BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, April 19 - Superstar Akshay Kumar's latest horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla has taken a good start at the box office, delivering impressive numbers in its opening weekend. The film, which blends humour with supernatural elements, is witnessing solid traction across both urban multiplexes and mass circuits. Bhooth Bangla Crosses 60 Crores Worldwide In 2 Days (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) After the worldwide opening of 28.70 crores gross, including 19+ crores gross in India alone, Priyadarshan's directorial witnessed a solid growth of 55% on its second day at the domestic box office to score around 23 crores gross. It remained good in overseas markets as well to earn in the double digits. Bangla has grossed 61.50 crore worldwide in just two days, marking one of the fastest starts for an Akshay Kumar film in recent times. While the overall numbers are impressive, the film's overseas performance is seeing one of the best responses for an Akshay Kumar-starrer, especially in the Gulf region. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A BMS Record For Akshay Kumar Showing confidence in the movie, the makers kept paid previews on April 16 from 9 PM, and this move paid off with better than expected premiere numbers of 3.75 crores net, and set the tone with positive word of mouth. The growing interest among the audiences was clearly reflected in the ticket sales on BookMyShow. On Sunday, Bhooth Bangla crossed 30K tickets per hour, making it the first instance for an Akshay Kumar starrer since BookMyShow started hourly trend. The film clocked peak hour at 32.65K tickets, which indicates a strong day at the domestic box office. The horror-comedy genre, which has seen renewed popularity in recent years, seems to be working in favour of Bhooth Bangla. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film’s mix of spooky thrills and comedic timing has struck a chord with audiences, particularly families looking for a light-hearted theatrical experience. With the weekend momentum still strong, all eyes are now on whether Bhooth Bangla can maintain its pace beyond the weekend.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, April 19 - Following the ground-breaking success of Mahavatar Narsimha last year, Hombale Films, in association with Kaleem Productions, has intensified excitement around its ambitious animated Mahavatar Cinematic Universe by unveiling the first poster of Mahavatar Parshuram, with release confirmed for December 2027. The first look poster, timed around Parshuram Jayanti, has instantly grabbed attention for its intense and larger-than-life presentation. The poster delivers a striking visual of Parshuram, showcasing him in the midst of a brutal battlefield. With a blood-soaked axe (parshu) in hand and warriors scattered in the background, the imagery emphasises the avatar's fierce persona and his role as a warrior sage. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The tagline, When Dharma Falls, The Parshu Rises, sets the tone for a story rooted in vengeance, justice, and divine duty. Known as the warrior sage, Parshuram's story is rooted in themes of justice, rage, and righteousness, and the film promises to bring this powerful narrative to life on a grand cinematic scale with cutting-edge visuals. Mahavatar Parshuram serves as the second instalment in the Mahavatar Cinematic Universe, a long-term franchise planned by Hombale Films that explores the different avatars of Vishnu. The universe kicked off with Mahavatar Narsimha in 2025, followed by Parshuram's story, with multiple films already mapped out for the coming decade. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Akshay Kumar is finally back in the zone where fans love him the most in. The much-anticipated horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla has hit the screens, and the opening day numbers suggest that the audience was ready for this spooky ride. After building a massive buzz through its promos, the film has managed to post a solid total on the board, especially considering it is part of a genre that relies heavily on family footfalls and evening shows. The journey for Bhooth Bangla actually began a day earlier with paid previews on Thursday, which we can call Day 0. These limited screenings performed exceptionally well, recording an occupancy of 30 percent across 2,485 shows and bringing in 3.75 crore net. This early momentum set the stage for the big Friday release. On its official opening day, the film saw a massive expansion in its reach, playing across 12,386 shows nationwide. This wide release helped the film collect 12.25 crore net on Friday, bringing the total Indian net collection to 16 crore. If we dive deeper into the collection analysis, the gross figures tell an even more impressive story. The India gross collection stands at 19.20 crore. When we add the overseas performance to the mix, the film has already crossed a significant milestone. In international markets, Bhooth Bangla grossed 9.50 crore, pushing the total worldwide gross collection to a healthy 28.70 crore in just its opening window. Markets like Australia and New Zealand showed promising advance trends, with Australia contributing A$15.5K on the first day alone. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking deeper into the international front, the momentum seems likely to hold through the weekend based on the advance booking trends. While Australia opened with a strong A$15.5K on the first day, the bookings for Saturday and Sunday are already showing a stable trend at A$8.5K and A$2.5K, respectively. In New Zealand, the film has maintained a very consistent pace with NZ$1.5K on both the first and second days. This steady performance in the Oceanic region shows that the NRI diaspora is engaging with the content, providing a necessary cushion to the global box office collections as the film heads into the crucial Saturday and Sunday growth period. The performance in major Indian circuits has been quite interesting. While the overall occupancy on Friday was around 19 percent, the sheer volume of shows ensured the numbers kept ticking. Delhi-NCR led the show count with 1,076 screenings, followed by Mumbai with 613 shows. One of the highlights of the opening has been the performance in Bengaluru. The city has been a major contributor, especially during the paid previews where it alone grossed 35 lakh, proving once again that horror-comedies have a loyal fan base in the urban centres. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Beyond the top metros, the film is finding a solid footing in other major hubs across the country. Ahmedabad and Pune have shown promising numbers with 491 and 364 shows respectively, suggesting that the mass pockets are warming up to the horror-comedy theme. In the South, apart from the Bengaluru stronghold, Hyderabad recorded 256 shows by midday, indicating a decent spread even in non-traditional territories for a pure Hindi comedy. Even in the East, Kolkata is holding steady with 248 shows, followed by Lucknow with 201 shows, ensuring the Hindi heartland remains a key contributor to the overall tally. What is particularly interesting is how the show count surged as the day progressed, reflecting a positive trend in real-time demand. By 9 am, Delhi-NCR had 1043 shows, which jumped to 1076 by noon. Similarly, Mumbai saw a significant climb from 483 shows in the morning to 613 by 12 pm. This rapid expansion in the show count within just a few hours indicates that exhibitors were quick to add more screenings as the initial morning response and walk-in crowds trickled in, which is always a healthy sign for a big-budget star vehicle. Ticket sales on online platforms have been reflecting this positive trend as well. On BookMyShow, the film recorded 169.87K tickets through pre-sales, while Friday saw another 260.52K tickets being sold. This brings the total ticket count on the portal to over 4.30 lakh. With the weekend now in full swing, the trade expects a significant jump on Saturday and Sunday, as the family audience usually steps out in large numbers for this genre. If the word of mouth remains steady, Akshay Kumar might just have another winner in his favorite playground.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Kochi, April 18 - The Malayalam blockbuster Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Bros continues its sensational theatrical run, despite the arrival of new releases, and achieved a historic milestone at the Kerala box office. The coming-of-age comedy drama, headlined by Hashir, has become the fastest film to enter the 100 crore club in Kerala, setting a new benchmark in the industry. The film crossed the 100 crore mark in just 16 days, surpassing previous record holders like Thudarum and Lokah Chapter One: Chandra. This achievement makes it only the third Malayalam film ever to hit the coveted 100 crore mark in Kerala, further highlighting its massive popularity, despite being a non-starrer. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film had already shown extraordinary momentum in its opening weeks. It wrapped up its extended first week with around 57 crore and continued its strong hold in the second week, reaching 99.65 crore by Day 15 before comfortably crossing the milestone soon after. The consistent collections indicate excellent word-of-mouth and repeat value among audiences. What makes this success even more remarkable is the film's relatively fresh cast and content-driven appeal. With engaging storytelling, Vaazha 2 has managed to attract both youth and family audiences, turning it into a full-fledged blockbuster. The film had also crossed 100 crore worldwide within just a week of release, and is now nearing the 200 crores club. It has crossed the 190 crores mark by the 16th day. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) 100 Crore Grossers In Kerala S. No. Movie Kerala Gross 1 Lokah Chapter 1 ₹ 120.85 Cr 2 Thudarum ₹ 118.90 Cr 3 Vaazha ₹ 103+ Cr As of April 17, 2026 With this record-breaking feat, Vaazha 2 is now eyeing bigger milestones and could potentially challenge the all-time Kerala box office records in the coming weeks, cementing its place as one of the biggest Malayalam hits of all time.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Ranveer Singh has achieved what very few stars in the Indian film industry can claim—sustained dominance even in its fifth week of release. Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has officially entered its 31st day, and far from slowing down, the film is witnessing a noticeable spike in momentum. After holding steady through the weekdays, the Saturday numbers suggest that the Ranveer Singh-starrer is heading for a strong weekend revival, proving that the content has truly resonated with the long-term audience. The real-time tracking on BookMyShow provides the most accurate picture of this Saturday surge. During the 11 am to 12 pm window today, the film sold 5,940 tickets, a massive jump from the 3,400 tickets sold during the same slot yesterday. This momentum accelerated further in the next hour, peaking at 6,380 tickets between 12 pm and 1 pm. In total, the cumulative ticket sales from 8 am to 1 pm stand at approximately 23,380, which is a staggering 68 percent higher than the 13,900 tickets sold during the same period on Friday. This nearly 70 percent surge in morning velocity is a clear indicator of a massive weekend jump on the cards. The occupancy levels are also telling a very positive story for the fifth Saturday. The morning show occupancy today was recorded at 18.14 percent, which is a massive jump compared to the 7.83 percent recorded during the same period yesterday. This doubling of the morning occupancy rate is a clear indicator of the film's incredible legs at the box office. In the national cinema chains—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—the film has already sold approximately 25,000 tickets for the day. While the show count has naturally been reduced to 1,569 screenings to accommodate newer releases, the film is making the most of its limited footprint by recording significantly higher per-show collections and better filling rates across premium venues. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the overall standings, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge concluded its 30th day with an India net total of 1,105.82 crore. The film has been a global phenomenon, with the worldwide gross collection currently standing at a mammoth 1,742.23 crore. Even on its fifth Friday, it managed to pull in 2.70 crore net, showing minimal fatigue. The overseas market has also remained a steady contributor, adding 0.85 crore on Friday to take the total international gross to 418.50 crore. These numbers place the film in the elite bracket of all-time Indian blockbusters. The target of 4.50 crore net is not just about a standard weekend jump; it is about chasing box office history. To understand the magnitude of this performance, let's look at the elite list of movies that currently hold the records for the highest 5th Saturday net collections in Hindi cinema history: Dhurandhar: ₹11.75 Cr Chaava: ₹7.25 Cr Stree 2: ₹5.40 Cr Mahavatar Narsimha: ₹5.00 Cr Uri: The Surgical Strike: ₹4.70 Cr Taking a closer look at the projections for Day 31, the film is heading for a significant leap in its daily collections. If we analyze the current trajectory using the 70 percent surge in morning ticket sales and the improved occupancy, a Saturday India net in the range of 4.25 to 4.50 crore seems highly likely. This would represent a growth of over 60 percent from Friday's 2.70 crore net. If the evening shows continue this momentum, the actuals could even push toward the 5 crore mark, which would be an extraordinary feat for a film in its fifth weekend. Ranveer Singh is officially steering this revenge saga toward a historical lifetime finish. With Dhurandhar 2 currently trending toward the 4.50 crore mark, it is knocking on the doors of the top 5 prestigious list. If the evening shows witness an even stronger push than the current 70 percent surge suggests, Ranveer Singh might just dethrone Uri to claim a spot among the top five highest 5th Saturday earners of all time, further cementing the film's status as a legendary blockbuster with unprecedented legs.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Akshay Kumar has once again proven that the horror-comedy genre is his strongest playground. After a solid opening on Friday, his latest release Bhooth Bangla has witnessed a massive surge on its second day, showing the kind of growth that usually indicates a long theatrical run. The Saturday morning momentum suggests that the family audience has fully embraced this spooky ride, leading to a significant jump in ticket velocity across all major online platforms and national theater chains. When we look at the real-time data from BookMyShow, the trend is nothing short of exceptional. During the crucial 11 am to 12 pm window today, the film sold nearly 22,000 tickets, which is a massive leap compared to the 13,000 tickets sold during the same period yesterday. This represents a growth of over 60 percent in hourly momentum. If we look at the cumulative morning trend from 7 am to noon, the film has already crossed 62,000 tickets today, while yesterday the figure stood at around 38,000. This early morning traction is a clear sign that the film is not just holding its ground but is expanding its reach into the mass pockets. The peak performance on Saturday was recorded between 12 pm and 1 pm, where the hourly booking touched a high of 24,000 tickets. This rapid acceleration has pushed the total tickets booked on BookMyShow past the 500,000 mark. The buzz surrounding the film's ensemble cast and the direction by Priyadarshan is clearly working in its favor. While the morning occupancy on Friday was around 10.02% percent, it has jumped to nearly 14 percent today. This improvement in morning show occupancy is a strong lead indicator for how the evening and night shows will perform, especially with the weekend crowd stepping out. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In the national theater chains—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—the growth story remains solid. After recording 76,000 ticket sales on its opening day including previews, the film has moved up to 85,000 tickets on Saturday. Interestingly, when we compare this to the trend of Akshay Kumar's previous hit Jolly LLB, the dynamics are quite different. While Jolly LLB saw an explosive jump from 40,000 to 81,000 tickets, doubling its numbers, Bhooth Bangla is operating on a much larger base. Even though it doesn't have the same percentage leap as the courtroom drama, it has managed to sustain its high opening momentum and still grow, ultimately edging past the Saturday numbers of Jolly LLB. This indicates that while the former relied on word-of-mouth for a big Day 2 surge, Bhooth Bangla started as a big-ticket event and is managing to build further on that massive volume. Taking a closer look at the projections for Day 2, the film is heading for a very healthy jump. If we analyze the trajectory using a standard box office multiplier, a 40 to 50 percent growth from Friday's 12.25 crore net seems highly likely. This would put the Saturday India net collections in the range of 17 to 19 crore.. Given that the morning shows are already outperforming the opening day by such a wide margin, it won't be a surprise if the actuals lean toward the higher side of this prediction. Akshay Kumar's horror-comedy is officially on track to deliver a massive opening weekend, resetting the box office dynamics for his upcoming slate.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Superstar Rajinikanth is currently in a league of his own where he keeps resetting the benchmarks he once created. In a massive development that has sent ripples through the South Indian film industry, the digital rights for his upcoming mega-sequel Jailer 2 have been sold for a record-breaking price. According to an exclusive report by Lets Cinema, Amazon Prime Video has secured the post-theatrical streaming rights of this Sun Pictures production for a staggering 160 crore. This deal is not just a high point for Rajinikanth but stands as the biggest digital rights acquisition in the history of Tamil cinema. To understand the sheer magnitude of this deal, one has to look at how the market for the Superstar has exploded in just three years. Back in 2023, the original Jailer was picked up by the same platform for approximately 75 crore. Fast forward to his collaboration with Lokesh Kanagaraj for Coolie, the number jumped to 120 crore. Now, with Jailer 2, the value has touched 160 crore, marking a massive 113 percent growth from the first installment's digital price. This suggests that streaming giants now view the Jailer franchise as a goldmine that transcends regional boundaries, especially after the first part grossed over 600 crore worldwide. Jailer 2 has now officially pushed the boundaries of the Tamil film market, sitting comfortably at the top with its massive 160 crore deal. It has comfortably surpassed the previous records held by Thalapathy Vijay's Leo and Rajinikanth's own upcoming film Coolie, both of which were valued at approximately 120 crore. This shift also highlights the intense competition between streaming giants, as Amazon Prime Video reclaimed the crown from Netflix, which had previously made headlines with high-profile acquisitions like Leo and Kamal Haasan's Thug Life, the latter being pegged at around 110 crore. The jump is even more poetic when compared to the first installment of Jailer, which was picked up for a relatively modest 75 crore just two years ago, proving that the brand value of the Superstar is on an unprecedented upward trajectory. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The premium price tag comes from the fact that Sun Pictures is bringing back the entire winning combination that made the 2023 blockbuster a cultural phenomenon. Nelson Dilipkumar returns to the director's chair to expand the world of Tiger Muthuvel Pandian, while Anirudh Ravichander is set to compose the score. The cast is equally formidable, with Ramya Krishnan, Yogi Babu, and Vinayakan reprising their roles. Adding more fuel to the fire is the inclusion of S. J. Suryah in a pivotal role, along with the confirmed return of Mohanlal as Mathew and Shiva Rajkumar as Narasimha. While the financial side of the film is looking rock solid, there is a slight shift regarding its arrival on the big screen. Initially, there were reports suggesting a June 12 release, but the latest industry buzz indicates that the makers are now eyeing the Independence Day corridor in 2026. With principal photography having wrapped in April, Nelson is reportedly spending more time on the post-production and action recalibration to ensure the sequel matches the sky-high expectations. Releasing around August 13 or 14 would allow Jailer 2 to capitalize on the same holiday window that the original conquered so effortlessly. For Sun Pictures, this 160 crore deal is just one part of the recovery puzzle. With Tamil satellite rights expected to stay with Sun TV and separate packaging for Hindi and international dubbed rights, the film is likely to be in the profit zone before the first show even begins. It is clear that the ceiling for Tamil OTT deals has been permanently shattered, and as of now, the Superstar remains the undisputed king of the digital landscape.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumabi, April 18 - A minor social media activity involving cricket legend Virat Kohli recently turned into a viral sensation after fans noticed that he had liked — and later unliked — an Instagram post of German influencer LizLaz. While the like disappeared quickly, screenshots had already spread across platforms, sparking widespread discussion and a flood of memes. The curiosity around the incident grew because Kohli does not follow LizLaz, and the interaction reportedly took place on an older post. As social media users dissected every detail, the moment quickly escalated beyond a simple "like," becoming one of the most talked-about online topics. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Breaking her silence, LizLaz responded with a calm and balanced perspective. She revealed that she was unaware of the like initially and only found out after receiving numerous messages. While she admitted feeling happy at first, she later said she felt "a bit sorry" for Kohli as the situation snowballed into an unnecessary controversy. "No, I felt a bit sorry for him, actually! I was so happy that he liked it, but then him unliking it, I felt a bit bad for him because I don't even know how it became such a big story. How did people notice, how did they make it news... that was probably not his intention behind it, but still I am grateful for it, and I appreciate the support from him", LizLaz said (via Hindustan Times). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Interestingly, LizLaz is also a fan of Kohli and follows the Indian Premier League (IPL), particularly supporting the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. She has previously described Kohli as one of the most exciting players to watch, making the viral moment feel more like an unexpected fan interaction than anything serious. Funnily, Virat Kohli was in a similar situation last year, also when he accidentally liked one of the pictures of actress Avneet Kaur, and he later issued a clarification stating that it was non-intentional and happened due to the algorithm of Instagram. Ultimately, the episode highlights how even the smallest actions of global celebrities can become amplified in the digital age. Despite the noise, LizLaz’s composed reaction helped keep the situation light, turning what could have been a controversy into a fleeting and largely harmless viral moment. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) View this post on Instagram A post shared by LizLaz (@lizlaz_tv)

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, April 18 - Ranveer Singh-fronted Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has climbed one more milestone at the global box office. The blockbuster has now surpassed the lifetime worldwide box office of Pushpa 2: The Rule to emerge as the third-highest-grossing Indian film of all time. It is produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Aditya Dhar and Lokesh Dhar under the banners of Jio Studios and B62 Studios. After a phenomenal theatrical run spanning weeks, Dhurandhar 2's worldwide gross has climbed to 1,742+ crore, overtaking Pushpa 2, which concluded its run at around 1,742 crore. The achievement comes on the back of sustained momentum in both domestic and overseas markets, after the monstrous opening week. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Strong Hold Across Markets The film has performed exceptionally well in India, where it has already crossed the 1,100 crore net mark, making it the highest-grossing Bollywood film in the country. Internationally too, Dhurandhar 2 has delivered outstanding numbers, contributing around 420 crores to the overall total. What makes this run even more remarkable is the film's consistency. Even in its later weeks, it has managed to draw audiences to theatres, aided by positive word-of-mouth and repeat viewership. With this milestone, Dhurandhar 2 now stands behind only two films in the all-time global rankings (including all markets). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top Indian Grossers Worldwide Without Gulf & China S. No. Movie Total Worldwide Gross 1 Dangal ₹ 2070 Cr 2 Baahubali 2 ₹ 1788 Cr 3 Dhurandhar 2 ₹ 1742+ Cr 4 Pushpa 2 ₹ 1742 Cr As of April 17, 2026. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A Landmark Moment For Bollywood The success of Dhurandhar 2 is being seen as a significant boost for Bollywood on the global stage. Not only has it outperformed several big-ticket releases, but it has also proven the massive overseas potential of Hindi cinema without depending heavily on select international territories. In fact, it is the highest-grossing Indian film overseas, if excluding China. The film's scale, mass appeal, conviction to tell the original story, and star power have all contributed to its historic run, with Ranveer Singh delivering one of the biggest successes of his career. While Dangal remains far ahead at the top, the next immediate target for Dhurandhar 2 is Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. With a gap of around 45 crore, the film still has an outside chance of climbing to the second position, depending on how long it can sustain its run in theatres. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Highlight of Dhurandhar 2's Box Office Run - The first film ever to cross 1000 crore net in a single language in India - The highest-grossing Indian film of all time without China. - Places Dhurandhar among the biggest global film brands from India - Only Indian film series to have two titles in the 1000 crores club - Highest-grossing Indian film overseas without China. - The first Indian film series to cross 3000 crores worldwide (Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar 2).

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The Indian box office on April 17, 2026, has turned into a fascinating case study of two different kinds of stardom. While the industry is laser-focused on the grand reunion of Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan with Bhooth Bangla, the long-running behemoth Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is refusing to fade into the background. In what can only be described as a display of incredible theatrical legs, the Ranveer Singh starrer is actually recording a spike in ticket sales on its 30th day compared to its 29th day, despite losing more than half of its showcasing to the new horror-comedy release. The most striking piece of data from today is the show count shift. On Day 29, Dhurandhar 2 was running across a healthy 8,654 shows. Today, with the arrival of Bhooth Bangla, that number has plummeted to 4,162 shows. This marks the first time in the film's month-long journey that its show count has dipped below the 5,000 mark. However, the logic of the box office has been turned on its head. Usually, a 50 per cent cut in screens leads to a massive drop in ticket sales, but for Dhurandhar 2, the occupancy has surged so sharply that it is actually selling more tickets per hour than it did yesterday with double the screens. Looking at the BookMyShow (BMS) hourly trends, the resilience of the spy actioner is evident. In the prime 8-9 pm window today, Dhurandhar 2 sold 4,520 tickets compared to 3,190 tickets in the same slot yesterday. Similar spikes were seen in the 7-8 pm window (4,090 today vs 2,770 yesterday) and the 6-7 pm slot (3,310 today vs 2,700 yesterday). By 9 pm, the total tickets sold for the day reached 42,530, which is higher than yesterday’s 42,360. This suggests that the audience which was previously spread across 8,600 shows is now consolidating into the available 4,100 shows, leading to packed houses and high-intensity collections for a film in its fifth week. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the other side of the spectrum, Bhooth Bangla is operating on a different level of mass momentum. Being its opening day, the film is naturally the primary driver of the market, running across a massive 11,881 shows. The horror-comedy has been consistently selling over 13,000 to 16,000 tickets every hour on BMS. In the 8-9 pm window alone, the Akshay Kumar starrer sold 16,580 tickets, bringing its total tally from 7 am to 9 pm to a staggering 1,70,550 tickets. This is a testament to the 16-year anticipation for the Akshay-Priyadarshan duo, which has successfully captured the multiplex audience and the mass belts simultaneously. The contrast between the two films provides a healthy outlook for the 2026 box office. Bhooth Bangla is thriving on the fresh buzz and the brand power of its director-actor duo, while Dhurandhar 2 is thriving on its established legacy and repeat value. While the new release has dominated the volume of tickets, the older film has maintained its relevance by offering high occupancy in its limited screens. For the trade, this indicates that the market is currently big enough to accommodate a massive new opener without completely killing off a blockbuster holdover. As we head into the late-night shows, the momentum for both films remains strong, promising a record-shattering weekend for the industry. BMS Hourly Ticket Sales Comparison - April 17TIME SLOTBHOOTH BANGLA (DAY 1)DHURANDHAR 2 (DAY 30)5:00 PM - 6:00 PM13,5703,190 (vs 2,880 Yest)6:00 PM - 7:00 PM15,2803,310 (vs 2,700 Yest)7:00 PM - 8:00 PM16,5604,090 (vs 2,770 Yest)8:00 PM - 9:00 PM16,5804,520 (vs 3,190 Yest)Total (Till 9 PM)1,70,55042,530

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Today, April 17, 2026, marks more than just a theatrical release; it is the culmination of a 16-year-long wait that has turned a simple actor-director reunion into a massive cultural phenomenon. The return of the Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan duo with Bhooth Bangla has proven that in the modern box office landscape, nostalgia is the ultimate force multiplier. This unprecedented surge in advance bookings isn't merely about the popular horror-comedy genre—it is the direct result of a decade-and-a-half hiatus that has transformed the quirky brand of humor from the Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Khatta Meetha era into a legendary legacy. This pent-up demand has successfully bridged a generational gap, bringing the 2000s nostalgia audience and the 2026 multiplex crowd together for what is already looking like a historic return to form. The first sign of this being a special run came from the paid previews on Thursday evening. While the trade was conservatively estimating a collection in the range of ₹2.50-3 Crore, Bhooth Bangla comfortably surpassed those expectations by netting approximately ₹3.35 Crore to ₹3.75 Crore. This over-performance was largely due to surprisingly high spot bookings, a trend that typically doesn't happen for preview shows. It indicates that the early critics' reactions and the positive buzz surrounding the horror-comedy genre have successfully convinced the neutral audience to hit the theaters. For a non-holiday release, these preview numbers have set a very strong foundation for the opening weekend. As of 5:45 PM today, the live data for the first Friday shows a collection of ₹5.03 Crore net. When combined with the paid preview business, the total India net collection for Bhooth Bangla currently stands at ₹8.53 Crore. The film is playing across a massive 8,127 shows, which is one of the widest releases for Akshay Kumar in recent years with over 4,800 screens nationwide. Regionally, West Bengal is leading the charts with a solid 26 per cent occupancy in initial counts, followed by strong movements in Maharashtra and Delhi-NCR. With the evening and night shows showing a monumental jump in bookings, the trade is now eyeing an opening day in the range of ₹15 Crore net, which would be a fantastic result for this genre. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A deep dive into the numbers reveals just how much the market has expanded since their last collaboration. When Bhool Bhulaiyaa released in 2007, its 1,050-screen count was considered a massive release, eventually netting over ₹49 Crore—a benchmark for profitable screen utilization that remains legendary. By 2010, Khatta Meetha had pushed that footprint to 1,450 screens, dominating the Maharashtra and CP Berar single-screen belts. Fast forward to 2026, and Bhooth Bangla is operating on a different plane altogether, boasting more than double the screens of Khatta Meetha with a staggering 4,800+ screens nationwide. This massive expansion, fueled by over 1.7 lakh tickets in pre-sales alone, proves that the Akshay-Priyadarshan brand has successfully moved from being a mass-belt favorite to a pan-India juggernaut. Akshay Kumar's Top BMS Pre-Sales (Tickets Sold): • Housefull 5: 185K • Bhooth Bangla: 170K •Welcome To The Jungle: 142K •Sooryavanshi: 135K (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) This digital momentum on BookMyShow is specifically historic as it makes Bhooth Bangla the second-highest pre-seller for an Akshay Kumar starrer. A staggering 117K of these tickets were sold in the final 24 hours alone, indicating a massive FOMO effect among fans. Throughout the day, the film has been clipping along at a rate of 14,000 to 15,000 tickets per hour. This level of engagement on a working Friday suggests that the family audience is planning to turn up in big numbers for the late-night and weekend shows. The PVR-Inox chain has also reported over 25,000 ticket sales, further solidifying its multiplex grip. The strategy of late-night Paid Previews starting at 9 PM on April 16 further highlights this nostalgia-demand. These previews alone netted approximately ₹3.50 Crore, which is nearly half of what Khatta Meetha's entire first Friday collection was back in 2010. Interestingly, the regional stronghold has also shifted significantly over the years. While the duo was historically a monster in the Maharashtra and CP Berar single-screen markets, Bhooth Bangla is showing its strongest early momentum in Gujarat and Delhi-NCR. Gujarat, in particular, is recording the highest gross in early reports, indicating that the urban-premium audience is now just as hungry for this brand of comedy as the single-screen masses. Looking back at the duo's historical benchmarks, the evolution of their box office power is evident. Bhool Bhulaiyaa had opened to ₹3.88 Crore back in 2007, while Khatta Meetha netted ₹7.05 Crore on its first Friday in 2010. While the Average Ticket Price (ATP) in 2026 is significantly higher, the sheer volume of 8.53 Crore in early evening reports shows that the reach of this reunion is far greater. Bhooth Bangla is currently tracking for a healthy opening that validates Akshay Kumar's credibility in the horror-comedy space. If the current word-of-mouth holds steady, we are looking at a potential blockbuster that will dominate the box office for weeks to come, especially as it begins to snatch screens from the long-running holdovers.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, April 17 - Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar's Bhooth Bangla is looking at a good opening at the domestic box office amid growing interest among audiences. After the better-than-expected paid previews of 3.50+ crores net, the horror comedy is seeing a good turnaround on its first full-fledged release day. Bhooth Bangla Eyes 15 Crore Net Opening (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Priyadarshan, the horror-comedy is looking to score around 12 crores net on its pure opening day, which is a good result. Akshay's last film, Jolly LLB 3, opened to 12.50 crores net, but that was a franchise movie, and here, Bhooth Bangla is the original title, and that makes the opening look even better on paper. Including the paid previews, the film should be able to post 15+ crores net opening day, and with initial word of mouth seems to be positive, this sets the movie up for a good first weekend at the domestic box office. Jolly LLB 3 delivered 53.50 crores net opening weekend, and the latest horror comedy will be aiming to clock around it. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Bhooth Bangla Eyes Top 3 Opening Day For Akshay Kumar In Post Covid-Era In the post-pandemic era, it has been a mixed bag for Akshay Kumar when it comes to the box office results. Only two films of the actor have opened above 20 crores net in the form of Sooryavanshi and Housefull 5. While Bhooth Bangla is not going to be open in the 20 crore range, it will surely be aiming for the top 3 spot among the biggest openers of Akshay in recent times. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 5 Opening Day Hindi Net Grossers of Akshay Kumar (Post-Pandemic) S. No. Movie Release Year Hindi Net Opening 1 Sooryavanshi 2021 ₹ 26.29 Cr 2 Housefull 5 2025 ₹ 24.00 Cr 3 Bade Miyan Chote Miyan 2024 ₹ 15.50 Cr 4 Ram Setu 2022 ₹ 15.20 Cr 5 Bachchhan Paandey 2022 ₹ 13.25 Cr