BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, September 25 - Scoring 100 crore worldwide on the very first day is one of the toughest milestones in Indian cinema. Though the milestone is now not out of reach, only a handful of films have achieved that, and only 4 directors have managed to achieve this back-to-back. Director Sujeeth, who has patiently worked on superstar Pawan Kalyan's They Call Him OG after Prabhas-fronted Saaho, has joined the elite league of SS Rajamouli, Prashanth Neel, and Lokesh Kanagaraj in delivering back-to-back 100 crores openers at the worldwide box office. 1. SS Rajamouli – Baahubali 2 (2017), RRR (2022) The pioneer of pan-Indian blockbusters, Rajamouli redefined the Indian box office. Baahubali 2 shocked the trade with an earth-shattering 200+ crore day one, followed by RRR, which repeated the magic with another 200 crore+ worldwide opening. He is the only Indian director to achieve this feat. 2. Prashanth Neel – KGF Chapter 2 (2022), Salaar (2023) Neel proved his mettle as a mass-action storyteller with Kannada superstar Yash-fronted KGF: Chapter 2 and cemented it with Pan-India superstar Prabhas-fronted Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire. Both films crossed 150+ crore globally on day one, making him one of the few to achieve this consistency. 3. Lokesh Kanagaraj – Leo (2023), Coolie (2025) Lokesh has become the face of Tamil cinema's new-age mass entertainers. After Thalapathy Vijay's Leo scored a 140 crore+ opening, the mavrick filmmaker followed it up with superstar Rajinikanth's Coolie, which became the first Tamil movie to take the opening of 150+ crores worldwide. 4. Sujeeth – Saaho (2019), They Call Him OG (2025) Sujeeth surprised the industry with Prabhas-starrer action thriller Saaho's 125+ crore global debut and has now repeated the feat with superstar Pawan Kalyan's gangster action thriller They Call Him OG. With this, he officially joins the league of filmmakers delivering consecutive ₹100 crore openers. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, September 24 - Power Star Pawan Kalyan has set the box office on fire with his much-awaited gangster action thriller They Call Him OG. The film, directed by Sujeeth, had its paid premieres today (September 24), ahead of its grand theatrical release tomorrow, and the response has been nothing short of phenomenal. According to early trade reports, OG grossed over 23+ crores (official soon) from paid premieres in India alone, surpassing the record previously held by Pawan Kalyan's Hari Hara Veera Mallu (15 crores). This marks the biggest-ever paid premiere collections at the Indian box office. What makes the feat more historic is the bookings, which have already scaled 98 crores worldwide for the opening day, including premieres. Of this, India accounts for 65 crores, while international markets contributed 33 crores. These numbers make OG the highest advance-grosser ever for a non-pan India Telugu release. With such staggering momentum, trade circles are confident that They Call Him OG will comfortably breach the 150 crore worldwide opening mark. The movie stands a chance to enter the top 5 biggest Indian openers at the worldwide box office, and if it manages to do so, it will become the biggest grosser of Pawan Kalyan on its opening day. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, September 24 - Superstar Rajinikanth will next be seen in director Nelson Dilipkumar's action drama Jailer 2. The sequel to the 2023 mega blockbuster has been in production for quite some time, with shooting schedules taking place across multiple locations in South India, including Palakkad, Kerala. Recently, Rajinikanth, along with the film's crew, was spotted travelling from Coimbatore to Palakkad for a shooting schedule, and after completing scenes there, the team returned to Chennai to continue work on the project. During their return, the superstar leaked the release date of the movie. According to reports, reporters asked Rajinikanth about the status of the film at the Chennai airport. In response, the veteran superstar revealed that Jailer 2 will hit the big screens on June 12th, nearly 3 years after the first movie, which was released in August 2023. Following the massive success of Jailer, expectations are sky-high for its sequel, which is touted to be Tamil cinema's next big blockbuster. While the official confirmation is yet to be made, reports say the movie will feature multiple top-tier cameos, including those of Shiva Rajkumar and Nandamuri Balakrishna, just like the first part. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, September 24 - Director Suhbhas Kapoor's courtroom comedy Jolly LLB 3, starring Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi, is turning into a success story at the box office. Within just 5 days of its release, the film has crossed the 100 crore worldwide gross mark, becoming the second film of the franchise to achieve the feat. The strong mix of comedy, satire, and courtroom drama has clicked with audiences across demographics, leading to good footfalls in both multiplexes and single screens. The film opened on a good note and continued its upward trajectory, grossing over 80 crores worldwide in the opening weekend, thanks to positive word of mouth. The movie showed a decent hold on Monday, followed by a good jump on Tuesday, which led it into the 100 crores club. Domestically, Jolly LLB 3 has grossed approximately 78.50 crores (65.50 crores net) while overseas collection is an estimated 23 crores, for a worldwide total of 101+ crores in 5 days. The chemistry between Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi, along with engaging courtroom banter and a social theme, has struck the right chord with viewers. Directed by Subhash Kapoor, the film has also benefited from a family-friendly appeal, which has been the hallmark of the franchise. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, September 4 - Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan made his directorial debut with Netflix's satirical action comedy drama series The Ba***ds of Bollywood. Aryan also created and co-wrote the series, which has been making noise on social media. Despite the huge hype and several cameos of Bollywood superstars and directors, including Shah Rukh Khan, The Ba***ds of Bollywood debuted at number 4 in the non-English category on Netflix. The series scored 2.8 million views in its opening weekend. The show has been trending at number 1 in 9 countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Mauritius. The series is 5 hours and 12 minutes long, which helped the streamer score 14.8 million viewing hours. The viewership of the series is decent, but not up to the sky-high expectations, especially considering the top-tier cameos of SRK, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, SS Rajamouli, Emraan Hashmi, Karan Johar, and many others. Produced by Gauri Khan under Red Chillies Entertainment, the series stars Bobby Deol, Lakshya Lalwani, Raghav Juyal, Sahher Bambba, Anya Singh, Manoj Pahwa, Manish Chaudhari, Rajat Bedi, Meherzan Mazda, Divik Sharma, Mona Singh, Gautami Kapoor, Vijayant Kohli, Neville Bharucha, and Armaan Khera, in prominent roles. The series follows actor Aasmaan Singh from Delhi, whose successful debut under producer Freddy Sodawallah leads to a role opposite Karishma Talvar in Karan Johar's film, but he must contend with Freddy's multi-film contract, interference from Karishma's father, Ajay Talvar, emerging romance, and unforeseen complications. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, September 24 - After the phenomenal success of Saiyaara, which launched Ahaan Pandey and Aneet Padda, and went on to become a cultural milestone in the romantic-drama space, director Mohit Suri is all set to reunite with Yash Raj Films for yet another love story. It will be produced by Akshaye Widhani. According to the report by Pinkvilla, Mohit Suri was flooded with offers from all across the industry, with producers willing to splurge pay cheques of unheard amounts. However, Mohit and YRF are continuing their creative partnership, capitalising on the success of Saiyaara. While details of the project are not known yet, it is said that the core plot of the film is locked, and Mohit, along with his team of writers, will develop it into a screenplay now. It is another love story which will explore a brand new world in this genre, blending the chartbuster music. With Mohit Suri back in their camp, fans are anticipating another musical gem alongside a heart-touching narrative—something that has often been the hallmark of his cinema. Casting announcements are expected to follow soon, as the makers are aiming to take the film on floors by Mid-2026. For now, all eyes are on this collaboration that promises to rekindle the magic of Saiyaara while offering audiences a brand-new chapter in Bollywood romance. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, September 24 - Power star Pawan Kalyan's gangster action thriller They Call Him OG is set to storm the box office. The film has been receiving an exceptional response in pre-sales, not just in India but also in international markets. Directed by Sujeeth, They Call Him OG still has a few hours left for the release, and even before that, it has become Pawan Kalyan's biggest opener ever. The advance booking of the film is nearing 75 crores worldwide for the opening day, making it the biggest opener for the superstar. The previous biggest opener of PK was Hari Hara Veera Mallu, which scored approximately 67 crores worldwide on its opening day. OG, meanwhile, is heading towards taking a 2x start of HHVM, with trade believes that it might even take the opening of 150+ crores gross globally. It will be quite astonishing if OG manages to take the opening of 150+ crores, as it will be very close to PK's biggest lifetime worldwide grosser Bheemla Nayak (158.50 crores). Irrespective of what the opening will be, one thing is clear that OG will become the actor's biggest grosser within two days, which will probably be a record for a film featuring an A-lister. OG is heading towards scoring 90-100 crores pre-sales for the opening day. So far, it has grossed approximately 45 crores in India and 30 crores overseas, including the premiere shows. The pre-sales momentum has been excellent for OG, which is easily the most hyped film of PK in recent times. Produced by DVV Entertainment, OG stars Pawan Kalyan in the titular role, alongside Emraan Hashmi (in his Telugu film debut), Priyanka Mohan, Arjun Das, Sriya Reddy and Prakash Raj. The film revolves around a gangster named Ojas Gambheera who returns to Mumbai following his ten-year disappearance to kill another crime boss, Omi Bhau. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, September 23 - Pawan Kalyan’s much-awaited action drama They Call Him OG is gearing up for a massive worldwide release, amid massive hype and strong pre-sales. Advance bookings in key territories like North America have been encouraging, with record-breaking ticket pre-sales. However, despite the hype, the film faces some real challenges overseas, which could impact its overall box office numbers. One major concern is the timely delivery of content to cinemas across multiple territories. Reports indicate that digital prints have yet to be fully dispatched in some overseas markets, raising fears of premiere cancellations or delayed screenings. ⚠️ Press Release (Safety)#YorkCinemas #TheyCallHimOG#OGMovie #Update pic.twitter.com/xoLCVV5oEU— York Cinemas (@yorkcinemas) September 22, 2025 Overseas distributors have already issued warnings to the makers regarding the continued delay in the product. Some of the theatre chains have confirmed the inability to screen the movie due to no content, while the North American distributor of the film, Prathyangira Cinemas, has shared that the Tamil version of OG will not be released there due to unavoidable content delays. Since overseas openings rely heavily on early premiere shows, even small disruptions can dent collections in crucial markets like the USA and Canada. Adding to the complication, the film has been certified with an A rating in India for its heavy violence, which could restrict audiences in certain international territories or invite additional censor edits. Due to unavoidable content delays, the Tamil version of #TheyCallHimOG will not be releasing in North America. However, the Telugu and Hindi versions will be screened across the region as planned. We sincerely regret the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding and…— Prathyangira Cinemas (@PrathyangiraUS) September 23, 2025 The financial stakes are equally high. They Call Him OG has already set lofty expectations, with trade estimates projecting over 50 crore from overseas on Day 1 alone. While strong advance sales show promise, the pressure to meet such numbers is immense. A shortfall in overseas earnings could place additional strain on domestic markets to balance the film’s breakeven targets. The issues are created by the makers themselves, as reports say that the post-production work is still going on, with just a day left for the premiere. This is not the first time a Telugu film has faced such issues, as these kinds of problems have arisen in the past as well. But despite the experience, things haven't changed much for the industry. With too much of frustration(Pressnote)#TheyCallHimOG pic.twitter.com/HvApV17N27— 4Seasons Creations AS (@4SeasonCreation) September 23, 2025 Despite these risks, Pawan Kalyan's star power and the film’s high production values ensure that anticipation remains strong. If distribution hurdles are resolved quickly and audience reception is positive, They Call Him OG still has every chance of delivering one of the biggest overseas performances for a Telugu film. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Bengaluru, September 23 - Rishab Shetty's much-awaited prequel to 2022 blockbuster Kantara, titled Kantara Chapter 1, has set the internet buzzing with a thunderous response to its trailer. In the first 24 hours of release, the trailer has amassed more than 107 million views in all languages across social media platforms, becoming one of the most-watched trailers of a Kannada title. On YouTube, the trailer scored 45+ million views with the Hindi version leading the charts with a whopping 25+ million views, reflecting the pan-India reach of the franchise. The Kannada trailer, close to the heart of its native audience, raked in 8 million views, while the Telugu version secured an impressive 7.1+ million views. The Malayalam trailer of the film generated 2.1+ million views, and the Tamil version contributed another 4.5+ million views in the first full day of its release, together highlighting the film's strong presence across every regional market. With such phenomenal digital reception, Kantara Chapter 1 is already being touted as one of the most-awaited cinematic events of the year. The overwhelming response proves that Rishab Shetty's vision has not only resonated with audiences in Karnataka but also struck an emotional chord with viewers nationwide. Produced by Hombale Films, Kantara 2's story delves deeper into the origins of the mythological tradition and ancestral conflict introduced in the first film. Directed by Rishab Shetty, the movie stars Shetty in the lead role alongside Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, and Jayram in key roles. The film is scheduled to release on October 2 in multiple Indian languages. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, September 23 - Junglee Pictures, in association with Insomnia Films and Baweja Studios, has officially released the first teaser of Yami Gautam and Emraan Hashmi-fronted Haq, a hard-hitting drama inspired by the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court on Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum case. The teaser sets the tone with intense court proceedings and a woman's fight for her rights and justice. Sparking a debate between Personal Law v/s Secular Law, HAQ is directed by Suparn S Varma and features Yami Gautam as Shah Bano and Emraan Hashmi as Mohd. Ahmed Khan, in their most powerful and layered roles yet. Mohd. Ahmad Khan v. Shah Bano Begum, commonly referred to as the Shah Bano case, was a maintenance lawsuit in India, in which the Supreme Court delivered a judgment in favour of providing maintenance to an aggrieved divorced Muslim woman. HAQ is a dramatised version of events stated in the book titled Bano: Bharat ki Beti, written by Jigna Vora, and revisits one of the most controversial cases in India of the 80s. The teaser promises to be an intense and inspiring tale of a woman's fight. The movie has been confirmed to release on November 7, 2026. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, September 23 - Pawan Kalyan's highly awaited gangster action drama They Call Him OG has been locked to score the biggest opening for him after an excellent response in the advance bookings, which are among the best of the year. As per industry trackers, overseas pre-sales of OG have crossed the $3.50 million (31+ crore) mark, while bookings in India are around 60 crore currently. Together, this pushes the global advance collections are around 90+ crores, heading towards the massive 100 crores mark. The craze surrounding OG is being fueled by Pawan Kalyan's larger-than-life persona and the electrifying promos. In North America, where Telugu cinema continues to expand its presence, the film has already shattered multiple records with its advance ticket sales and has crossed 22.50 crores just for the premieres. Back home, tickets are being snapped up at a rapid pace, with shows selling out within minutes of going on sale. The hype has been further boosted by Emraan Hashmi's menacing antagonist role and Sujeeth's stylish direction, which promises a high-voltage gangster saga. With such extraordinary momentum, trade analysts are unanimous that They Call Him OG is heading for a 150 crore+ worldwide opening day, a feat achieved by only a handful of Indian films. If early trends continue, the film could be among the biggest openers ever. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Bengaluru, September 22 - The highly anticipated prequel to Rishab Shetty's Kantara, titled Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1, is gearing up for grand worldwide release on October 2nd, and ahead of the release, the makers have reportedly cleared the censor formalities. Produced by Hombale Films, the movie has been certified with U/A by the Central Board of Film Certification with an approved runtime of 169 minutes (2 hours 49 minutes approx.), making it one of the longest mainstream Kannada films in recent times. This extended runtime suggests an elaborate narrative structure, deeply rooted in historical and cultural backdrops, much like its predecessor. According to the censor certificate, the story is set during the reign of the Kadambas, the first dynasty of Karnataka. The plot revolves around Bangra, a fictional feudatory ruled by King Vijayendra. Known for his loyalty to the Kadambas, Vijayendra commanded their sea trade. The summary also highlights his complex persona—celebrated for his valour, yet feared as a leader who promoted slavery and atheism. This layered characterisation hints at a morally intense storyline, exploring themes of power, faith, and societal conflict. With the certification process now complete, the stage is set for Kantara Chapter 1 to make its theatrical debut. Given the massive success of the first film, expectations are sky-high for this ambitious prequel. Stay tuned...