Box Office

16 hrs ago

13.9K views

Raja Shivaji Day 1 Box Office: 11.35 Cr Net Total as Riteish Deshmukh Triples His Previous Opening Record

BY SACNILK

Raja Shivaji has started its box office journey with a strong performance, earning a net collection of 11.35 crore on its first day. The film was released across 6,192 shows, resulting in a total India gross of 13.51 crore. This opening is particularly interesting because it shows how a Marathi-led project is now finding a significant audience in the Hindi belt as well, with the Hindi version contributing 3.35 crore to the total net. Looking at the language-wise split, the Marathi version dominated the charts with a net collection of 8 crore. The Hindi version also contributed a solid 3.35 crore, showing that the subject matter has a broad appeal beyond Maharashtra. The film held a strong presence in theaters with 6,192 shows across the country, leading to a total India gross collection of 13.51 crore on its opening Friday. Raja Shivaji Day 1 Box Office SummaryCATEGORYCOLLECTION / DATAIndia Net Collection₹ 11.35 CrIndia Gross Collection₹ 13.51 CrMarathi Net₹ 8.00 CrHindi Net₹ 3.35 CrTotal Shows6,192 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The buzz surrounding the film was evident long before the first show started. The pre-sales data was highly encouraging, with 217.33K tickets sold before the release. On Friday alone, an additional 274.79K tickets were booked via BookMyShow, bringing the total to approximately 492.12K tickets for the opening day. In national chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film performed exceptionally well, grossing roughly 2.51 crore from around 81,866 tickets sold in these major multiplexes. Riteish Deshmukh has consistently raised the bar for Marathi cinema, but his latest outing with Raja Shivaji has taken things to a completely different level. When you look at his past track record, films like Mauli and Lai Bhaari were considered massive with opening day collections of 3.25 crore and 3.10 crore respectively. Even his 2022 hit, Ved, began its theatrical run with 2.25 crore. However, with Raja Shivaji raking in 8.00 crore in the Marathi version alone, it has comfortably emerged as the highest-ever opening for a Riteish Deshmukh film in this language. It is fascinating to see how the actor has managed to triple his previous best, proving that the scale of this historical epic has resonated deeply with the audience. Top 5 Marathi Movies - Day 1 Net CollectionMOVIE NAMEDAY 1 NET COLLECTIONRaja Shivaji (2026)₹ 8.00 CrVed (2022)₹ 2.25 CrNaach Ga Ghuma (2024)₹ 2.00 CrHar Har Mahadev (2022)₹ 2.00 CrDharmaveer (2022)₹ 2.00 Cr Overall, the data indicates a very healthy trend for the film. The combination of strong ticket sales in national chains and a massive lead in the Marathi home market has given Raja Shivaji the platform it needs to become a major success. The distribution of shows across 6,192 screens has ensured that the film is accessible to both regional and national audiences, which is reflected in the 11.35 crore total net.

Box Office

16 hrs ago

1.2K views

Kara Day 2 Box Office: India Net Hits 13.15 Cr as Friday Growth Pushes Worldwide Total Past 20 Cr Milestone

BY SACNILK

Kara is showing a steady trend as it finishes its second day at the box office. On Friday, the film earned a net of 6.95 crore, which is a noticeable jump from the 6.20 crore it collected on its opening Thursday. This brings the total India net collection to 13.15 crore after two days. The growth is a positive sign, suggesting that the movie is finding its target audience even with significant competition in the weekend market. Looking at the language breakdown, the Tamil version remains the primary driver, contributing 5.85 crore on day 2. The Telugu version added another 1.10 crore to the net total. Geographically, Tamil Nadu provided the bulk of the revenue with 5.85 crore in gross collections, while the APTG region followed with 1.28 crore. The film also saw smaller contributions from Karnataka with 70 lakh and Kerala with 10 lakh. These figures show that the film is primarily anchored in its home market for now. Kara Day 2 Box Office SummaryCATEGORYCOLLECTION DATAIndia Net (Day 2)₹ 6.95 CrTotal India Net (2 Days)₹ 13.15 CrTotal India Gross (2 Days)₹ 15.20 CrWorldwide Gross Total₹ 20.20 CrOverseas Total Gross₹ 5.00 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The show count remained fairly consistent, with 4,181 shows on Friday compared to 4,172 on opening day. However, the occupancy levels saw an improvement, particularly in urban centers. On BookMyShow, the movie sold about 133.04K tickets on Friday, which is a healthy increase over the 118.5K tickets sold on Thursday. When you include the pre-sales of 67.22K, the total ticket sales on the platform have now reached approximately 318.76K. In the national multiplex chains including PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film managed to gross roughly 59 lakh from about 34,700 tickets sold on its second day. PVR led these contributions with 40.50 lakh from around 23,700 tickets, while INOX and Cinepolis contributed approximately 14 lakh and 5 lakh respectively. These numbers indicate that the film is maintaining a decent hold in major cities where multiplex footfalls are crucial for weekend growth. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the international front, Kara added 2.50 crore to its overseas gross on day 2, bringing the total international collection to 5 crore. According to reports from Venky Box Office, the film grossed around 28K dollars in North America as of 7pm PST on Friday. Collectively, the worldwide gross total has now reached 20.20 crore. Overall, the film is moving at a simple and steady pace, and the Saturday numbers will be important to watch for any further surges. Kara Language-wise Net Collection (Day 2)LANGUAGENET COLLECTIONOCCUPANCYTamil₹ 5.85 Cr34.0%Telugu₹ 1.10 Cr20.0%Total Net₹ 6.95 Cr29.7%

Box Office

17 hrs ago

15.6K views

Dhurandhar 2 Day 44 Box Office: Total Net Hits 1,136 Cr as Historic South India Milestone Now Seems Impossible to Reach

BY SACNILK

Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is now moving at a slower pace than usual as it continues its extended run at the box office. On its 44th day, the film collected a net of 1.05 crore in India. This is a minor 8.7 percent drop from the 1.15 crore it earned on the previous day, showing that even in its seventh week, there is still some residual interest among the audience despite the massive volume of new releases. A major factor impacting the numbers now is the significant reduction in screen space. For the first time in its run, the show count for Dhurandhar 2 has slipped below the 1,000 mark, with only 851 shows recorded on Friday. This crunch is driven by a massive influx of new releases like Raja Shivaji, Patriot, and KD The Devil 2. Additionally, existing holdovers like Bhooth Bangla and Michael are also competing for the same multiplex slots. By today, which is day 45, the situation is even tighter with show counts expected to drop below 500, a logical progression given the crowded market landscape. Despite the shrinking footprint, the film has reached some massive milestones in specific territories. It is currently inching closer to the 100 crore gross mark in the Telugu states, currently sitting at 99.50 crore. Its performance in Karnataka has been even more dominant, with the film grossing 150 crore in the state. Total India gross collections have reached a massive 1,359.83 crore, cementing its status as one of the biggest earners in history. Perhaps the most interesting data point is the performance in South India, where the total gross has now crossed 297 crore. This leaves the film just 3 crore away from the 300 crore milestone, a record that no other non-south movie has ever achieved in Indian cinema history. However, with show counts dropping so rapidly and the intense pressure from new releases, reaching that final 3 crore target now appears nearly impossible. Given the current market trajectory and the massive reduction in screen space, it seems the film will fall just short of securing this specific piece of box office history. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Take a look at the language-wise net collection breakdown across India: Hindi: ₹ 1,068.04 Cr Telugu: ₹ 42.89 Cr Tamil: ₹ 19.63 Cr Kannada: ₹ 3.81 Cr Malayalam: ₹ 1.77 Cr In the national multiplex chains, the seventh-week performance remains quite steady given the circumstances. On its 44th day, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge managed to gross around 26 lakh from about 7,900 tickets sold across PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis. PVR led the chains with a gross of 15 lakh from 4,418 tickets, while INOX and Cinepolis contributed approximately 8 lakh and 3 lakh respectively. With an occupancy rate of 13 percent across 400 shows in these chains, the movie is still finding a niche audience even as the focus of major theaters shifts toward newer tentpole releases. On the digital front, BookMyShow recorded 27.09K ticket sales for this seventh Friday. The international market added another 0.25 crore on day 44, bringing the total overseas gross to 425.40 crore. When you combine the domestic and international figures, the worldwide total gross stands at 1,785.23 crore. It is a massive total for any Indian film, especially considering how the Hindi version alone accounts for over 1,068 crore of the total net collection. Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge Box Office SummaryCATEGORYCOLLECTION DATAIndia Net (Day 44)₹ 1.05 CrTotal India Net₹ 1,136.14 CrTotal India Gross₹ 1,359.83 CrWorldwide Gross Total₹ 1,785.23 CrOverseas Gross₹ 425.40 Cr

Box Office

18 hrs ago

6.8K views

Bhooth Bangla Day 15 Box Office: India Net Hits 132.65 Cr as it Surpasses the 3rd Friday Collection Records of URI and Kalki 2898 AD

BY SACNILK

Bhooth Bangla has shown a positive trend as it enters its third week at the box office. On day 15, which was its third Friday, the film collected a net of 4.50 crore. This represents a solid 28.6 percent growth compared to the 3.50 crore it earned on Thursday. This kind of upward movement on a Friday suggests that the film still has enough legs to draw in the weekend crowd even after two weeks in theaters. What makes these numbers even more impressive is the current state of the box office. With the major release of films like Raja Shivaji, Patriot, and The Devil Wears Prada 2 yesterday, the competition for screen space has become intense. This crowded market led to a sharp reduction in shows for Bhooth Bangla, which dropped from roughly 8,000 shows on Thursday to 4,807 shows on Friday.Managing a 28.6 percent growth while operating on nearly half the number of shows is a strong indicator of the film's resilience. It suggests that while total capacity decreased, the occupancy per show spiked as audiences continued to favor this two-week-old release despite the arrival other competitions. The total India net collection has now reached 132.65 crore. When you consider the reported budget of 120 crore, the film has officially moved past the recovery stage and is now comfortably in the profit zone. The total India gross collection stands at 157.55 crore so far, reflecting a very healthy run in the domestic market across its 4,807 shows on day 15. It is interesting to see where the film stands in historical terms. With its day 15 performance, Bhooth Bangla has secured the 18th spot on the list of highest third-Friday collections for Hindi movies. By achieving this, it has surpassed the third-Friday numbers of major blockbusters like Kalki 2898 AD, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and URI: The Surgical Strike. This ranking is a clear indicator of the film's consistent holding power at the box office. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Ticket sales on BookMyShow continue to stay active, with 89,070 tickets sold on the third Friday alone. This brings the total tickets sold on the platform to a massive 25.24 lakh. In the national multiplex chains, the movie saw steady footfalls, selling approximately 19,100 tickets and grossing about 60 lakh on day 15. While these are not opening-day levels, they are very respectable figures for a third-week run. The overseas performance has also been a key part of the film's success story. On day 15, it added 1.25 crore from international markets, taking the total overseas gross to 53.50 crore. The Gulf region has emerged as a standout territory, with the UAE alone contributing 1.07 million dollars (roughly 9 crore) over the 15-day period. Given that the UAE usually drives the bulk of the region’s business, the total GCC contribution is trending in the $1.5 million to $1.7 million range. This performance has played a major role in pushing the worldwide gross past the 211.05 crore mark. Looking at the trajectory, we can expect a significant jump over the rest of the third weekend. Saturday and Sunday are likely to see even better occupancy, which could potentially push the third-weekend net total toward the 16 to 18 crore range. If this trend continues, Bhooth Bangla is well on its way to finishing its third weekend with a net total near 140-145 crore, further increasing its profitability for the makers.

Box Office

19 hrs ago

3.8K views

Patriot Day 1 Box Office: 28+ Cr Worldwide Gross as Overseas Market Contributes Nearly 70% of the Total Collections

BY SACNILK

Patriot has made a very strong start at the box office, particularly when you look at the global numbers. On its first day, the film collected a net of 10 crore across India. While the domestic numbers are solid, it is the overseas performance that is truly grabbing attention, pushing the film into the category of the biggest Indian openers of 2026 in international markets. Across 2,636 shows in India, the film managed a gross collection of 11.60 crore. Naturally, Kerala was the primary driver for these numbers, contributing 8.50 crore to the total gross. Interestingly, the film also found decent traction in Karnataka with 1.60 crore and Tamil Nadu with 80 lakh, showing that the appeal is spreading beyond its home territory. The rest of India and the APTG region added another 70 lakh combined to the gross total. With a net collection of 10 crore, Patriot has now secured the position of the second-highest opening day net for a Malayalam film. It has comfortably surpassed the debut numbers of recent major hits like Bha. Bha. Ba. and Aadujeevitham, both of which opened at the 7 crore mark. While it still sits behind the massive 19 crore opening of L2: Empuraan, Patriot has established itself as a top-tier performer in the industry. L2: Empuraan (2025) - ₹ 19 Cr Patriot (2026) - ₹ 10 Cr Bha. Bha. Ba. (2025) - ₹ 7 Cr Aadujeevitham - The Goat Life (2024) - ₹ 7 Cr Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (2021) - ₹ 6 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Patriot Day 1 State-Wise Gross BreakdownSTATE / REGIONGROSS COLLECTIONKerala₹ 8.50 CrKarnataka₹ 1.60 CrTamil Nadu₹ 0.80 CrRest of India₹ 0.55 CrAPTG₹ 0.15 CrTotal India Gross₹ 11.60 Cr The overall occupancy for the day stood at a very healthy 66 per cent. The film started the day with a high morning occupancy of 73.44 per cent and maintained a steady flow throughout the afternoon and night, with figures hovering between 70 per cent and 75 percent. In the national multiplex chains, including PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film sold about 55,000 tickets, resulting in a gross of 2 crore. These numbers were supported by heavy booking activity on BookMyShow, where a total of 583.92K tickets were sold, including a massive pre-sale of 333.18K tickets. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The real story of the opening day, however, lies in the overseas market. Patriot grossed 16.50 Crore outside India on its first day, which is a significant achievement. In North America specifically, the film grossed 118K dollars by Friday evening. When you combine the domestic and international figures, the worldwide gross collection for day one stands at an impressive 29.37 crore. This global momentum suggests that the film is not just a regional hit but is performing like a major Indian tentpole release. Patriot Day 1 Worldwide Box Office SummaryCATEGORYCOLLECTION DATAIndia Net Collection₹ 9.80 CrIndia Gross Collection₹ 11.37 CrOverseas Gross Collection₹ 18.00 CrWorldwide Gross Total₹ 29.37 CrBookMyShow Total Tickets5.83 Lakh Analysing the data, the heavy weightage of the overseas market indicates a very strong diaspora appeal. The fact that the film has almost doubled its domestic gross through international collections on day one is a trend usually reserved for the biggest stars in the industry. With a 10 crore net start in India and a worldwide gross nearing the 30 crore mark, the film has set a high bar for the rest of its theatrical run.

Box Office

1 day ago

9.1K views

Raja Shivaji vs. Chhaava Advance Booking:Analyzing the Clash Between Regional Authenticity and Bollywood's Record-Breaking Scale

BY SACNILK

The historical genre in Indian cinema has recently seen two major projects based on the Maratha legacy take very different paths at the box office. While Chhaava was released as a purely Hindi production, the upcoming Raja Shivaji is taking a dual-language approach by releasing in both Marathi and Hindi. Although it is clear from the data that Raja Shivaji is playing on a different commercial level, comparing the two provides a fascinating look at how a multi-lingual regional film stands against a massive Bollywood production. To understand the scale of this competition, we have to look at the benchmark set by Chhaava for its opening day. Even as a Hindi-only release, the film managed to generate immense momentum, particularly within Maharashtra. Its final advance booking for day one stood at approximately 4.88 lakh tickets sold across India, translating to a gross of nearly 17.89 crore including block seats. This volume was driven by a heavy presence in national chains, where it sold over 2.14 lakh tickets, setting a high bar for any historical drama aiming for a massive start. On the other hand, Raja Shivaji is leaning into a strategy that combines regional loyalty with a wide national footprint. Backed by Jio Studios, the film is aiming for a massive showing of around 5,700 shows nationwide across its two versions. However, the internal breakdown of these shows tells a very interesting story about where the demand actually lies. Despite having a massive push in Hindi with nearly 3,900 shows, that version has sold only about 34,000 tickets so far. In sharp contrast, the Marathi version is completely dominating the pre-sales, selling over 1.67 lakh tickets from just 1,786 shows. This clear preference for the native language version is what has pushed the total opening day advance to approximately 2.02 lakh tickets, resulting in a gross of 6.54 crore with block seats. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Day 1 Advance Booking: Chhaava vs. Raja ShivajiMETRICCHHAAVA (HINDI ONLY)RAJA SHIVAJI (MAR + HIN)Total Tickets Sold4.88 Lakh2.02 LakhTotal Advance Gross (With Block)₹ 17.89 Cr₹ 6.54 CrBMS Final Pre-Sales776.6K Tickets217.3K TicketsNational Chain Sales2.14 Lakh81,866 Tickets The regional data is where the story gets even more detailed. Even though Chhaava was purely in Hindi, its subject matter ensured that it dominated Maharashtra. It recorded a massive opening with nearly 4.50 crore in advance sales from the state alone, with Pune and Mumbai showing occupancy peaks of 62.5 percent and nearly 80 percent. Coming to Raja Shivaji, the response is heavily concentrated in its native language. The Marathi 2D version has sold over 1.67 lakh tickets, with Mumbai and Pune showing real occupancy levels of 44 percent and 55 percent respectively. However, the Hindi version is seeing a slower start, with territories like NCR currently at a 2 percent occupancy across 433 shows. Regional Comparison: Raja Shivaji vs Chhaava (Day 1)REGION & METRICRAJA SHIVAJI (MAR/HIN)CHHAAVA (HINDI)Mumbai Shows6151,230Mumbai Occupancy44%36%Mumbai Gross (With Block)₹ 2.08 Cr₹ 4.06 CrPune Shows350654Pune Occupancy55%48%Pune Gross (With Block)₹ 1.38 Cr₹ 2.81 CrNCR Shows4331,249NCR Occupancy2%8%NCR Gross (With Block)₹ 19.98 Lac₹ 1.11 Cr Ultimately, Raja Shivaji is operating on a different scale compared to the massive Hindi-only production of Chhaava. While Chhaava set a high benchmark with its 33.50 crore opening day net, Raja Shivaji is testing how far a film can go when it prioritizes its regional roots while still competing for a national footprint. Even if it does not reach the same opening day totals as a major Bollywood actioner, the current pre-sales and the sheer scale of its release are already setting a historic new benchmark for the Marathi film industry.

Box Office

1 day ago

5.1K views

Patriot Final Advance Booking: Rs. 21+ Crore Worldwide Pre-Sales Secures Second-Biggest Malayalam Opening and Positions Film for a 100 Crore Weekend

BY SACNILK

The much-awaited Malayalam actioner Patriot is off to a scorching start at the box office. Featuring the powerhouse trio of Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Fahadh Faasil, the film is officially the most expensive Malayalam production ever, with a massive budget estimated between 125 and 140 crores. This scale is evident on screen, with the story of a retired JAG officer and a colonel fighting a national security conspiracy shot across global locations like London, Azerbaijan, and Thailand. Even before the first show began, the pre-sales figures made it clear that we are looking at a historic opener. Starting with its home turf, Kerala, the film has managed a final pre-sale figure of around 5.45 crores. This is a huge achievement as it becomes only the tenth film in history to cross the 4 crore mark in Kerala advance bookings, joining big names like Odiyan and Leo. The ticket velocity was particularly wild during the initial hours; over 32,000 tickets were sold in the very first hour, which jumped to 85,000 by 1 PM on the first day. This record-breaking pace has pushed it to become the second-best advance for a Malayalam film in the state. To give you some perspective, here is how the top leaderboard for Kerala pre-sales looks now: Empuraan: 11.75 Crores Coolie: 8.05 Crores Leo: 7.60 Crores Patriot: 5.45 Crores Coming to the performance in national multiplex chains, the trend has been quite interesting. While the activity was almost non-existent on April 30 with less than a hundred tickets sold, it saw a massive spike as May 1 approached. On the opening day, the film sold over 54,000 tickets across major chains, bringing in a gross of nearly 1.75 crores. The momentum is staying strong for the rest of the weekend too, with bookings for May 2 already crossing the 20,000 mark. Occupancy levels are also looking healthy, with chains like PVR and Cinepolis showing nearly 50 percent occupancy for day one shows. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Moving to the digital side of things, the response on BookMyShow has been equally dominant. Patriot wrapped up its pre-sales on the platform with 333,000 tickets. The final 24 hours before release saw a huge surge, with 145,000 tickets booked in that window alone. In the context of Malayalam films released since 2024, this puts it at the number two spot, ahead of major hits like The GOAT Life at 309,000 and Aadu 3 at 235,000. While the 1.3 million record set by Empuraan is still far off, Patriot has created a significant gap between itself and other recent releases. The international market has provided another massive boost to these numbers. Overseas pre-sales have touched the 14 crore mark, with the GCC region alone contributing a solid 7.11 crores. When you add the 1.70 crores from the rest of India and the strong Kerala numbers, the total worldwide pre-sales stand at a staggering 21.15 crores. This makes it the second-biggest global advance in the history of Malayalam cinema, trailing only behind the record-breaking figures of Empuraan. Overall, with a combined three-day weekend advance of roughly 28 crores, the film is perfectly positioned for a historic run. Since today is a May 1st holiday, the movie is expected to gain huge traction from walk-in audiences, putting it on a clear path to potentially breach the 100 crore gross mark globally over the long weekend. Given the massive 130 crore plus investment, the trade will be watching the weekday holds closely, but if the initial word of mouth stays positive, Patriot is set to completely redefine the commercial potential of the industry.

Box Office

2 days ago

1.1K views

Salman Khan And Raj and DK Superhero Film To Roll In October 2026; Details Inside On Casting And Production

BY SACNILK

Salman Khan is prepared to enter the superhero genre through a collaboration with the director duo Raj and DK. As per a report by Pinkvilla, the project is scheduled to begin filming in October 2026. This high-concept action entertainer will be produced by Atul Agnihotri, with the makers currently in discussions with Mythri Movie Makers to join as the studio partner. The film is presently in the pre-production stage, with the creative team focusing on the technical scale and the specific look of the superhero world. Sources indicate that the project is being designed to cater to a global audience, necessitating an extensive preparation period for pre-visualization and technical planning. This explains the timeline for the shoot, which is set to commence late next year once all the ground work is completed. There has been considerable speculation regarding the films female lead, particularly following rumors of Samantha Ruth Prabhu being cast. However, it has been clarified that these reports are inaccurate and Samantha is not part of the project. The production team is expected to finalize the casting for the leading lady in the coming months as they move through the different stages of pre-production. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) This collaboration marks a significant move for Salman Khan as it is his first venture into a full-fledged superhero space. Before moving to the Raj and DK project, the actor is currently focusing on an untitled action film directed by Vamshi Paidipally. That film, which features Nayanthara as the female lead and is produced by Dil Raju under Sri Venkateswara Creations, is already locked for a grand release during the Eid 2027 weekend. With these two major action-oriented projects lined up, the actors schedule for the next couple of years is becoming increasingly defined.There is significant interest in how this project will take shape, given Raj and DK's history with high-concept storytelling and detailed world-building. Official details regarding the title and the rest of the ensemble cast are expected to be shared as the project approaches its October 2026 filming schedule.

Bollywood

2 days ago

865 views

Bookings For May 1 Still Closed? Here Is The Real Reason Behind The Massive Screen Sharing War

BY SACNILK

The cinema exhibition sector in India is currently facing a significant programming hurdle as bookings for the May 1 holiday weekend remain largely closed in several key locations. According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, exhibitors are finding it difficult to manage show-sharing arrangements due to a high volume of new releases and existing holdover films. This situation has led to a delay in opening advance ticket sales, even as the industry moves within the final 24-hour window before the scheduled releases. The impact is particularly visible in Mumbai, where several prominent theatres had not opened plans for May 1 as of April 30 morning. This list includes Regal, MovieTime Suburbia, PVR Le Reve, Roxy, Eros IMAX, Kasturba, and Nazrana. Notably, even Sterling, a three-screen multiplex, had yet to finalize its schedule. Other properties such as Devgn CineX in Mulund and Thane, Topiwala, MovieTime Malad, Tilak, and Rajhans Ghatkopar are also yet to open bookings in a full-fledged manner. The primary reason for this deadlock is the sheer number of titles across different languages. Exhibitors are currently tasked with allocating shows for Raja Shivaji (Hindi and Marathi), Ek Din (Hindi), The Devil Wears Prada 2 (English), Patriot (Malayalam), Kara (Tamil), Dhabkaaro (Gujarati), and KD - The Devil (Kannada). Sources within the exhibition sector describe the current scenario as an agni pariksha, as programming teams must balance the demands of multiple distributors in a diverse market like Mumbai while also maintaining shows for holdover hits Michael and Bhooth Bangla. The screen requirements for the weeks biggest release, Raja Shivaji, have added another layer of complexity. Its distributor, Jio Studios, has reportedly sought a wide release with specific demands. For single-screen cinemas, the studio has requested all shows. In multiplexes, the requirement includes 7 shows for 2-screen properties, 10 shows for 3-screen properties, and 14 shows for 4-screen halls. In cinemas with 5 screens or more, the demand stands at 16 shows daily, covering both Hindi and Marathi versions. Furthermore, there is a push to play the film in premium formats such as 4DX and EPIQ. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In addition to these demands, Patriot and KD - The Devil are also scheduled for Hindi dubbed releases. However, bookings for these versions have faced delays across the country, likely due to the ongoing negotiations over screen space. While the logistical issues persist, the overall outlook for the weekend remains positive from a commercial standpoint. The Devil Wears Prada 2 is showing better-than-expected advance interest, and films like Patriot and Kara are expected to perform well in their respective regional markets. Raja Shivaji is also anticipated to draw significant numbers in the Maharashtra belt once the scheduling issues are resolved. The challenge for programmers is not limited to new releases as holdover films like Michael and Bhooth Bangla are still maintaining a steady pace at the box office. These films continue to draw audiences, making it difficult for exhibitors to reduce their show counts to make room for the incoming titles. Since both movies have demonstrated consistent footfalls, theatre owners are reluctant to cut their screenings entirely, which further complicates the negotiations with distributors of the upcoming films. According to sources mentioned by Bollywood Hungama, the need to accommodate these performing holdovers alongside a crowded slate of new releases is a major reason why many cinemas have reached a standstill in their programming schedules.

Advance Booking

3 days ago

25.9K views

Raja Shivaji 1st Day Advance Booking: 42,000+ Tickets Sold Already; Why The Hindi Version Is Shorter Than The Marathi One?

BY SACNILK

Riteish Deshmukh's much-anticipated historical epic Raja Shivaji is generating significant momentum ahead of its May 1 release. The film has recorded a healthy response in its advance booking phase, crossing the 1.1 crore mark in all-India gross collections without block seats. When including block seats, the total first-day advance booking stands at 1.55 crore. With over 42,700 tickets already sold across 1,105 shows, the film is poised for a strong start, particularly in its home territory of Maharashtra. Beyond the booking numbers, an interesting development regarding the film's runtime has surfaced. As exclusively reported by Bollywood Hungama, Raja Shivaji will be released with two different runtimes for its Marathi and Hindi versions. While it is standard practice for multi-language releases to maintain the same length, this film serves as an exception. The Marathi version has a runtime of 195.05 minutes, which translates to 3 hours 15 minutes and 5 seconds. In contrast, the Hindi version is shorter by exactly 8 minutes, clocking in at 187.05 minutes or 3 hours 7 minutes and 5 seconds.This strategic difference in pacing was also reflected in the film's promotional material; while the Marathi trailer runs for 3 minutes and 5 seconds, the Hindi trailer was kept slightly shorter at 2 minutes and 59 seconds. The Hindi version of the film was cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with a U/A 16+ certificate on April 28. While no major cuts were requested, the CBFC's only suggestion was that the names of chapters, dates, events, and locations be specifically mentioned in Hindi for that version.This runtime experiment is reportedly a strategic move by Riteish Deshmukh. According to industry insiders, the director wanted to keep the narrative crisper for the national audience, while retaining a more detailed and local flavor for the Marathi audience who are naturally more connected to the historical context. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The language-wise breakdown of the advance booking reflects the film's strong regional pull, though the Hindi version is also carving out its space. Here is a look at the current 1st-day advance booking status: Marathi (2D): 1.05 Cr Gross | 40,070 Tickets Sold | 992 Shows Hindi (2D): 4.50 Lakh Gross | 2,667 Tickets Sold | 113 Shows All India Total (Gross): 1.10 Cr (1.55 Cr with block seats) Total Tickets Sold: 42,737 Marathi (2D): ATP 226 Hindi (2D): ATP 182 The trend was also visible in the promotional material, as the Marathi trailer was slightly longer than the Hindi one. The film features a massive ensemble cast including Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, and Fardeen Khan. Produced by Mumbai Film Company and Jio Studios, Raja Shivaji is one of the most ambitious Marathi productions to date. This star power, combined with the historical significance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has led to a surge in demand across key cities. Pune has emerged as the strongest performing center, leading the bookings with several theaters introducing 7:00 AM shows to accommodate the audience. Mumbai is also seeing steady growth in ticket sales. Among the national multiplex chains, the performance has been encouraging with PVR Inox leading the Marathi version sales at 10,000 tickets. Miraj Cinemas has followed with 4,500 tickets, while Cinepolis and MovieMax have sold 3,000 and 2,500 tickets respectively. With a total of 1,105 shows scheduled across India, Raja Shivaji is looking to set new benchmarks for Marathi cinema at the box office.

OTT

3 days ago

3.7K views

Ustaad Bhagat Singh Netflix Viewership: Pawan Kalyan Starrer Becomes Number 1 Indian Release Of 2026

BY SACNILK

The digital journey of Pawan Kalyan's Ustaad Bhagat Singh has provided a contrasting narrative to its theatrical run. Despite being produced on a reported budget of 150 crore, the film was declared a flop at the box office after netting 72.34 crore in India. Its domestic gross stood at 84.91 crore, and with an overseas contribution of 11.85 crore, the worldwide total concluded at 96.76 crore. While these numbers fell short of theatrical recovery, the film's premiere on Netflix has unlocked a significant global audience, turning it into a notable digital success story for the year. In its debut window from April 16 to April 19, the Harish Shankar directorial made a strong entry, clocking 2.5 million views and 6.2 million viewing hours. This performance allowed it to secure the number 3 spot globally in the non-English films category during its first week. The mass entertainer trended in the Top 10 across 14 countries during this period, finding traction in major markets like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the UAE, and Malaysia. This initial surge indicated that the star power of Pawan Kalyan remained a significant draw for the streaming audience despite the earlier theatrical outcome. The film showed stability in its second week on the platform. Between April 20 and April 26, it added 1.9 million views and 4.7 million viewing hours to its tally. This brought the cumulative two-week performance to 4.4 million views and approximately 10.9 million total viewing hours. Although it moved to the number 4 spot worldwide in the second week, it continued to trend in the Top 10 across 10 countries. This global reach extended beyond Asia into Africa, where it maintained a presence in the Top 10 lists of Mauritius and Nigeria for two consecutive weeks. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) When looking at the competitive landscape of 2026 releases on Netflix, Ustaad Bhagat Singh currently holds the number 1 rank for the year. Below is the 2-week viewership comparison for the top 2026 releases: Ustaad Bhagat Singh: 4.4 Million Views (10.9M Hours) Youth (Tamil/Telugu): 3.8 Million Views (9.2M Hours) Akhanda 2: Thaandavam: 3.4 Million Views (8.8M Hours) Anaganaga Oka Raju: 3.1 Million Views (7.9M Hours) Mrithyunjay: 2.5 Million Views (6.4M Hours) In the broader context of Tollywood films on Netflix from 2024 onwards, Ustaad Bhagat Singh has secured the ninth spot on the list. Below are the top 5 Tollywood performers on the platform based on their viewership at the end of the second weekend: Lucky Baskhar: 11.7M Views Pushpa 2: 9.4M Views Kalki 2898 AD (Hindi): 7.1M Views Hit 3: 6.9M Views Saripodhaa Sanivaaram / OG: 5.3M Views From a financial standpoint, the producers, Mythri Movie Makers, found themselves in a protected position despite the box office result. A reported digital rights deal with Netflix, valued at a substantial 80 crore, acted as a critical safety net for the producers. This trend underscores the growing importance of OTT revenue streams for big-budget productions. While the film may have struggled at the physical box office, its performance on Netflix confirms that Ustaad Bhagat Singh found a wider calling in the digital space, reaching millions of households across multiple continents within its first fortnight of streaming.

Kollywood

4 days ago

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Is Basil Joseph Joining Rajinikanth's Thalaivar 173? Actor Hints At A Massive Collaboration

BY SACNILK

Rajinikanth's upcoming project, Thalaivar 173, is currently generating significant buzz due to a series of casting hints and directorial shifts. According to a report by Cinema Express, Malayalam actor Basil Joseph recently hinted at his involvement in a major film during an event for the YouTube channel Behindwoods. While he did not explicitly name the project, trade circles suggest he has been roped in to play a crucial role, potentially as Rajinikanth's son. Basil mentioned that he is part of a very big film but cannot disclose further details at this stage, leading to speculation that the casting for the project is finalizing. The actor also shared updates regarding his Tamil cinema debut, Raawadi, which is scheduled for release in either May or June. While he clarified that he is not playing the lead in Raawadi, he described his role as very crucial to the narrative. His hint about the big film comes at a time when the directorial seat for Thalaivar 173 has seen multiple changes. The production, headed by Kamal Haasan's Raaj Kamal Films International (RKFI), has undergone a musical chairs game with its directors over the past few months, creating a wave of speculation in the industry. To put the directorial timeline in perspective, Sundar C was the first official director announced for the project in November 2025. Pitching it as a vintage Rajini comedy, the collaboration was short-lived as Sundar C stepped down just days later, citing unforeseen circumstances and creative differences. In early January 2026, Cibi Chakravarthy, known for the hit film Don, was brought on board as the official replacement. However, current reports suggest that Cibi has also exited the project, with director Ashwath Marimuthu now being the leading choice to take over the directorial responsibilities. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Ashwath Marimuthu, who gained acclaim for Oh My Kadavule and Dragon, is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the commercial entertainer. Despite the changes in the directorial department, Rajinikanth has previously confirmed that the film will be a high-quality commercial venture designed to entertain the masses. The project remains a high-profile one for RKFI, with composer Anirudh Ravichander already confirmed to handle the musical score. The potential inclusion of Basil Joseph suggests that while the director may have changed, certain core casting elements from previous drafts might still be intact. As the production team works toward stabilizing the creative leadership, the focus remains on delivering a pan-India spectacle. With Ashwath Marimuthu reportedly entering the fray and Basil Joseph hinting at a massive outing, Thalaivar 173 continues to be one of the most talked-about upcoming releases in South Indian cinema.