BY CHRISTA LINCY

Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has effectively rewritten the rulebook for what a blockbuster looks like in today's era. By sailing past the 1,800 crore mark globally, it has not just overtaken legends like Baahubali 2 and Pushpa 2, but it has essentially provided a much-needed adrenaline shot for the entire industry. What makes this success story truly jaw-dropping is how the makers played their cards; while the first installment in 2025 was a purely Hindi release that raked in an impressive 1,307.35 crore, the sequel was unleashed in multiple languages. This strategic pivot allowed the film to set new benchmarks that have left many in awe as it claimed the second spot in the all-time global rankings. The financial picture here is nothing short of incredible. When you consider that both films were made on a combined budget of 255 crore, the return on investment is frankly in a league of its own. We are looking at a franchise that has generated over 3,100 crore in total worldwide gross across both chapters. To put the domestic craze into perspective, the film has seen over 4 crore footfalls, making it the first original Hindi-led project to command that kind of crowd since Gadar back in 2001. Also the sequel's 1.83 crore ticket sales on BookMyShow have pushed the franchise's total to over 6.8 crore tickets across India, reflecting the massive scale of its audience reach.Such is the trend the franchise has set that it may take years for these records to be broken. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Even as it enters its tenth weekend, the film is showing no signs of a complete burnout. In fact, the tenth-weekend performance saw a total net collection of 0.83 crore across 691 shows in India. The momentum peaked on Sunday (Day 67) with a net of 0.40 crore, marking a 33.3 percent jump from the previous day. The occupancy levels followed a similar trend, starting at 21 percent on Friday and climbing to a healthy 36 percent on Sunday. National chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis saw a surge in volume as well, with ticket sales jumping from 1,318 on Friday to 3,798 on Sunday. By the end of this weekend, over 7,300 tickets were added to the kitty from these chains alone, suggesting the film still has some legs left. Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge - Week-wise India Net CollectionWEEKCOLLECTION (NET)Week 1₹ 674.17 CrWeek 2₹ 263.65 CrWeek 3₹ 110.60 CrWeek 4₹ 54.70 CrWeek 5₹ 19.52 CrWeek 6₹ 12.45 CrWeek 7₹ 5.58 CrWeek 8₹ 3.89 CrWeek 9₹ 2.19 Cr10th Weekend₹ 0.83 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The multi-lingual approach for the sequel paid off handsomely, allowing the film to penetrate markets that Part 1 could not reach. While the Hindi version remains the primary driver, the contributions from the Southern states have helped push the total India net to 1,147.58 crore.Based on current trends, we expect the film to conclude its theatrical journey with a lifetime global haul of approximately 1,803 crore or may be 1,805 crore ,safely securing its place as a historical benchmark for Indian cinema. Here is how the regional breakdown looks: Hindi: ₹1,079.04 Cr Telugu: ₹43.07 Cr Tamil: ₹19.83 Cr Kannada: ₹3.87 Cr Malayalam: ₹1.77 Cr This global dominance was further cemented by a strong showing overseas, where the film grossed a total of 426.67 crore. International audiences were clearly drawn to the high-quality VFX, as roughly 18 percent of overseas revenue came from premium formats like IMAX and 4DX. As the theatrical run begins to wind down, the focus is now shifting toward the small screen. The digital premiere on JioHotstar on June 4 will feature a special Raw and Undekha cut, including 20 minutes of extra footage that wasn't shown in theaters. This extended version is expected to keep the conversation going long after the film leaves the big screen. The financial health of this duology is arguably its most impressive feat. The producers managed both films on a combined budget of just 255 crore, making the return on investment frankly in a league of its own. We are looking at a franchise that has generated over 3,107 crore in total worldwide gross across both chapters. This success was not limited to the box office; the makers also pulled off a masterstroke with digital rights. While Part 1 remained with Netflix for a revised value of 85 crore, the makers leveraged the sequel's hype to secure a separate, staggering 150 crore deal with JioHotstar. This pushed their total digital revenue to 235 crore, nearly covering the entire production cost of the franchise through streaming alone.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Kochi, May 24 - Mohanlal's crime suspense thriller Drishyam 3 continues its sensational run at the worldwide box office, crossing the massive 112 crore gross mark after registering a huge jump on its first Saturday. Directed by Jeethu Joseph, the third instalment of the iconic thriller franchise has once again proved the unmatched popularity of Georgekutty among audiences across the globe. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) After taking a thunderous opening worldwide with 43+ crores gross and maintaining a strong hold on Friday, the film witnessed strong growth on Saturday with increased occupancy in the domestic market. According to early trade estimates, the film grossed around 112 crore worldwide in three days, including nearly 65 crore from overseas territories alone. Driven by the original Malayalam version, Drishyam 3 has grossed approximately 47 crores at the domestic box office, including 29+ crores gross in Kerala. The movie is having an excellent Sunday, as an extended opening weekend is expected to be around 65 crores domestically, and around 150 crores worldwide, which is a massive result for the film and the second biggest opening weekend ever for a Malayalam title. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Released on May 21, 2026, Drishyam 3 stars Mohanlal in his celebrated role as Georgekutty alongside Meena, Asha Sharath, Esther Anil, and Ansiba Hassan. The film has received a mixed reception from critics and audiences alike, but the strong franchise value and Mohanlal's performances continue to bring in audiences.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 24 - Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar is gearing up for a major genre shift as he reportedly joins hands with producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah for an ambitious sci-fi alien thriller titled Samuk. The film is expected to mark Akshay's first full-fledged attempt at the alien-horror genre, a space that remains largely unexplored in mainstream Indian cinema. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Kanishk Varma, the project is already generating significant buzz for its scale and international collaborations. According to the report by Hindustan Times, Samuk is being mounted as a high-concept thriller with a strong emphasis on practical effects and immersive action, with shooting scheduled to begin in August 2026. The makers have reportedly roped in Hollywood stunt coordinator Luke Tumber, who has previously worked on global blockbusters like Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Venom, and No Time To Die. The inclusion of international technicians suggests that the team is aiming to deliver a visually grand cinematic experience with global production standards. The film is also said to feature creature effects designed by acclaimed Hollywood artist Alec Gillis, known for his work on iconic franchises such as Alien and Predator. Instead of relying entirely on CGI-heavy visuals, the makers are reportedly focusing on practical alien effects to create a more realistic, terrifying atmosphere. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) This approach is expected to give Samuk a unique visual identity compared to conventional Indian sci-fi films. For Akshay Kumar, the film marks another attempt to explore fresh territory after experimenting with genres ranging from social dramas to historical epics and action entertainers over the years. Samuk will also reunite the actor with Vipul Amrutlal Shah after more than a decade. The duo previously collaborated on successful films like Namastey London, Waqt: The Race Against Time, and Action Replayy. While the makers are yet to announce the film officially, the project has already emerged as one of the most anticipated upcoming ventures in Akshay Kumar's lineup. Meanwhile, Akshay will next be seen in Welcome To The Jungle (Welcome), which is scheduled to release on June 26, 2026.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Bhopal, May 24 - The grand musical event of Peddi in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, turned into a major talking point online after superstar Ram Charan made a couple of unexpected verbal slip-ups during his live interaction with fans. Despite the minor blunders, the Peddi Ki Aawaz event emerged as a successful promotional celebration for the much-awaited sports action drama, attracting massive crowds and strong social media engagement. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) One of the moments that quickly went viral was when Ram Charan mistakenly referred to the Bhopal audience as people from Bihar while addressing the gathering on stage. The host immediately corrected the actor, following which Charan smiled and continued the interaction. The light-hearted mistake drew laughter from the crowd, while clips of the moment rapidly spread across social media platforms. The actor also grabbed attention during a rapid-fire segment involving Indian sports personalities. While speaking about Jasprit Bumrah, Ram Charan accidentally used football-related references, effectively mistaking the Indian pace bowler for a footballer. The incident added further buzz to the event, with fans widely sharing videos and memes online. The actor later clarified the mistake on Instagram while referring to Jasprit Bumrah. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) #Sachin - Long Legendary Run #MSD - Calm and Cool#RohitSharma - Everyone Owns Him#ViratKohli - Fire#JaspritBumrah - I am your biggest fan. I love football and you've taking it more forward. Love you sir..🤣🤣#PeddiKiAawaz pic.twitter.com/JMPIXcYYhJ— 𝐁𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 (@BheeshmaTalks) May 23, 2026 Despite the viral slip of tongue, the musical event successfully heightened anticipation for Peddi ahead of its theatrical release on June 4. Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the film features music composed by A. R. Rahman and also stars Janhvi Kapoor, Jagapathi Babu, Shivarajkumar, and Divyenndu. The event featured live performances, promotional reveals, and fan interactions, making it one of the biggest promotional gatherings for the film so far.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 23 - Tamil superstar Suriya has scripted a historic box office milestone with Karuppu as the fantasy action drama has crossed the massive 100 crore gross mark in Tamil Nadu alone. Directed by RJ Balaji, the film is continuing its sensational theatrical run and has emerged as the biggest blockbuster of Suriya's career. Released on May 14, Karuppu opened to strong word-of-mouth among the mass audience and family viewers, which helped the film maintain extraordinary momentum through weekdays as well. On its second Saturday (9th day), the film topped 100 crores gross in the state, becoming the first film of Suriya to achieve the feat. It's 9 days Tamil Nadu gross stands at an estimated 102 crores. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Produced by Dream Warrior Pictures, the movie has also become the first Tamil film this year to cross the 100 crore mark in Tamil Nadu. Karuppu crossed the 200 crore gross milestone worldwide within just eight days of release, becoming the first Tamil film of 2026 to achieve the feat. After 9 days, the total worldwide gross of the movie stands at around 217+ crores. In India, Karuppu has minted around 155 crores gross, marching towards the 200 crores milestone. The overseas markets have also contributed heavily to the film's blockbuster total, with 9 days' estimated gross around 62+ crores. But today's story is all about the film topping 100 crores gross in the home state, putting him in the league of superstars. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In the history of Tamil cinema, only superstar Rajinikanth, along with Thalapathy Vijay, Ajith Kumar, Kamal Haasan, and Sivakarthikeyan, have managed to score 100 crores gross in Tamil Nadu. Chiyaan Vikram and Karthi also have 100 crore grossers in the form of legendary Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan 1 and Ponniyin Selvan 2. With Karuppu now joining the elite club, 24 films so far have managed to enter the 100 crores club in the Southern state, with Suriya starrer being the 24th title to do so. Thalapathy Vijay has the highest number of films in the club with 8 titles, followed by Rajiniakanth with five films, and Ajith Kumar has four films. Starring Suriya alongside Trisha Krishnan, the film blends mythology, fantasy, and mass action elements, which have resonated strongly with audiences across Tamil Nadu and other regions. Directed by RJ Balaji, the movie has received praise for its scale, emotional depth, and powerful theatrical moments. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Actors With 100 Crore Films In Tamil Nadu (Lead Role) S. No. Actor No. Of 100 Crore Films 1 Vijay 8 2 Rajinikanth 5 3 Ajith Kumar 4 4 Vikram / Karthi / Jayam Ravi 2 5 Kamal Haasan 1 6 Sivakarthikeyan 1 7 Prabhas 1 8 Yash 1 9 Suriya 1

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 23 - Producer Namit Malhotra is reportedly planning a major release strategy for the highly-awaited epic Ramayana: Part 1, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash. The makers are said to be contemplating preponing the film's release to maximise its box office potential during the festive season. According to the report by Bollywood Hungama, the Nitesh Tiwari-directed magnum opus is now eyeing an October 30, 2026, theatrical release, which is a week before the Diwali festivities. The strategy is said to be aimed at allowing the film to build strong word-of-mouth before the extended holiday period kicks in, potentially resulting in a massive second-week surge at the box office. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Initially planned for a Diwali 2026 release, the makers reportedly believe that arriving a week earlier could give the film a longer uninterrupted run during the festive season, given that no other major release will be released during this time. The report further states that internal discussions regarding the revised date are currently underway, and a final decision will be taken once the distribution negotiations are locked. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, and Yash as Ravana. The film also features Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Laxman, along with others. Mounted on a gigantic scale by Prime Focus Studios and Monster Mind Creations, the project is being positioned as one of the most ambitious Indian films ever made. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Recently, it was also reported that the makers are in talks for a massive theatrical distribution deal worth around 450 crore, highlighting the enormous expectations surrounding the film. Given the scale, visual ambition, and star cast, trade experts expect the film to emerge as one of the biggest box office events in Indian cinema history. The buzz around the film has been consistently growing ever since the first official glimpses and casting confirmations surfaced online. While the October 30 release date is yet to be officially announced by the makers, the latest developments indicate that the team is actively exploring the possibility of arriving earlier than originally planned to fully capitalise on the festive window.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 23 - Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has once again proved his unmatched box office pull as the much-awaited crime thriller Drishyam 3 continued its sensational run worldwide. Directed by Jeethu Joseph, the film scored an excellent second day despite the usual post-opening drop and has topped the massive 75 crore gross mark globally in just two days. According to early estimates, Drishyam 3 grossed 12.75+ crores domestically on its second day, pushing total India gross to 31+ crores, including around 20 crores gross in Kerala. Overseas, the suspense thriller grossed an estimated 45 crores in 2 days, bringing its worldwide cume to 76+ crores. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) After taking a thunderous opening of nearly 43.50 crore worldwide on its Thursday opening day, Drishyam 3 maintained strong momentum on Friday and added another 30+ crores day to its tally. The film is now racing towards the 100 crore worldwide milestone and is expected to comfortably cross it on Saturday (3rd day), becoming the second fastest Malayalam film to do so. Drishyam 3 has received mixed word-of-mouth from audiences and critics; despite that, it has been performing solidly due to the franchise factor. Mohanlal's commanding performance as Georgekutty is once again wowing the audiences. The strong reception at the box office is expected to help the film sustain well over the weekend.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 23 - Suriya is finally having the kind of blockbuster run fans had waited years for. The Singam star's latest action drama Karuppu, directed by RJ Balaji, has crossed the massive 200 crore mark at the worldwide box office, becoming the actor's first-ever film to achieve the milestone globally. Released on May 15, the fantasy action entertainer opened to thunderous response across Tamil Nadu and overseas markets before maintaining excellent momentum during weekdays as well. The film grossed around 200+ crore worldwide in 8 days, with the original Tamil version contributing the lion's share of collections. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Karuppu had already become Suriya's biggest worldwide grosser in just 4 days, after topping Singam 2's 124 crores worldwide run. In 8 days so far, the movie has grossed around 141 crores at the domestic box office, including 91+ crores in Tamil Nadu, while overseas collection is an estimated 60 crores gross. It is the first Kollywood release of the year to achieve the feat of 200 crores. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Apart from Tamil Nadu, Karuppu has also performed well in Telugu states, with around 21.75 crores gross in 8 days, followed by 15 crores gross in Karnataka, while it is already the highest-grossing film for Suriya in Kerala with 10.30 crores gross. In the home state, the film will be topping 100 crores gross most likely today (9th day), and become Suriya's first movie to do so. The movie stars Trisha Krishnan alongside Suriya, with supporting performances from Indrans, Natty Subramaniam, Swasika, and Yogi Babu. Backed by Dream Warrior Pictures, the film blends mass action, fantasy, and emotional drama, which has resonated strongly with audiences. Karuppu is certain to cross the 250 crores mark in the coming days, but it needs to be seen if it can go on to breach the 300 crores milestone.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Despite the massive hype surrounding the historic reunion of Mollywood's twin towers, Mammootty and Mohanlal, their latest high-octane collaboration has failed to set the cash registers ringing as expected. Patriot, directed by Mahesh Narayanan, arrived in theaters with the burden of colossal expectations and an equally massive budget, reported to be in the range of ₹125 to ₹140 crore. While the film served as a visual treat for fans, it struggled to convert that excitement into a healthy theatrical run, ultimately finding it difficult to recover the significant moolah invested in its production. Where and when to stream Patriot on OTT? With the theatrical window coming to a close and the film failing to sustain momentum at the ticket windows, the makers have moved quickly to finalize its digital premiere. Patriot is officially scheduled to stream on OTT starting June 5, 2026. The digital streaming rights were bagged by ZEE5, which plans to release the film in its original Malayalam version alongside dubbed versions in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. While the film may have faced a commercial setback in theaters, the June 5 premiere on ZEE5 offers a chance for the spy thriller to find a larger audience across the country on the small screen. What is the story of Patriot? The film is a sophisticated spy thriller set against a backdrop of international espionage and internal political betrayal. The narrative follows Vikramadithyan (Mohanlal), a seasoned high-ranking RAW agent who has gone off the grid following a failed mission in Europe. He is forced out of hiding when a series of coordinated cyber-attacks and assassinations threaten to destabilize the Indian government from within. Enter Chief Minister Raghavan (Mammootty), a veteran politician known for his uncompromising ethics and iron-fisted governance. Realizing that the threat isn't just external but involves a mole in his own cabinet, Raghavan enlists Vikramadithyan to weed out the global syndicate. The film was noted for its technical brilliance and the rare opportunity to see the two legends sharing the frame in a modern political setting. Analyzing the commercial data, the numbers fall short of the heavy lifting required for such a high-budget project. By the end of its run, Patriot managed to pull in just over ₹80 crore at the worldwide box office. While the film saw a decent contribution from the overseas kitty, with international markets adding over ₹43 crore, the domestic performance was notably soft. The India gross collection struggled to cross the ₹37 crore mark. For a film produced on a staggering budget of ₹125+ crore, these totals represent a significant disappointment, as the theatrical returns didn't come close to covering the production costs, leaving the film in the red. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Patriot: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Is Patriot a hit or a flop? Patriot is a Box Office Disappointment. Despite grossing over ₹80 Cr worldwide, the film failed to break even due to its massive reported budget of ₹125–₹140 crore, leading to losses for the stakeholders. Where to stream Patriot on OTT? The film will be available for streaming exclusively on ZEE5 in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. Who are the lead actors in Patriot? The film features the iconic duo of Mammootty and Mohanlal in lead roles, marking their first full-length collaboration in years. What is the OTT release date for Patriot? The confirmed OTT release date for Patriot is June 5, 2026, on the ZEE5 platform.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The return of Georgekutty was always going to be a cinematic event, but the scale at which Drishyam 3 has landed is something even seasoned analysts are marveling at. After years of anticipation, the Lalettan-Jeethu Joseph combo has delivered a global rampage, marking the biggest international release in the history of Malayalam cinema with over 1500 screens worldwide. This isn't just a sequel; it is a full-scale box office invasion that has seen the movie claim the spot for the second-highest Malayalam opening of all time, trailing only the colossal L2: Empuraan. The primary story of Day 1 belongs to the overseas market, where the film has raked in a staggering 25.00 Cr (approx. $2.6 Million+). Distributed internationally by Phars Film, the movie saw a massive contribution from the Middle East, with the GULF region alone bringing in $1.4M (roughly 11.5Cr to 13.5Cr depending on local reports). The non-GCC territories were equally impressive, adding another $1.2M+ to the kitty. From the rain-soaked streets of London to the multiplexes of North America, the Georgekutty saga is being watched with bated breath. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Drishyam 3: Day 1 Worldwide Box Office Summary TERRITORY GROSS COLLECTION Highlights India (Domestic) ₹ 18.37 Cr ₹ 15.85 Cr Net across 5,506 shows Overseas (International) ₹ 25.00 Cr Largest ever release (1500+ screens) Worldwide Total ₹ 43.37 Cr 2nd Highest Mollywood Opener A closer look at the territory-wise breakdown shows just how wide the Lalettan effect spans. In the UK and Ireland, the film breached the 4Cr mark, while the US and Canada saw a massive 3.75Cr including premieres. Australia and New Zealand contributed a combined 1.48Cr, proving that the diaspora is showing up in record numbers. When you add the contributions from the rest of Europe and other Asian markets, the overseas moolah hits that 25 Cr milestone with ease. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) When we break down the international numbers, the Middle East emerges as the primary engine for this growth, bringing in $1.4 million—roughly 13.5 crore—with over 131,000 admissions in the GULF region on Day 1 alone. The momentum carried over to Europe and the West, where the UK and Ireland markets contributed upwards of 4 crore, while North America (US and Canada) delivered an estimated 3.75 crore including premiere shows. Australia and New Zealand also saw healthy footfalls, adding 1.20 crore and 28 lakh respectively to the overseas kitty. When we look at the historical leaderboard of Malayalam cinema's international performance, Drishyam 3 has comfortably established itself in the highest echelon of the overseas charts. With a total of $2.63 million in international earnings on its first day, the film has secured the #2 spot on the all-time list of Mollywood openings abroad. While L2: Empuraan remains the undisputed leader with its massive $5.16 million debut, Georgekutty's third chapter has managed to surge past other heavyweights like Patriot ($1.78M), Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham ($1.66M), and Kurup ($1.62M). This significant jump from the $1.6M-$1.7M range seen by previous hits to the $2.6M mark for this thriller highlights the staggering growth of the franchise's global brand value. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) To put this in perspective, we have to look at the leader of the pack. L2: Empuraan still holds the crown with a worldwide opening of 67.34 Cr (43 Cr overseas), but Drishyam 3 has comfortably secured the second spot. While Empuraan had the advantage of a massive action-spectacle hype, Drishyam 3 is thriving on pure suspense and brand trust. Domestic audiences also played their part, with a 15.85 Cr net collection across 5,506 shows, keeping the theater fill-rates high throughout the day. Ultimately, Drishyam 3 has proven that Malayalam cinema's storytelling is no longer confined to regional boundaries. By pulling in more revenue from overseas (25 Cr) than from the domestic market (18.37 Cr Gross) on Day 1, Georgekutty has shown that a well-crafted thriller can be a global goldmine. As the weekend progresses and the word-of-mouth spreads, it will be interesting to see if the film can maintain this blistering pace and challenge the lifetime records of the industry's biggest blockbusters.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 22 - The decade-long record of director Nagraj Manjule's social romantic tragedy Sairat has finally been broken as Riteish Deshmukh's historical epic Raja Shivaji has become the highest-grossing Marathi film of all time, taking just 22 days to achieve the historic feat. Produced by Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company, Raja Shivaji minted around 109.35 crores worldwide in three weeks (21 days), and it has surpassed the total gross of Sairat (110 crores) at the time of writing this piece to become the number 1 Marathi grosser ever. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Raja Shivaji, however, received support from its Hindi dubbed version, unlike Sairat, which was purely a Marathi-language release. Directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh, the blockbuster has grossed approximately 29 crores from the Hindi version and over 76 crores gross from the original Marathi version in 21 days, while the overseas contribution stands at an estimated 4.20 crores so far. Released on May 1 on the occasion of Maharashtra Day, Raja Shivaji opened to record-breaking numbers with approximately 13.85 crores worldwide on its first day. The film remained exceptionally strong throughout the opening weekend, collecting around 41.65 crores worldwide in its first three days, setting a new benchmark for Marathi cinema. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The historical action drama, based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, showed a solid hold during the weekdays of its initial week. However, mixed word of mouth impacted the film's long-term theatrical run, with collections beginning to slow down after the second weekend. The 150 crores worldwide milestone, which looked possible after the huge opening weekend, now appears out of reach. Despite the slowdown, Raja Shivaji is still expected to finish its theatrical run close to the 125 crores mark, which would be a solid result for a regional-language title. The film has performed excellently in Maharashtra, where the subject and emotional connect with audiences helped it emerge as one of the biggest Marathi blockbusters ever produced. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Highest-Grossing Marathi Films S. No. Movie Worldwide Gross 1 Raja Shivaji (2026) ₹ 110+ Cr* (22D) 2 Sairat (2016) ₹ 110 Cr 3 Baipan Bhari Deva (2023) ₹ 90.50 Cr 4 Ved (2022) ₹ 73 Cr 5 Natsamrat (2016) ₹ 46 Cr*

BY CHRISTA LINCY

In the world of Kollywood, there is an elite circle that only the absolute titans of the industry manage to enter—the 3 Million Ticket Club on BookMyShow. It's a space where digital footfalls translate into cinematic history, and Suriya's latest juggernaut, Karuppu, has just crashed the gates. After a blistering first week, the film hasn't just performed; it has redefined the velocity of ticket sales for a Tamil film in 2026, proving that the vintage Suriya hype is well and truly back. The journey began with a massive signal of intent even before the first projector started rolling. With over 242,000 Interests registered on the platform, the stage was set for a record-breaking opening. On its very first day, Karuppu clocked a staggering 700,000 tickets, instantly securing the 4th spot on the all-time Day 1 sales list for Tamil cinema. The surge was so intense that the 9 AM special shows in Tamil Nadu acted like a catalyst, pushing booking spikes to a peak of 46,200 tickets per hour—a personal best for Suriya that nearly brought the servers to a standstill. Karuppu - BookMyShow Week 1 Ticket Sales Breakdown DAY TICKETS SOLD (BMS) MILESTONES / NOTES Pre-Sales 75,000 Strong Advance Momentum Day 1 (Friday) 700,140 4th Highest Ever Day 1 for Kollywood Day 2 (Saturday) 690,030 Hit 1.5M Mark; 2nd Highest Tamil Saturday Day 3 (Sunday) 497,600 1st film in 2026 to sell 500K on Sunday Day 4 (Monday) 300,490 Hit 2M Mark; Averaged 4 tickets/second Day 5 (Tuesday) 261,960 Crossed 2.5 Million Sales Day 6 (Wednesday) 210,210 Steady Mid-week Hold Day 7 (Thursday) 186,840 Wraps Week 1 at ~2.92 Million TOTAL WEEK 1 2,922,270 Historic Debut Run (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) What makes this run truly impressive is the consistency of the momentum. Usually, films see a sharp decline once the weekend ends, but Karuppu defied traditional logic. On its first Monday, it moved over 300,000 tickets, maintaining an incredible rate of roughly four tickets sold every single second throughout the day. By the end of its fifth day, the film had already stormed past the 2.5 million sales mark. The multilingual appeal also played a huge role; the Telugu version, titled Veerabhadrudu, was a beast of its own, crossing 250,000 tickets by Monday and contributing significantly to the overall moolah entering the kitty. By hitting the 3 million milestone shortly after its first week, Karuppu has now officially joined the ranks of the all-time greats. It currently trails only a handful of industry giants in the lifetime sales ladder. This performance has easily eclipsed Suriya's previous benchmarks like Kanguva and Singam 2, cementing its status as his highest ticket-selling film on the platform. It's not just about the numbers; it's about the speed—reaching the 1 million mark in two days and the 2 million mark by day four shows a level of audience hunger rarely seen. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) As the dust settles on the first week, the Karuppu effect is clear. It has become the gold standard for theatrical longevity in 2026, outperforming the first-Saturday records of almost every major blockbuster this year. With the film now comfortably sitting in the elite 3M+ club, the conversation has shifted from will it be a hit to how high can it go? For now, Suriya and the team can take a bow as they share the stage with the biggest legends of Tamil cinema. Elite Company: Tamil Movies with 3M+ BMS Ticket Sales MOVIE NAME BMS TICKET SALES YEAR Jailer 9.21 Million 2023 Leo 7.30 Million 2023 Coolie 6.12 Million 2025 Amaran 4.90 Million 2024 The GOAT 4.48 Million 2024 Karuppu 3.00 Million+ 2026