Tollywood
They Call Him OG:Pawan Kalyan vs Emraan Hashmi in a ₹250 Crore Showdown
OG, the much-awaited gangster action thriller, stars Telugu cinema icon Pawan Kalyan in the lead role as Ojas Gambheera, or simply "OG"—a feared underworld don returning from exile. The film marks the Telugu debut of Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi, who plays the menacing antagonist Omi Bhau, setting up a high-stakes confrontation between two powerful characters. Directed by Sujeeth, best known for Saaho, OG promises a stylized, high-octane narrative set in the gritty underworld of Mumbai. The supporting cast includes Priyanka Arul Mohan, Arjun Das, Prakash Raj, Sriya Reddy, and a special appearance by Neha Shetty. Backed by DVV Danayya’s DVV Entertainment (of RRR fame), the film features cinematography by Ravi K. Chandran and Manoj Paramahamsa, with a pulsating score by Thaman S. ##The film has generated massive buzz, both domestically and overseas. Its teaser, titled “Hungry Cheetah,” was released on Pawan Kalyan’s 54th birthday (September 2) and immediately went viral for its slick visuals and intense tone. Fan enthusiasm reached a fever pitch when a single ticket for the Nizam region was sold in an auction for a staggering ₹5 lakh, showcasing the unmatched devotion of Pawan Kalyan’s fan base. In the U.S., the movie has already broken pre-release records, earning over $82,000 from just 46 premiere shows—weeks before its theatrical release. The production budget has ballooned to an estimated ₹240–₹250 crore, making it the most expensive film of Pawan Kalyan’s career. Delays due to his political commitments (as Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh) only amplified the hype, with fans tracking every schedule update and teaser drop. ##Despite these delays, OG is now set for a pan-India theatrical release on September 25, 2025, in multiple languages including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. The movie has already clocked over ₹150 crore in pre-business in Telugu-speaking states alone, putting it in the league of other mega-films like RRR and Pushpa 2. Adding to its commercial promise, Netflix has acquired the OTT rights for a record ₹92 crore, with streaming expected roughly four weeks post theatrical release. With its stylish direction, intense character arcs, and massive production scale, OG is poised to be a landmark entry in the gangster-action genre—and one of the biggest Telugu releases of 2025.