BY CHRISTA LINCY

The digital reception for the glimpse of Dragon has reached a significant milestone within just one week of its release. Based on the latest YouTube data, the first look has officially surpassed 105 million views across all languages. This achievement places the film in a very exclusive category, making it only the third movie glimpse in the history of Indian cinema to cross the 100 million views mark. A major driver behind this record-breaking trajectory was the video's performance in its initial 24 hours. During its first day, the glimpse recorded 64 million views, setting an all-time record for a first-day debut. The reach in the Hindi-speaking belt has been particularly noteworthy, with the Hindi version alone contributing over 25 million views and nearly 300k likes. This level of engagement suggests a strong pan-India interest that extends well beyond the primary regional markets. Dragon currently sits at the third spot on the all-time list, trailing just behind Peddi and Toxic. With the way views are still coming in, the glimpse is expected to cross the 110 million mark set by Toxic very soon. Once it does, it will officially claim the second position on the historical leaderboard. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 3 Most-Viewed Movie Glimpses in Indian CinemaRANKMOVIE TITLELEAD ACTORTOTAL VIEWS#1PeddiAllu Arjun / Nani175 Million+#2ToxicYash110 Million+#3DragonJr. NTR105 Million+ Director Prashanth Neel has been developing this project quietly for years, setting the story in the late 1960s. The plot follows an assassin named Luger, played by Jr. NTR, who operates in the border regions between India, Bhutan, and China. This cross-border conspiracy storyline, paired with Ravi Basrur’s heavy industrial music, has clearly hit the right note with fans looking for a gritty periodic action-thriller. While the film was fast-tracked ahead of other anticipated projects, the extensive pre-production required for its 1960s setting appears to be showing in the visual quality of the glimpse. As the video continues to trend, it solidifies its place among the elite trio of Indian films that have managed to break the 100 million views barrier. The focus now shifts to whether the film can maintain this momentum as it moves toward further promotional releases.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

It has been over a decade since Homi Adajania's Cocktail arrived in theaters, yet the film remains a definitive benchmark for the urban romantic-comedy genre in India. While many films from that era have faded, Cocktail is still a staple on playlists and streaming platforms. With the spiritual sequel, Cocktail 2, scheduled for release on June 19, 2026, the big question is whether this fresh trio can capture the same lightning in a bottle that the original did back in 2012. Back in 2012, the film was produced on a modest 35 Crore budget and turned into a significant commercial success. Its journey began with a 10.95 Crore opening Friday, followed by a steady first week that closed at 53.18 Crore. By the time it exited theaters, the domestic net stood at 71.24 Crore while the worldwide gross reached 121.78 Crore. For that period, these numbers were a strong indicator that audiences were looking for more grounded and contemporary narratives. A huge part of that cult status came from the music. Pritam's soundtrack wasn’t just a collection of songs; it was the heartbeat of the film. From the friendship anthems like Tumhi Ho Bandhu and Daaru Desi to the emotional depth of Yaariyan and Jugni, the album dominated every chart. Even today, tracks like Angreji Beat remain club staples. The album peaked at rank 18 on iTunes India and remains one of the top three Bollywood albums of 2012. For many fans, the music was the primary reason for the film's long-term longevity. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Beyond the music, the film was a career-defining moment for Deepika Padukone. By choosing to play the impulsive and fiercely independent Veronica instead of the traditional Meera, she subverted the classic bad girl trope. Instead of being the villain, Veronica was humanized—showing that a woman could be westernized and flawed yet deeply empathetic and loyal. The chemistry between Saif Ali Khan, Deepika, and debutante Diana Penty created a messy, realistic love triangle that felt authentic to the youth of that decade. Now, fast forward to 2026, and Homi Adajania is back in the director's chair for Cocktail 2. This time, the film features a fresh cast led by Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna. Produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films in collaboration with Luv Ranjan, the project has already wrapped its filming in locations like Sicily and Delhi. Dimple Kapadia returns to the franchise, joined by Sanjay Dutt, Rohit Saraf, and a supporting appearance by Varun Dhawan. However, the sequel faces a high bar. The initial music reception has been divided. While Pritam returns as the composer, the first single Mashooqa faced plagiarism allegations, with listeners comparing its melody to a 1993 Italian track. While the visuals and the sizzling chemistry between Shahid and Kriti have been praised, critical listeners feel the new tracks have a tough task matching the masterpiece of 2012. The sequel needs to do more than just look glamorous; it has to capture the same raw emotional honesty that made the first film a classic. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) With Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon leading the cast, along with a wider release than the original, the sequel is expected to see a double-digit opening day. If the film receives positive word-of-mouth, it has the potential to reach the 150 Crore mark worldwide. To secure a spot in the top 10 list of romantic comedies since 2012, its first major goal will be to overtake the 109 Crore gross of Pati Patni Aur Woh. You can find the current rankings and where the original film stands in the list below. Top 10 Highest Grossing Rom-Coms Since 2012 (Worldwide)MOVIE NAMEWORLDWIDE GROSSYeh Jawaani Hai Deewani₹ 318.00 CrTanu Weds Manu Returns₹ 258.00 CrTu Jhoothi Main Makkaar₹ 223.00 Cr2 States₹ 173.10 CrTeri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya₹ 139.00 CrLuka Chuppi₹ 128.00 CrCocktail (2012)₹ 121.78 CrHumpty Sharma Ki Dulhania₹ 119.60 CrZara Hatke Zara Bachke₹ 116.00 CrPati Patni Aur Woh₹ 109.00 Cr

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 26 - The mega blockbuster success of Aditya Dhar's spy thriller franchise Dhurandhar and its sequel Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has changed how audiences may view Indian spy cinema going forward. Starring Ranveer Singh, the film follows his character Jaskirat Singh Rangi, a deep-cover Indian agent living a dangerous double life inside enemy territory. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Ever since Dhurandhar films have been released, the franchise's gritty story has sparked an intense debate among moviegoers. R. Madhvan, who has played a major role in the two-part film series, famously said during the trailer launch event of the first film last year that Dhurandhar will vanish the spy genre in Indian cinema. This has sparked a debate as many compare Dhurandhar's style to the famous Yash Raj Films Spy Universe, which includes hits like Pathaan, Tiger, and War. While YRF films have proven their box office dominance over the year, Dhurandhar's success might have put the studio under pressure regarding its future films. Here are five points which makes 3000+ crore blockbuster to YRF Spy movies. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Realism vs. Fantasy While both franchises centred around terrorism, the YRF Spy Universe functions as a larger-than-life, masala entertainer, and popcorn-friendly world where you leave your brain at home. On the other hand, Dhurandhar is highly grounded, which explores actual intelligence tactics, politics, and historical underpinnings, starring from 1999 Kandahar hijacking to the Karachi underworld. Grit over Glamour YRF movies are famous for flashy international locations, stylish outfits, and massive dance numbers. Dhurandhar features heavy hyper-violence, profanity, and a dark, moody visual style. It completely skips typical Bollywood song-and-dance tropes to keep the tension alive while using iconic songs as background music in sync with scenes. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Character Portrayal In the YRF universe, spies act like unstoppable superheroes who can dodge bullets effortlessly and jump from one plane to another. In Dhurandhar, Ranveer Singh's character (Jaskirat Singh Rangi) is quiet, lethal, and deeply vulnerable. The movie showcases the immense emotional and mental toll of deep-cover spy craft rather than treating it like a fun adventure. Geopolitical Stakes YRF films often take a softer, completely fictionalised stance on international conflicts to appeal to a global audience. Dhurandhar does not try to please both sides. It presents an unvarnished, sharp-edged depiction of real-life rivalries and national security struggles while giving proper importance to each character without caring about the runtime.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Tamil Nadu's theatrical landscape just witnessed a major policy shift that is being hailed as a life-saving move for the film industry. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, known to his fans as Thalapathy, has officially issued a government order (GO) permitting all cinema halls across the state to screen five shows daily. This landmark decision marks a significant departure from the decades-old regulations that limited daily screenings to four shows. What has changed with the new order? The directive, issued on May 25, 2026, officially amends the Tamil Nadu Cinema Theatres (Regulation) Rules, 1957. Under the previous rules, specifically Condition 14-A, theaters were restricted to four shows a day. A fifth special show was only allowed on specific festive occasions and required separate approval from District Collectors or, in the case of Chennai, the Commissioner of Police. With this new amendment, all newly released films are now permitted to have five daily shows for the first seven days of their release. Most importantly, the government has removed the requirement for theater owners to obtain separate special permission or wait for a specific G.O. to be issued for these shows. This flexibility also extends to all weekends, public holidays, and local festival days throughout the year. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A Direct Result of Industry Outreach This pro-cinema move follows a key meeting on May 16, 2026, where industry representatives met CM Vijay to present a charter of demands aimed at reviving the theatrical business. Just days later, industry veteran Kamal Haasan also met the Chief Minister, presenting a memorandum that highlighted the need for more daily screenings and a government-backed anti-piracy wing. By fast-tracking this specific demand, the CM has sent a clear signal that his administration is committed to the growth of Kollywood. Industry stakeholders have been quick to welcome the news. Exhibitors have noted that this change will help curb the demand that often leads to unauthorized early morning shows and will significantly boost the opening-week collections of big-ticket films. For theater owners, who have been battling the rapid shift toward OTT platforms, the ability to run an extra show without administrative hurdles provides much-needed operational relief. Analytical trends suggest that for a standard multiplex or single screen, adding a fifth show can increase daily revenue capacity by nearly 20 to 25 percent during peak demand periods. This move is expected to have a cascading effect on the box office records of upcoming releases, as the increased show count naturally expands the ceiling for Day 1 and opening weekend numbers. As Tamil cinema enters this more flexible era of exhibition, the focus now shifts to how the industry will utilize this extra capacity to battle piracy and bring audiences back to the big screen.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

As Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart moves through its nineteenth day, the daily collections are starting to level off. The film earned around 0.75 Crore net on its third Monday across 1,587 shows, marking around 63 per cent drop from the 2.05 Crore it collected on Sunday. While this decline is standard for a weekday, it brings the total India net collection to 29.82 Crore and the gross to 35.18 Crore. When we look at the financial health of the project, the situation is quite challenging. With a reported production cost of 60 Crore, the movie is currently underperforming and struggling to reach even the halfway mark for cost recovery. However, in a year that has seen mixed results for many Hindi releases, Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart still manages to secure a spot in the top 10 highest-grossing Hindi films of 2026 so far, currently sitting at rank number 9 in terms of total gross volume. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the film is still working toward recovering its production costs, its current collection volume places it among the highest-grossing Hindi releases of the year so far. It currently stands as the ninth highest-grossing Hindi film of 2026. Here is how the top ten list looks so far: Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge: ₹1,800+ Cr Border 2: ₹450.19 Cr Bhooth Bangla: ₹260.97 Cr(As of day 39) O Romeo: ₹110.81 Cr Mardaani 3: ₹76.27 Cr The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond: ₹62.39 Cr Pati Patni Aur Woh Do: ₹50.52 Cr(As of day 11) Ikkis: ₹41.65 Cr Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart: ₹35.18 Cr(As of day 19) Chand Mera Dil: ₹18.02 Cr(As of day 4) Looking at the broader scale of the release, the film has completed a total of 34,359 shows across the country since its opening day. What stands out in the data is that the entire worldwide gross of 35+ Crore has been generated solely within the domestic market. This underlines the film's heavy reliance on the local audience as it continues its struggle toward a stable financial finish. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Breaking down the performance in the major national multiplex chains for the day, we see a very limited flow of revenue. Across PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film collected about 7.1 Lakhs gross from roughly 3.2K tickets sold. Looking at individual chains, INOX led with 2.8 Lakhs, followed by PVR with 2.5 Lakhs, and Cinepolis with 1.8 Lakhs. The average occupancy across these specific venues stayed low at 2.38 per cent across 775 shows. Despite the slowing pace, the film still saw 22.64K tickets booked on BookMyShow this Monday, bringing the total ticket count across its entire run to approximately 765K. Geographically, Mumbai remains the most active region with 20.0 per cent occupancy for its 92 shows. Ahmedabad and the National Capital Region followed with 12.0 per cent and 11.8 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile, Surat saw much lower engagement with only 4.3 per cent occupancy. In terms of total language-wise contribution, the Hindi version is carrying the bulk of the weight with a net of 27.10 Crore. The Telugu and Tamil versions have added 2.30 Crore and 0.42 Crore, respectively, to the domestic total. As the film concludes its third week, the primary focus will be to see how much further it can push its totals before its eventual digital transition, as the theatrical window starts to narrow significantly.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Raja Shivaji is currently moving through its fourth week, and the Monday numbers provide a clear picture of how the film is settling into its long-term run. The historical drama has already carved out a significant space at the box office, particularly in the Marathi-speaking regions, and it is now focused on reaching its next major cumulative milestones. The film collected a net of 0.45 Crore on Day 25 across 838 shows. This Day 25 performance represents a 65 per cent drop from the previous day’s net collection of 1.30 Crore. This is a very standard and expected trend for a working Monday after a fourth weekend. These latest figures bring the total India net collections to 92.45 Crore and the domestic gross to 109.38 Crore. In the international market, the film has an overseas gross of 4.22 Crore, which pushes the total worldwide gross collection to approx. 113.50 Crore so far. Looking at the ticket sales momentum, the film recorded approximately 15.51K bookings on BookMyShow this Monday. This brings the total ticket count on the platform to over 25.21 Lakhs across its 25-day theatrical run. Maintaining this level of ticket demand nearly a month into its release is a strong indicator of the film's consistent appeal, especially among family audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In the major national multiplex chains, Raja Shivaji saw a steady flow of audience. Between PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, a total of approximately 2.2K tickets were sold, bringing in a gross of 3.9 Lakhs for the day. If we look at the chain-wise breakdown, INOX led the contribution with 2.1 Lakhs, followed by Cinepolis with 1.2 Lakhs, and PVR at 0.6 Lakhs. INOX recorded the highest occupancy among these chains at 9.38 percent across 80+ shows. The regional performance remains heavily driven by the Marathi version, which contributed 0.47 Crore to the day's net. The overall occupancy for Marathi screenings was 21.0 percent. Pune remains a major stronghold with 28.5 percent occupancy across 100 shows, with evening screenings peaking at 38.0 percent. Mumbai also showed healthy engagement with 21.8 percent occupancy for its 107 shows. On the other hand, the Hindi version added 0.07 Crore net with an overall occupancy of 8.0 percent across 272 shows. In cities like Ahmedabad and Surat, the occupancy hovered around 7.3 percent, while the National Capital Region (NCR) saw slightly higher engagement at 8.3 percent. Looking at the total language-wise split, the Marathi version has collected 67.75 Crore net while the Hindi version stands at 24.70 Crore. This two-language release approach helped the film comfortably pass the 100 Crore worldwide gross mark. As the film completes its fourth week, the steady occupancy in its primary markets indicates it will keep adding to its total before the next set of theatrical releases arrive.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Dhanush fans have been eagerly waiting for the next update on his gritty action thriller, Kara, and the news is finally here. Following its theatrical release earlier this year, the film is now set to reach a much wider audience through its digital debut. Directed by Vignesh Raja, who previously impressed everyone with the investigative thriller Por Thozhil, Kara brought together a powerhouse combination of Dhanush's intense performance and the high production values of Kamal Haasan's RKFI. The buzz surrounding the film was significant from the start, especially with Kamal Haasan producing it under a massive budget of 135 Crores. Where and when to stream Kara on OTT? After completing its theatrical window, the makers have locked in the digital premiere. Netflix has officially secured the digital streaming rights for the film in a deal reported to be around 50 Crores. Kara is scheduled to start streaming on Netflix from May 28, 2026. To cater to Dhanush's massive pan-India following, the platform will release the film in its original Tamil version along with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada. This move to Netflix on May 28 allows viewers across the country to experience this period heist thriller on their screens. What is the story of Kara? The film is a unique heist thriller set in 1991 against the realistic backdrop of the Gulf War fuel crisis. The narrative follows Karasaami, popularly known as Kara, a reformed thief who returns to his village in Ramanathapuram after years. His plan is simple: sell his ancestral land to fund his dream of opening a canteen with his wife. However, he quickly discovers that his village is being strangled by a corrupt rural bank manager and a ruthless police officer who exploit the farmers through predatory debt cycles. This discovery forces Kara to return to his criminal roots, leading to a high-stakes, realistic heist aimed at reclaiming the villagers’ mortgaged assets and delivering justice. If we look at the financial performance, Kara's run has been a mix of steady collections and heavy production costs. While the 135 Crore budget puts it in the flop category theatrically, the film has remarkably managed to become the 6th highest-grossing Tamil movie of all time so far this year(in terms of collection). As of day 26(4th Monday) it secured a worldwide gross of ₹53.68Cr(approx), showing consistent interest from the audience despite the high stakes. A significant portion of this success came from the international markets, where a strong overseas performance helped provide a much-needed cushion to the domestic totals. Kara: Total Box Office Collection (As of Day 26 Approx) CATEGORY COLLECTION (INR) India Net Collection ₹ 37.53 Cr India Gross Collection ₹ 43.18 Cr Overseas Collection ₹ 10.50 Cr Worldwide Total ₹ 53.68 Cr Kara: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Is Kara a hit or a flop? Kara is technically a Box Office Flop when compared to its high budget of 135 Crores. However, it ranks as the 6th highest-grossing Tamil film of 2026 in terms of total gross volume, collecting over 53.68 Crores worldwide. Where to stream Kara on OTT? The film will be available for streaming exclusively on Netflix in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada versions. Who is the director of Kara? The film is directed by Vignesh Raja, the director known for the critically acclaimed 2023 thriller Por Thozhil. What is the OTT release date for Kara? The confirmed OTT release date for Kara is May 28, 2026, nearly four weeks after its theatrical debut.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Kochi, May 26 - Megastar Mohanlal's crime suspense thriller Drishyam 3 has topped the 150 crores milestone at the worldwide box office after a good hold on its first working day. Despite mixed reviews, the film continues to benefit from the franchise's legacy to pull in solid numbers. According to estimates, Drishyam 3 collected over 8.50+ crores gross on its first Monday at the domestic box office, which took its total gross to around 71.75+ crores in India in 5 days. The film witnessed a drop of around 50% from its Thursday opening day, and just around 30% from Friday, which is a solid hold for a film with mixed reception. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) At the overseas box office, Jeethu Joseph's directorial has grossed an estimated 84 crores so far, pushing the total worldwide collection to around 155 crores in 5 days. With this, it has become the second Malayalam film of 2026, and the third for superstar Mohanlal to achieve the feat after Thudarum and Empuraan.After just five days of its box office run, the third instalment in the blockbuster franchise has become the 8th highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time. The film is expected to enter the 200 crores club during the second weekend to become the sixth Mollywood title to do so. As reported earlier, the box office trajectory of Drishyam 3 is pretty much similar to Mohanlal's L2: Empuraan. Both films carry a similar perception among the audience, but benefited largely from franchise value and star power. Empuraan finished its theatrical run with 265+ crores gross after the monstrous opening weekend collection of around 175 crores. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 10 Highest-Grossing Malayalam Films Worldwide S. No. Movie Worldwide Gross 1 Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra ₹ 303.85 Cr 2 L2: Empuraan ₹ 266.80 Cr 3 Manjummel Boys ₹ 241.00 Cr 4 Thudarum ₹ 235.40 Cr 5 Vaazha II: Biopic of a Billion Bros ₹ 235.25 Cr 6 2018 ₹ 180.00 Cr 7 Aadujeevitham: The GOAT Life ₹ 157.60 Cr 8 Drishyam 3 ₹ 155.00+ Cr* 9 Aavesham ₹ 154.80 Cr 10 Sarvam Maya ₹ 151.25 Cr As of May 25, 2026

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 25 - The Indian box office was heavily tilted towards regional cinema during the May 22-24 weekend, with the strong debut Malayalam blockbuster Drishyam 3 and Marathi film Deool Band 2, as regional films comfortably outperformed Bollywood releases for the second weekend in a row. On top of that, Suriya's Karuppu continued to attract strong footfalls in the second weekend, also after the blockbuster opening frame. Drishyam 3 Continues Franchise Legacy With Blockbuster Debut (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The third instalment in director Jeethu Joseph's crime thriller franchise once again stayed true to the franchise legacy after an excellent opening weekend at the Indian box office. After the huge opening day upon its Thursday release, Drishyam 3 continued its phenomenal run across Kerala and other domestic markets over the weekend despite mixed word of mouth. Drishyam 3 continued to benefit from the franchise value as Drishyam 3 is easily the biggest film series to come out of Malayalam cinema. It scored the second biggest opening day, followed by the second biggest weekend for a Malayalam trend, and advances for Monday indicate that the film is up for a solid run, especially in Kerala. Karuppu Maintains Excellent Momentum (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Suriya's fantasy action drama Karuppu remained the top choice at the Tamil Nadu box office for the second weekend in a row, after scoring one of the biggest 2nd weekend for a Tamil film. Backed by excellent audience response, the movie continued its successful theatrical journey and moved closer to new worldwide milestones. During the weekend, RJ Balaji's directorial entered the 100 crores gross club in Tamil Nadu, making it the first instance for a Suriya-starrer, thus creating history for the actor. It also went past 200 crores gross at the global box office, which is also the first time for the Singam actor, as the film continues to reach new milestones. Deool Band 2 Emerges As A Surprise Winner (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The Marathi devotional drama Deool Band 2 sustained its superb trend at the box office with excellent occupancy in Maharashtra in the first weekend. Family audiences continued to support the film in large numbers, helping it dominate several centres despite competition from bigger releases. The film has now emerged as one of the breakout successes of the month. Chand Mera Dil Underperforms As Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Holds Steady Dharma Production's romantic drama, Chand Mera Dil, starring Lakshya and Ananya Panday, failed to generate the expected theatrical momentum. Despite a decent, visible promotional campaign, the film struggled against the dominance of regional cinema due to mixed word of mouth. Although there was some improvement over the weekend, the overall box office performance remained below expectations. Ayushmann Khurrana's romantic-comedy entertainer, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do managed to maintain a decent hold on low levels during the weekend, especially in multiplex-heavy urban centres. While the overall collections remained low, the film managed to escape the free fall due to limited competition despite mixed word of mouth. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 5 Weekend Grossers At Indian Box Office (May 22-24) S. No. Movie Weekend Collection Total Domestic Collection 1 Drishyam 3 ₹ 45.00 Cr ₹ 63.35 Cr 2 Karuppu ₹ 40.55 Cr ₹ 172.40 Cr 3 Deool Band 2 ₹ 15.70 Cr ₹ 18.60 Cr 4 Chand Mera Dil ₹ 13.25 Cr ₹ 13.25 Cr 5 Pati Patni Aur Woh Do ₹ 8.80 Cr ₹ 43.25 Cr Note: Gross collection*

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge continues to demonstrate incredible stamina at the box office, now reaching its 68th day of theatrical release. As a high-stakes sequel, the film had massive expectations to live up to, and its journey into the tenth week proves that it has not only met but exceeded them. The film has maintained a steady presence in theaters long after most blockbusters would have moved to digital platforms, showing the immense pull of this particular franchise. On its tenth Monday, the film collected a net of 0.12 Crore across 245 shows in India. This represents a 70.0 percent drop from the previous day's net of 0.40 Crore, a trend that is typical for a film in its late run as it moves from a weekend into a working weekday. This latest collection brings the total India net to 1,147.70 Crore and the domestic gross to 1,373.56 Crore. On the global stage, the film has officially hit a monumental milestone, crossing the 1,800 Crore mark with a total worldwide gross of 1,800.23 Crore, supported by an overseas contribution of 426.67 Crore. The film's performance in national multiplex chains on Day 68 shows that there is still a niche audience supporting it. Across PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the movie collected a gross of 3.1 Lakhs from approximately 1.1K tickets sold. Breaking this down, PVR contributed 1.7 Lakhs, while INOX added 0.9 Lakhs and Cinepolis brought in 0.5 Lakhs. The average occupancy across these 170 national chain shows stood at 4.18 percent, indicating that while show counts are low, the interest remains consistent. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Regionally, the occupancy rates provide an interesting look at where the film is still holding on. Mumbai recorded the highest occupancy of the day at 27.5 percent, despite having only 15 shows. In the National Capital Region (NCR), the film maintained a 13.0 percent occupancy across 58 shows, with the evening screenings being the most popular at 19.0 percent. Ahmedabad also contributed with an 11.0 percent occupancy. These numbers suggest that urban centers continue to be the primary drivers for the film during its tenth week. While the Hindi version remains the primary contributor with a net of 1,079.16 Crore from over 4.78 Lakh shows, the film's Pan-India reach is evident in its other language versions. The Telugu version has netted 43.07 Crore, followed by Tamil at 19.83 Crore, Kannada at 3.87 Crore, and Malayalam at 1.77 Crore. This multi-language success has been a key factor in the film reaching its massive cumulative ticket count, which now stands at over 1.83 Crore tickets sold across all platforms since its debut. Looking at recent trends on BookMyShow, the film saw a respectable tenth weekend, with 5.31K tickets booked on Friday, rising to 8.17K on Saturday, and 5.87K on Sunday. The total worldwide run has spanned an incredible 525,214 shows so far. As Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge continues to add to its historic total, it remains a rare example of a film that has successfully sustained its box office momentum for over two months, further cementing its legacy in the industry.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 26 - Alpha is one of the most-awaited Bollywood films, as it marks the first female-led instalment in Yash Raj Films' ambitious Spy Universe. Starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari in the lead, the action thriller has been generating anticipation ever since its announcement. Now, fresh reports about Alia's character and the film being different from other spy movies have further increased the excitement surrounding the film. According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, Alia Bhatt will reportedly play a deadly assassin in Alpha, and not a conventional spy like the earlier protagonists in the YRF Spy Universe. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The report states that her character has an edgy backstory and is someone who was "raised and built to kill" from a young age. YRF is said to be exploring a much darker, more emotionally layered origin story for the film, giving the franchise a fresh direction after the success of movies like Pathaan, War, and Tiger. The makers are reportedly betting big on the film's unique characterisation and intense action setup. Alia's role is expected to feature brutal combat sequences, hand-to-hand action, and a gritty screen presence unlike anything she has attempted before. The reports have already led to comparisons with Marvel's Black Widow among fans on social media, with many excited to see Alia in a fierce action avatar. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Sharvari is also said to have a powerful role alongside her, making the film a full-fledged female-driven action spectacle. Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha also stars Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor in pivotal roles. The film is currently slated for a theatrical release on July 10, 2026, and is expected to be one of the biggest event films from Yash Raj Films of the year.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The reunion of Akshay Kumar and director Priyadarshan has clearly struck a chord with the audience, as Bhooth Bangla continues its steady march through its sixth week. Horror-comedies often rely on strong word-of-mouth to survive the initial weeks, and this film has managed to do just that, maintaining a consistent presence in theaters even as new releases arrive. Entering Day 39, the film is showing the kind of endurance that is becoming increasingly rare in today's fast-paced box office cycle. According to early estimates, Bhooth Bangla collected a net of 0.50 Crore on its sixth Monday. This reflects a logical 63.0 percent drop from the previous day's collection of 1.35 Crore, which is standard for a weekday following a weekend boost. This latest addition brings the total India net collection to 174.85 Crore. On the gross front, the domestic total has now reached 207.22 Crore. When we factor in the overseas gross of 53.75 Crore, the worldwide total stands at a solid 260.97 Crore. The film has achieved these numbers through an extensive run of over 227,000 shows since its release. Ticket sales on BookMyShow remain quite healthy for a film in its 39th day, rounded with 11.59K tickets booked on the platform this Monday. This brings the total ticket count across its entire run to approximately 32.7 Lakhs. The steady demand even after more than a month in theaters suggests that the film has successfully tapped into the family audience segment that enjoys the classic Priyadarshan brand of humor mixed with supernatural elements. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In the major national multiplex chains, the film maintained a steady flow of audience. Between PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, a total of 2.1K tickets were sold, bringing in a gross of 4.5 Lakhs for the day. Looking at the chain-wise breakdown, PVR led with 2.2 Lakhs, while INOX and Cinepolis contributed 1.3 Lakhs and 1.0 Lakhs respectively. This cumulative performance across 550 shows resulted in an average occupancy of 2.10 percent for these chains. Regionally, the Hindi-speaking heartland continues to provide the most support. On Day 39, the National Capital Region (NCR) led the way with a 14.0 percent occupancy across 192 shows, showing particular strength during the night screenings which saw 17.0 percent of seats filled. Lucknow also showed decent engagement with an 11.5 percent overall occupancy, while Ahmedabad recorded 9.8 percent across its 81 shows. The consistent performance in these major cities has been the backbone of the film's long-term success. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the film misses out on a top 10 spot for all-time Day 39 collections, it has still managed to secure a position on the historical list for this stage of the theatrical run. The very top of this leaderboard is led by films that showed exceptional longevity, such as Stree 2 with 5.00 Crore, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge with 3.25 Crore, and Jawan with 2.09 Crore. To even enter the top 10, a film needs to surpass the 1.10 Crore mark set by Kalki 2898 AD. By collecting 0.50 Crore on its sixth Monday, Bhooth Bangla currently ranks 18th, matching the daily pace seen by other significant hits like Raid 2 and Gadar 2. This ranking places it among a select group of Hindi releases that have remained active enough to register on the charts after five weeks in theaters. As the film nears the end of its sixth week, the focus is now on how much further it can push its total before concluding its theatrical run. With a worldwide gross exceeding 260 Crore, Bhooth Bangla has already established itself as a significant hit. The combination of a beloved actor-director duo and a popular genre has proven to be a winning formula, allowing the film to maintain a steady, albeit smaller, stream of revenue deep into its second month of release.