets. With 700K tickets, Suriya is now officially in the league of Tamil cinema giants. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 5 Tamil Films By Day 1 BookMyShow Ticket Sales S. No. Movie Lead Actor Day 1 BMS Ticket Sales (Tamil) 1 Jailer Rajinikanth 1M 2 Leo Vijay 756K 3 Coolie Rajinikanth 715K 4 Karuppu Suriya 700K 5 The GOAT Vijay 584K Data via Filmy View/X*