BY CHRISTA LINCY

Raja Shivaji is showing remarkable staying power as it nears the end of its third week in theaters. Usually, biographical dramas see a sharp decline by this stage, but the film managed a surprising 13 percent growth on its 19th day. On Tuesday, it collected a net of 1.30 crore in India, which is a noticeable step up from the 1.15 crore it earned on Monday. This mid-week uptick suggests that the movie is still finding a audience even after nearly three weeks of release. This latest performance brings the total India net collection to 87.00 crore. When looking at the gross domestic figures, the film has successfully breached the 100 crore milestone, currently standing at 102.90 crore. These results have been achieved through an extensive theatrical run consisting of 78,615 shows across the country since the opening day. On Tuesday alone, the film maintained a presence across 2,152 shows, showing that exhibitors still have significant confidence in the title. The Marathi version remains the primary driver of this success, contributing 1.10 crore on Day 19 with a solid 26 percent occupancy across 1,383 shows. The Hindi version added another 0.20 crore from 769 shows, holding a steady occupancy of 13 percent. In the Marathi heartlands, Mumbai and Pune are performing consistently. Mumbai recorded 29.8 percent occupancy over 334 shows, with night screenings peaking at 46 percent. Pune followed closely with 29.3 percent occupancy over 278 shows, also seeing its highest engagement of 42 percent during the late-night slots. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In the Hindi-speaking regions, Surat and Ahmedabad are showing better traction than the North. Surat saw 20 percent occupancy across 66 shows, while Ahmedabad managed 16.8 percent over 65 shows. Both cities saw their strongest numbers during the night shows, peaking at 37 percent and 33 percent respectively. The National Capital Region had a more modest day, recording 10.8 percent occupancy across 47 shows. The performance within the national multiplex chains remains a steady contributor to the daily totals. On Tuesday, the three major chains recorded a total of 10,210 ticket sales across 587 shows, resulting in a gross of 13.04 lakh with an overall occupancy of 8.30 percent. Breaking this down, PVR moved approximately 3,960 tickets across 218 shows, while INOX followed with about 3,840 tickets from 230 shows. Cinepolis accounted for roughly 2,410 tickets across 139 shows. These figures indicate that the film is still a viable choice for urban audiences visiting premium theaters. Digital booking trends also reflect this late-stage growth. According to BookMyShow data, ticket sales jumped from 38.92 thousand on Monday to 45.15 thousand on Tuesday. To date, the platform has processed a total of 23,78,130 ticket bookings for the film. This high volume of online transactions highlights the sustained interest in the historical narrative among the digitally-active audience. On the global stage, Raja Shivaji added another 0.10 crore from international markets on Day 19. This brings the total overseas gross to 4.10 crore. When we combine the domestic and international performances, the total worldwide gross collection now stands at 107.00 crore. As the film approaches the end of its third week, the focus remains on whether it can maintain this momentum to finish as one of the most successful biographical films in its category.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Suriya's action drama Karuppu is proving to be a powerhouse at the box office, maintaining a very strong grip as it moves through its first week. On its first Tuesday, the film recorded a net collection of 12.75 crore in India. This represents a minor and healthy drop of just 10.8 percent from Monday's collection of 14.30 crore, indicating that the movie is benefiting from positive word-of-mouth across its primary markets. After five days of theatrical run, the total India net collection stands at 95.05 crore, while the gross collections within the country have touched 110.04 crore. The film operated across 6,093 shows on Tuesday, contributing to a massive cumulative total of 30,062 shows since its release. The fact that such a massive show count is being maintained on a working day is a direct testament to the film's consistent drawing power and the steady, sustained demand from audiences across all regions. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) With its strong Tuesday hold, Karuppu has successfully entered the elite list of the highest-grossing Kollywood films on their first Tuesday. Suriya's film now sits at the number 7 spot, outperforming several massive blockbusters in terms of weekday stability. Below is the list of the top 10 Kollywood films with the highest first Tuesday collections: Kollywood 1st Tuesday Highest Collection Movies (Tamil Net) RANK MOVIE NAME 1ST TUESDAY NET 01 Sarkar ₹ 35.65 Cr 02 Jailer ₹ 26.70 Cr 03 Leo ₹ 24.50 Cr 04 Ponniyin Selvan - Part 1 ₹ 18.65 Cr 05 Varisu ₹ 11.75 Cr 06 Vikram ₹ 11.55 Cr 07 Karuppu ₹ 10.55 Cr 08 The Greatest of All Time ₹ 9.50 Cr 09 Thunivu ₹ 9.40 Cr 10 Ponniyin Selvan - Part 2 ₹ 8.34 Cr Looking at the state-wise gross report for Day 5, Tamil Nadu continues to lead with 10.00 crore. The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (APTG) region contributed a solid 2.25 crore, followed by Karnataka at 1.20 crore and Kerala at 1.05 crore. The rest of India added another 0.24 crore, bringing the single-day India gross to 14.74 crore. In terms of language-wise net earnings for Tuesday, the Tamil version brought in 10.55 crore, while the Telugu version added 2.20 crore. The occupancy rates remain quite impressive for a working day. The Tamil version saw an overall occupancy of 42 percent across 4,362 shows. Chennai remains the film's strongest fort, recording an overall occupancy of 66.8 percent over 706 shows, with night screenings peaking at a staggering 85 percent. Coimbatore and Madurai also performed well with 57.8 percent and 43 percent occupancy respectively. In the Telugu market, the film maintained a 24 percent occupancy rate over 1,731 shows, with Vizag leading the region at 26 percent and Hyderabad following at 22.3 percent. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's trajectory in the Telugu states is particularly noteworthy. Karuppu has officially become the number one Tamil grosser in the Telugu states for 2026. It is currently on track to become Suriya's highest-grossing film in this region, potentially overtaking the long-standing record held by 24 (₹27.10 Cr). It is also chasing the lifetime collections of dubbed hits like Vikram (₹24.17 Cr) and Kanchana 3 (₹30.60 Cr) to secure a spot in the all-time Top 10 list for dubbed films in the Telugu market. In the national multiplex chains, Karuppu stands as the top-selling movie. On Day 5, the three major chains—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—recorded approximately 37,500 ticket sales, resulting in a gross of roughly 59 lakh. PVR led the chains with about 26,500 tickets and a 42.6 lakh gross, while INOX contributed 8,800 tickets and Cinepolis added 2,100 tickets. The overall occupancy in these premium national chains hovered around 17 percent. Digital engagement on BookMyShow reflects this massive demand. The film sold 261.96 thousand tickets on Tuesday alone, marking the third-highest first Tuesday sales on the platform, trailing only behind industry giants like Jailer and Leo. To date, the film has seen a total of 25.25 lakh tickets booked via the platform, demonstrating a significant digital footprint that started with 75,000 pre-sales and peaked on Friday with over 7 lakh tickets. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the international front, Karuppu is rewriting the record books for Kollywood in 2026. It has officially become the highest-grossing Tamil film of the year internationally, surpassing the ₹23 crore overseas mark set by Parasakthi. On Day 5, the film added approximately ₹4.00 crore from overseas markets, bringing its total international gross to ₹51.00 crore. The North American market has been a significant contributor; the film earned $40,000 (approx. ₹33.40 lakh) on its fourth day, taking its total gross in that region to $842,000 (approx. ₹7.03 crore). These strong international figures have pushed the total worldwide gross collection to a massive ₹161.04 crore. Analytically, the film is performing like a top-tier blockbuster. With a total India net of 95 crore in just five days, it is virtually guaranteed to breach the 100 crore mark by Wednesday. The combination of high occupancy in Tamil Nadu and record-breaking trends in the Telugu states suggests that Karuppu is not just a seasonal hit but a significant commercial milestone for Suriya and the Tamil film industry this year.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, May 20 - The much-awaited trailer of superstar Ram Charan-fronted Peddi has taken the internet by storm. The high-octane glimpse from the upcoming sports action drama recorded more than 100 million views within the first 24 hours of its release, making it one of the biggest trailer launches ever for a Telugu film. The makers officially announced that the trailer crossed the 101 million views mark across platforms in just a day. The overall views so far have crossed 175+ million under 48 hours, signalling huge anticipation for the film. The response has been phenomenal not only in the Telugu version but also in Hindi-speaking markets, where the film has generated anticipation ahead of release. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, Peddi presents Ram Charan in a rugged and intense avatar. The trailer showcases the actor in multiple sports-based sequences involving cricket, wrestling, and athletics, while also hinting at a strong emotional core and mass-action moments. The visuals and production scale have also become a major talking point online. Backed by grand cinematography and powerful background music by A. R. Rahman, the trailer has further increased expectations surrounding the pan-India film. Social media platforms were flooded with reactions from fans, many calling it one of Ram Charan's most promising films. The film features a strong ensemble cast including Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, and Divyenndu in important roles. Produced under the banner of Vriddhi Cinemas, the movie is scheduled for a theatrical release on June 4, 2026. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 19 - The excitement surrounding Drishyam 3 continues to rise as the Mohanlal-led thriller gears up for its theatrical release on May 21. Directed by Jeethu Joseph, the film marks the return of Georgekutty, one of the most celebrated characters in Indian cinema, and the anticipation is clearly getting reflected in the advance booking trends across India and overseas markets. According to the latest trade report (11 PM on May 20), the film's opening day pre-sales are now approaching the 25 crore gross mark worldwide, with current sales around 24 crores. Of this, nearly 10.50 Crore gross has reportedly come from India alone, underscoring strong demand in Kerala as well as other key domestic circuits. With less than a day left before release, industry trackers expect the bookings to accelerate further over the final stretch. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The overseas response has been particularly remarkable for the Mohanlal starrer. Gulf countries, North America, the UK, and Australia are witnessing excellent booking trends, continuing the growing global dominance of Malayalam cinema in recent years. Kerala, meanwhile, is expected to contribute heavily through spot bookings other than superb pre-sales so far, with around 6.75 crores gross. The current momentum could push the final opening day advance sales to around 27-30 crore gross worldwide before the first show even begins. If the film maintains this pace, Drishyam 3 could comfortably target an opening day collection in excess of 40+ crore gross globally, and could go to 50 crores if word of mouth is positive. Such a start would comfortably place the film among the biggest openers in Malayalam cinema history. At present, the record for the highest opening also belongs to Mohanlal, whose Empuraan opened at around 70 crore gross worldwide. Drishyam 3 is certain to score the second biggest opening, and it needs to be seen how far it can climb. One of the biggest factors working in the film's favour is the immense popularity of the Drishyam franchise itself. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The franchise value is also expected to boost spot bookings significantly on release day, plus, it has more pan-India weight than other Malayalam titles, so it is also going to play a major role in its big opening. Trade experts suggest that if audience reception turns positive from the morning shows, the worldwide opening day total could even push towards the 40 crore gross mark or more. The original film became a landmark success and was remade in several languages across India, while Drishyam 2 expanded the franchise's reach even further with its direct OTT release during the pandemic. The third instalment is being promoted as the continuation of Georgekutty's intense journey, creating enormous curiosity among audiences.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 19 - The theatrical comeback of Tamil superstar Suriya has turned into a box office storm as Karuppu continues its excellent run worldwide. The fantasy action drama has now raced past the 100 crore gross mark domestically, becoming the first film in Suriya's career to achieve the feat in India alone. The film has also emerged as one of the biggest Tamil blockbusters of 2026 within just four days of release. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by RJ Balaji, Karuppu opened to strong numbers and kept growing over the weekend with exceptional jumps. The movie had already grossed over 120 crore worldwide in its first three days, while the India gross was nearing the 80 crore mark by Sunday. The film passed the crucial Monday test with ease and added another 16.50 crores gross in its domestic tally to take the collection to 95+ crores in 4 days. At the time of writing this piece, Karuppu has surpassed the 100 crores gross mark in India, beating the final collection of Singam 2, which minted around 97 crores gross in 2013. It has been over a decade since a film has beaten the record of cop action drama for the actor, and Karuppu has done that with ease in just 5 days. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Highest-Grossing Films of Suriya In India S. No. Movie Year Director India Gross 1 Karuppu 2026 RJ Balaji ₹ 110.00 Cr (5 Days) 2 Singam 2 2013 Hari ₹ 98.00 Cr 3 7 Aum Arivu 2011 A. R. Murugadoss ₹ 89.00 Cr 4 Kanguva 2024 Siva ₹ 82.65 Cr 5 Singam 3 2017 Hari ₹ 81.00 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The strong hold on Monday, and a solid Tuesday (running) indicates that the film has gone beyond just fan-driven openings and is benefiting from positive audience reception across Tamil Nadu, Telugu states, Karnataka, Kerala, and overseas markets. The fantasy-action entertainer, also starring Trisha Krishnan, has especially dominated the Tamil Nadu box office, with a gross of almost 60 crore in 4 days. Karuppu had already become the biggest worldwide grosser for Suriya in just 4 days, and it is now heading towards the 200 crores gross milestone, which will be the first for the 24 Movie actor. In Tamil Nadu, the movie is expected to open the actor's account in the 100 crores club, which only a handful of Tamil stars have been able to achieve.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The marketing campaign for the Ram Charan starrer Peddi has moved into its next phase following a recent trailer launch event in Mumbai. According to reports from Bollywood Hungama, this Buchi Babu Sana directorial is officially confirmed for an IMAX release. The film, which also stars Janhvi Kapoor and Divyenndu, is being positioned as a large-scale theatrical experience, with Jio Studios overseeing the distribution in North India. The news was confirmed by Preetham Daniel, the IMAX Vice President for India and surrounding regions, who took to social media to announce that Peddi will be leveraging the premium large format to deliver its mass-appealing visuals. With Jio Studios handling the North India release, the film is clearly being positioned as a global cinematic event. But it's not just Peddi; the first week of June is looking like a treat for IMAX lovers. Just a day after Peddi's worldwide release on June 4, the Hollywood spectacle Masters Of The Universe—starring Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man—will also take over IMAX screens on June 5. This means audiences will have two back-to-back high-octane experiences from different industries on the largest screens possible. While the IMAX confirmation is making waves locally, the film's performance in international markets is already turning heads. The advance booking for the USA premieres has opened to a phenomenal response, signaling a massive start for the Global Star Ram Charan. With 15 days still left for the premieres, the film has already crossed a significant revenue milestone. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to the latest data shared by Venky Box Office, the early numbers from the North American market are quite revealing. With a full 15 days still to go before the premieres, the film has already amassed a total advance gross of $393,000 across the continent. Focusing specifically on the USA Telugu version, the collections have hit $359,516, driven by the sale of 12,562 tickets. This initial success is spread across 466 locations and a massive 1,379 shows. While the overall occupancy currently sits at 7 percent, this is a strong starting point considering the release is still over two weeks away. Texas is currently the standout performer among the states, contributing over $147,000 to the total, while the Cinemark chain is leading the pack among exhibitors, accounting for nearly $240,000 of the advance sales. A closer look at the state-wise data reveals that Texas is leading the charge by a huge margin, contributing $147,160 alone—nearly 40% of the total US collection so far. Other strong territories include North Carolina ($22,248), Virginia ($15,475), and New Jersey ($13,031). Among theater chains, Cinemark is dominating the sales with nearly $240,000 already in the kitty. Considering there are still over two weeks to go, Peddi is eyeing a historic premiere total in North America. The film boasts a stellar technical crew, with the legendary A.R. Rahman composing the score and Janhvi Kapoor playing the female lead. On the other hand, Masters Of The Universe brings a heavy-duty Hollywood cast including Jared Leto, Idris Elba, and Camila Mendes. Both films are looking to capitalize on the early June window, and the IMAX format will likely be the preferred choice for fans wanting to see these worlds come to life. Analytically, the early trends for Peddi suggest that the brand Ram Charan has seen a massive boost post-RRR. For a Telugu film to secure nearly $400K in advance sales 15 days out—without even factoring in the recent IMAX announcement—is a testament to its massive ground-level hype. As we inch closer to June 4, we can see if Peddi can set new benchmarks for Indian cinema on the global stage.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Entering the ninth week of a theatrical run is a significant milestone for any modern blockbuster, but doing so with a visible growth spurt is nearly unheard of. Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge continues to rewrite the record books, proving that its theatrical lifecycle is far from over even as it enters its 62nd day of release. On Tuesday, the film added a net of 0.22 crore to its kitty. While the absolute number is smaller due to the natural reduction in screen count, it represents a substantial 46.7 percent jump compared to Monday's collection of 0.15 crore. For a film to post a nearly 50 percent mid-week increase in its ninth week is a clear signal of sustained demand for the 408 shows still running across the country. With this daily haul, the total India net collection has reached a staggering 1,146.35 crore. A deep dive into the language breakdown shows the Hindi version leading with 1,077.81 crore, while the Telugu and Tamil versions have contributed 43.07 crore and 19.83 crore respectively. The total India gross for the film now stands at a towering 1,371.95 crore. Regionally, the film is holding fort exceptionally well in major metros. Mumbai led the charge on Day 62 with an impressive 30.8 percent occupancy over 38 shows, with night screenings peaking at 38 percent. The National Capital Region followed closely with 27.5 percent occupancy across 70 shows. Even in Ahmedabad, the film maintained a 21 percent occupancy rate, demonstrating that audience interest remains geographically diverse even after two months in theaters. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In the national multiplex chains, the film recorded 3,570 ticket sales across 280 shows, resulting in a daily gross of 5.30 lakh from these specific venues. PVR remained the top contributor among the chains with 1,645 tickets sold. The 7.5 percent occupancy in these premium formats suggests that the film is effectively filling its allocated seats, ensuring that every show remains commercially viable for exhibitors. Digital tracking through BookMyShow further validates this late-stage surge. Daily ticket bookings climbed from 5.24 thousand on Monday to 6.8 thousand on Tuesday. Since its release, the film has sold a historic total of over 1.83 crore tickets on this platform alone. This level of digital footprint reflects a level of popularity that few films in the history of Indian cinema have managed to achieve. The global story is equally impressive. The film has grossed 426.67 crore in overseas markets so far. When combined with the domestic performance, the total worldwide gross for Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge now stands at a massive 1,798.62 crore. The film is now just a few steps away from breaching the 1,800 crore global milestone, a feat that would further cement its place in the all-time record books.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The Dhurandhar franchise is currently witnessing a rare phenomenon on Netflix, where both the prequel and the newly released sequel are dominating global and regional charts simultaneously. While the sequel, Dhurandhar The Revenge (Raw & Undekha), is making waves across international markets, the original film continues to hold its ground in India with remarkable consistency. In its debut week between May 11 and May 17, 2026, Dhurandhar The Revenge has secured the number 5 spot on Netflix's Global Top 10 for Non-English movies. The film garnered 1.8 million views (18 lakh views) in its first weekend alone. Despite its massive runtime of 3 hours and 52 minutes, it clocked an impressive 6.8 million hours viewed (68 lakh hours), indicating high audience retention despite the length. What makes this global success particularly interesting is that the sequel is currently not streaming in India. Despite this, the film has managed to hit the number 1 spot in 9 different countries and featured in the Top 10 across 17 countries worldwide. The franchise's reach has expanded across continents, including significant traction in Europe, Africa, and Oceania. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Netflix Global Top 10 (Non-English Movies) - May 11 to May 17, 2026 RANK MOVIE NAME VIEWS HOURS VIEWED 01 My Dearest Assassin 6.2 Million 13.4 Million 02 KARTAVYA 4.7 Million 8.6 Million 03 Bride of the Year 2.3 Million 3.8 Million 04 The Bus: A French Football Mutiny 2.1 Million 2.9 Million 05 Dhurandhar The Revenge 1.8 Million 6.8 Million 06 Village of the Dead 1.5 Million 2.3 Million 07 My Dearest Señorita 1.2 Million 2.3 Million 08 Hidden Enemy 1.2 Million 2.1 Million 09 Je m'appelle Agneta 1.2 Million 2.2 Million 10 Bharathanatyam 2 Mohiniyattam 1.0 Million 2.5 Million The regional dominance of Dhurandhar The Revenge is evident as it secured the top spot in countries like Bangladesh, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, the UAE, and Mauritius. Additionally, it trended in the Top 10 in Nigeria (Africa), Malta (Europe), Australia, and New Zealand (Oceania). This widespread appeal showcases the franchise's transition into a global action brand. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the sequel conquers the world, the prequel, Dhurandhar, is creating its own legacy in the Indian market. The original film has remarkably spent 16 weeks in the Top 10 in India, currently sitting at the number 5 position. This longevity is nearly unheard of in the streaming era, where content cycles usually last only a few weeks. The prequel is also trending in the Top 10 in Bangladesh and Pakistan, making the franchise a dominant force across the entire South Asian subcontinent. India: Prequel has spent 16 weeks in the Top 10 (Sequel not released). Bangladesh: Sequel is ranked #1; Prequel is currently in the Top 10. Pakistan: Sequel is ranked #1; Prequel is currently in the Top 10. UAE / Qatar: Sequel is ranked #1. The fact that both installments of the franchise are holding the number 5 spot simultaneously—one on the global chart and the other in India—highlights a very efficient viewership cycle. It suggests that while the sequel is successfully capturing the international market, the Indian audience remains consistently engaged with the original film and the character of Hamza.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Bhooth Bangla is exhibiting a rare level of theatrical longevity as it moves through its fifth week. On Day 33, the film recorded a net collection of 0.90 crore, which represents a noteworthy 28.6 percent growth compared to the 0.70 crore earned on the previous day. For a production to post such a significant mid-week uptick this late in its run suggests a sustained demand that defies the usual downward trend seen after the first month of release. Operating across 2,439 shows nationwide, the film has pushed its total India net collection to 169.95 crore. In terms of domestic gross, the film has officially crossed the major milestone of 200 crore, currently standing at 201.47 crore. This performance highlights a highly efficient run, where the film continues to maximize its footprint even as show counts naturally consolidate. A closer look at the regional data reveals that the National Capital Region continues to lead the charge. With 297 shows, the region saw an overall occupancy of 23.3 percent, showing a clear build-up from 11 percent in the morning to 27 percent by the night. Mumbai followed a similar pattern of late-day strength, securing 21 percent occupancy over 90 shows. Ahmedabad also remained stable, contributing 14 percent occupancy across 165 shows, with its night screenings peaking at 20 percent. In the high-end multiplex circuits, specifically the national chains, the film maintained a steady pace.The film moved approximately 5,770 tickets across 817 shows, resulting in a gross of 7.50 lakh. While the occupancy in these specific chains hovered around 4 percent, the volume of shows ensures that the cumulative daily total remains impactful. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The digital engagement metrics further validate this growth. Ticket sales on BookMyShow saw a jump from 15.09 thousand on the fifth Monday to 21.7 thousand on Tuesday. Total digital bookings on the platform have now reached an impressive 31.73 lakh. This level of consistent ticket movement via online platforms is a strong indicator of the film's continued relevance among urban audiences. The global performance remains a key part of the success story. With an additional 0.05 crore coming in from international markets on Day 33, the total overseas gross has climbed to 53.60 crore. When combined with the domestic gross, Bhooth Bangla now stands at a worldwide total of 255.07 crore. Analytically, the 28 percent jump on a fifth-week Tuesday is the highlight here. It indicates that the film is not just lingering in theaters but is actively pulling in audiences who may have missed it during the initial rush.As it approaches the 170 crore net mark in India, the film has firmly established itself as a major success in the horror-comedy space, securing its place as one of the most profitable and well-received entries in the genre recently.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, May 20 - The much-awaited collaboration between Jr NTR and director Prashanth Neel has finally received its official title. Previously referred to as NTRNeel, the ambitious pan-India film is now titled Dragon. The makers unveiled the title alongside an explosive first-look glimpse that has already taken social media by storm. Released on the evening of Jr NTR's birthday, the glimpse introduces the actor in a fierce and intense avatar set in a gritty, violence-ridden world. Packed with dark visuals, heavy action, and Prashanth Neel's signature larger-than-life presentation, the teaser has instantly heightened anticipation around the film. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The glimpse showcases Jr NTR in one of his most aggressive on-screen transformations yet. The intense first-look glimpse presents Jr NTR in a rugged and ferocious avatar named Luger, set against a gritty 1967 backdrop. The story of the film unfolds against the backdrop of the Golden Triangle and the international opium trade. Prashanth Neel, known for directing blockbuster action entertainers like KGF and Salaar, appears to be bringing another visually massive cinematic universe and his most ambitious vision to the big screen with Dragon. The scale, cinematography, and background score in the glimpse have already drawn strong reactions from fans online. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Makers Reveal Massive Ensemble Cast Along with the title reveal, the makers also confirmed the film's ensemble cast. The movie features several prominent names from across Indian cinema, including Anil Kapoor, Biju Menon, Rukmini Vasanth, Khushbu Sundar, Ashutosh Rana, and Sidhant Gupta in key roles alongside Guru Somasundaram, Rajeev Kanakala, Anshuman Pushkar, Prabhas Srinu, Shatru, Shiva, Bhimal Jeet Oberoi, Ntuthuzelo Prince Grootboom, Aleksandr Mizev, and Benedict Paul Garrett. The presence of actors from multiple film industries highlights the makers' intention to position Dragon as a true pan-India spectacle. Dragon is being produced on a grand scale by Mythri Movie Makers in association with NTR Arts and T-Series. The music for the film has been composed by Ravi Basrur, whose work in KGF and Salaar played a major role in shaping the intense atmosphere of those films. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) One of Indian Cinema's Biggest Upcoming Projects Ever since the Dragon was announced, the collaboration between Jr NTR and Prashanth Neel has been among the most talked-about upcoming films in Indian cinema. With the official title now revealed and the first glimpse receiving a strong response, expectations surrounding Dragon have grown even bigger. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on June 11, 2027 and is expected to be one of the biggest action spectacles of the year.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The anticipation surrounding the sequel to the 2023 blockbuster Jailer is growing as the project moves into its final stages of production. With Rajinikanth set to reprise his iconic role as Tiger Muthuvel Pandian, the film is shaping up to be a massive pan-Indian event. The latest update regarding the ensemble cast comes from a report by Variety India, which reveals that Bigg Boss 18 fame Edin Rose has secured a significant role in the sequel. Edin Rose, who recently gained visibility as a wildcard contestant on the Hindi reality show, is reportedly playing a feisty, city-bred character in the film. Unlike her brief appearance in Pradeep Ranganathan's Love Insurance Kompany, where she plays the romantic interest of S.J. Suryah, her role in Jailer 2 is expected to be more substantial. The actress reportedly spent nearly a month filming her portions, which involve scenes with several of the film's lead actors. Edin’s career has seen a steady rise since her debut in the web series Gandi Baat in 2020. She has previously collaborated with Telugu star Ravi Teja, appearing in the song Dikka Dishum from Ravanasura and more recently in the 2026 release Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi. Her inclusion in Jailer 2 adds another layer to a cast that already features stalwarts like Mohanlal, Dr. Shiva Rajkumar, and Ramya Krishnan. The sequel also expands its reach with the addition of Bollywood veteran Mithun Chakraborty, S.J. Suryah, Suraj Venjaramoodu, and Yogi Babu. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the production front, the team successfully wrapped up principal photography on April 21, 2026. The film is currently in the post-production phase, where the focus is on refining the high-octane action sequences that defined the first installment. The business side of the project is also making headlines, with reports suggesting that Amazon Prime Video has secured the OTT rights for a record-breaking 160 crore, a figure that highlights the massive demand for the franchise. Regarding the theatrical debut, there has been a shift in the release strategy. While an initial date of June 12 was under consideration, the makers are now reportedly looking at a September 4, 2026, release. This move is intended to capitalize on the Krishna Jayanthi holiday weekend, providing the film with a better window to maximize its box office potential. By shifting the date, the production house aims to ensure that the sequel gets the widest possible reach across all language markets.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart has entered its second week of theatrical run, showing a typical weekday trend as it navigates through the second Monday. The film, which saw a decent surge during its second weekend, faced a standard drop as audiences returned to their work routines. On its 12th day, the movie managed to collect a net of 1.00 crore in India, which represents a 68.8 percent decline compared to the previous day's collection of 3.20 crore. With the completion of its second Monday, the total India net collection for Krishnavataram now stands at 21.22 crore. When looking at the domestic gross figures, the film has reached a cumulative total of 25.12 crore. A closer look at the language-wise performance reveals that the Hindi version continues to be the primary contributor, accounting for 19.26 crore of the total net. The Telugu and Tamil versions have added 1.61 crore and 0.35 crore respectively to the overall tally. On Day 12 specifically, the film operated across a total of 2,014 shows nationwide with an overall occupancy of 14.3 percent. The Hindi version led the show count with 1,836 screenings, earning 0.90 crore. The Telugu version followed with 159 shows earning 9 lakhs, while the Tamil version remained minimal with 19 shows contributing 1 lakh. Despite the reduction in show counts compared to the opening week, the film is still maintaining a presence in key urban centers. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The performance in national cinema chains remains a vital part of the film's daily earnings. On its second Monday, Krishnavataram sold approximately 5,350 tickets across the three major chains. Breaking this down, INOX led the way with 2,010 tickets, followed closely by PVR with 1,920 tickets, and Cinepolis with 1,420 tickets. On the BookMyShow platform, the film recorded 32.23 thousand ticket sales for the day, pushing its total ticket count on the platform to over 5.48 lakh. Regional occupancy data for the Hindi version shows that Mumbai remains one of the more active markets for the film, recording a 16 percent occupancy across 185 shows, with evening shows peaking at 23 percent. The National Capital Region (NCR) hosted the highest number of screenings with 218 shows but saw a slightly lower occupancy of 9.8 percent. Other regions like Ahmedabad and Surat recorded occupancies of 10.5 percent and 6.3 percent respectively, with Ahmedabad showing a better evening turnout of 13 percent. As the film moves toward the end of its second week, its ability to stay steady during the weekdays will determine its final lifetime domestic standing. While the Hindi belt is providing the necessary support, the film's niche appeal is reflected in the steady but calculated footfalls in the major metros. The focus will now shift to how many screens it can retain as it heads into the third Friday.