Rajkummar Rao's Sourav Ganguly Biopic Officially Titled Dada; Set for Worldwide Release on May 14, 2027

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 8 - Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Part 1 continues to dominate headlines even months ahead of its theatrical release. Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, the epic has easily been the most anticipated Indian movie in the making, not just among fans but also in the trade, for its enormous box-office potential. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) As the release date gets nearer, the film distribution race is heating up. Yesterday, Variety India reported that Karan Johar's Dharma Productions has acquired the all-India distribution rights to Ramayana Part 1 in a massive 250-crore deal. While the deal is huge, it started a conversation on social media about whether the rights were really sold for 250 crores, a significant but half of what the makers reportedly quoted, as earlier reports stated a staggering 500 crore demand. Now, according to the latest report by Bollywood Hungama, Dharma Productions has reportedly secured the theatrical distribution rights for 350 crore, making it the biggest distribution deal in Bollywood history. While the official announcement hasn't been made yet, the 350 crore deal looks more believable given the massive box office potential and the distribution demand of the makers. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dharma Productions is reportedly preparing an extensive nationwide release strategy for the epic. The project, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and backed by Namit Malhotra, stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Ravie Dubey as Laxman, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman, among many others in prominent roles. Mounted on a massive budget and envisioned as a two-part cinematic saga, Ramayana is among the most anticipated Indian films in recent years. Produced by Prime Focus Studios and Monster Mind Creations, the first instalment is scheduled for a grand worldwide theatrical release during the 2026 Diwali festive season, while Ramayana Part 2 will release on Diwali 2027.

BY SACNILK

The Dhamaal franchise has built a legendary reputation for delivering high-octane laughter, and the upcoming fourth installment is currently one of the most anticipated releases of 2026. After several shifts in the release schedule to find the perfect window, the makers have finally settled on a release date of July 10. The anticipation is visible on platforms like BookMyShow, where over 125K people have already marked their interest in the film, making it one of the most tracked Indian movies of the year on IMDb. Looking at the initial advance booking reports, the film is starting to gain momentum across the country. For the first day, Dhamaal 4 has recorded an all-India gross of 33.79 Lac. When we include block seats, this figure jumps to a much more substantial 1.61 Cr. So far, the film has sold roughly 13,475 tickets for its opening day across 3,698 shows. While the real occupancy currently sits at 1 percent, these are early numbers and the pace is expected to pick up significantly as the release day approaches. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Maharashtra is currently leading the charts among states, with a gross of 8.48 Lac and a total including block seats of 36.12 Lac from 912 shows. Delhi follows closely with a gross of 6.72 Lac, reaching 36.46 Lac with block seats. In terms of major regions, the National Capital Region (NCR) and Mumbai are the primary drivers, contributing 6.72 Lac and 6.57 Lac respectively to the opening day tally. Other markets like Gujarat and Rajasthan are also contributing, with Gujarat showing a gross with block seats of 19.59 Lac from 700 shows and Rajasthan recording 11.1 Lac with block seats. The pressure on this fourth installment is high because the franchise has a perfect track record at the box office. The original Dhamaal was a Hit with an India net collection of 33.06 Cr and a worldwide gross of 51.30 Cr. Double Dhamaal followed that success with 44.10 Cr net and 71.00 Cr worldwide gross, also earning a Hit verdict. The stakes were raised significantly with Total Dhamaal, which collected a massive 155.67 Cr net in India and a worldwide gross of 232.18 Cr, making it a Superhit. With all three previous films being successful, the industry is watching closely to see if Dhamaal 4 can maintain this 100 percent success rate. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The plot this time around follows the classic boys on a wild quest for the Treasure of Life, but with a few supernatural twists involving pirates and ghosts. Ajay Devgn returns as a quirky IRS officer, leading the veteran ensemble of Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Jaaved Jaaferi, and Sanjay Mishra. Interestingly, the film is moving away from the franchise tradition of having no female leads. After Madhuri Dixit joined the third part, Dhamaal 4 features a larger female cast including Sanjeeda Shaikh, Esha Gupta, and Anjali Anand. Ravi Kishan also joins the chaos as a quirky pirate. The technical aspects of the film are also set for a smooth release. The Censor Board has granted a U/A 13+ certificate with a runtime of 2 hours and 23 minutes. While no scenes were cut, minor modifications were made to certain hand gestures and vocabulary to keep it family-friendly. On the music front, the soundtrack is already generating buzz. Songs like Chatni, which is a recreation of the popular track originally by Mamta Sharma, and Guru Randhawa's energetic track Qeher are trending heavily, adding to the overall excitement for the film's theatrical debut on July 10.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 8 - The makers of Rajkummar Rao-fronted highly anticipated biopic on former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly have officially unveiled the film's title, first-look poster, and release date. Titled Dada - The Sourav Ganguly Story, the sports drama is set for a worldwide theatrical release on May 14, 2027. The announcement was made on July 8, coinciding with Ganguly's birthday, giving fans their first glimpse of Rajkummar Rao's transformation into one of Indian cricket's greatest icons. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The first-look poster recreates one of the most unforgettable moments in Indian cricket history—Sourav Ganguly waving his jersey from the iconic Lord's balcony after India's dramatic NatWest Trophy triumph in 2002. Rajkummar Rao is seen sporting Ganguly's signature hairstyle and physique, while the tagline, "He Didn't Just Play The Game, He Changed It," highlights the legendary captain's impact on Indian cricket. The poster has already received an overwhelmingly positive response across social media. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane, Dada will chronicle Ganguly's inspiring journey from a young cricketer in Kolkata to becoming one of India's most influential captains. The film is expected to delve into his leadership during a transformative phase in Indian cricket, his fearless approach on the field, and the legacy he built for future generations. Rajkummar Rao reportedly underwent extensive cricket training and spent considerable time studying Ganguly's batting style, mannerisms, and personality to portray the role authentically. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Happy Birthday Dada!@SGanguly99 #RajkummarRao #VikramadityaMotwane#Dada #DadaTheSouravGangulyStory #DadaFirstLook pic.twitter.com/5eCWDvkKFA— Luv Films (@LuvFilmsLLP) July 8, 2026 Backed by Luv Films, the biopic has been mounted on a grand scale, with filming taking place at several iconic cricket venues, including Eden Gardens. The project has been one of the most eagerly awaited sports dramas in Hindi cinema ever since Ganguly confirmed Rajkummar Rao would play him on screen. With its title now officially revealed and the release date locked, Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story has become one of the biggest Bollywood releases to look forward to in 2027. Cricket fans and moviegoers alike will be eager to see Rajkummar Rao bring the remarkable story of one of India's most celebrated captains to life when the film arrives in cinemas on May 14, 2027.

BY SACNILK

Alpha has been the subject of intense discussion since its release, carrying the weight of massive expectations as a major 2026 tentpole. The film arrived with significant buzz, fueled by its franchise power and high-scale production, though the initial audience reaction has been a bit of a mixed bag. While some are praising the technical finesse, others remain skeptical about the narrative depth, leading to a polarizing word of mouth that is now playing out in the daily box office trends. After a noticeable crash on its first Monday, which is often a testing point for any big release, the film has managed a surprising recovery on Day 5. Alpha collected a net of ₹4.25 Cr this Tuesday, marking a 10.4% growth compared to Monday net of ₹3.85 Cr. This uptick is largely attributed to the Discount Tuesday phenomenon, where lower ticket prices across major chains helped pull in the crowds that stayed away during the Monday slump. It is a logical trend in the current market where price sensitivity often dictates weekday footfalls. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the domestic performance, the film has now reached a total India net collection of ₹42.10 Cr. When we factor in taxes, the India gross stands at ₹50.23 Cr. These numbers have been achieved across 36,025 shows in total, with 7,173 shows running on Day 5 alone. The ticket booking platform BookMyShow reflects this Tuesday surge clearly, with 82.92K tickets sold on Tuesday compared to 73.52K on Monday. This brings the total tickets sold on the platform to approximately 764.97K so far. A closer look at the national chains including PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis provides more context. For the day, these major chains sold roughly 46,000 tickets, resulting in a gross of approximately ₹71 Lakhs. The average occupancy across these platforms stood at about 7.6% from nearly 2,890 shows. Regionally, the National Capital Region (NCR) continues to be the strongest performer with a healthy 30.3% occupancy, while Mumbai and Pune followed with 18.8% and 18.0% respectively. Markets like Ahmedabad and Surat are trailing slightly lower, highlighting a clear urban-skew in the film's appeal. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the international front, based on early estimates, Alpha added ₹1.50 Cr on its fifth day, pushing the total overseas gross to ₹19.80 Cr. In North America specifically, the film benefited from the Tuesday discounts, earning $95K (approx ₹79 Lakhs) by 7pm PST from 394 locations. This follows a Monday gross of $55K (approx ₹46 Lakhs), bringing the total North American tally to $630K (approx ₹5.26 Cr). Combining these figures, the worldwide gross collection is estimated to be around ₹70.03 Cr at this stage. The road ahead for Alpha is undeniably challenging. While the Tuesday growth provides a temporary breather, the film needs to maintain this momentum to recover its heavy costs. The competition is stiff, with holdover releases like Welcome to the Jungle and Main Vaapas Aunga still occupying significant screen space. The real test arrives on July 10 with the release of Dhamaal 4. This new entry will trigger a severe screen crunch, making the task of allotting shows a tedious one for exhibitors. Without a completely one-sided positive word of mouth, Alpha might find its breathing window further squeezed, making the upcoming second weekend a do-or-die situation for its lifetime box office prospects.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 7 - Director Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga continues to script one of the biggest comeback stories of the year at the box office. After a slow start, the period romantic drama has witnessed extraordinary growth on the back of exceptional word-of-mouth, turning into a genuine sleeper hit. The period romantic drama is now inching closer to the 100 crore worldwide gross milestone. Starring Diljit Dosanjh, Nasserudin Shah, Vedang Raina, and Sharvari, the film has collected an estimated 58.25 crore net (69.30 crore gross) at the Indian box office in 25 days. The fourth weekend once again delivered impressive gains, with the film continuing to attract audiences despite fresh competition. Its remarkable trend has ensured that it remains one of the strongest-performing Hindi releases in recent weeks. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The worldwide total is also moving steadily upward, with estimates indicating that the film now has a chance to reach the 100 crore gross mark. In 25 days, the film has grossed around 90 crores, with overseas collection around 20 crores gross. What makes the run even more impressive is that Main Vaapas Aaunga has consistently outperformed its opening week in subsequent weeks, a rare achievement in today's theatrical market. Directed by Imtiaz Ali, the Partition-era drama has earned widespread appreciation for its emotional storytelling, music, and performances, particularly those of Nasserudin Shah, Diljit Dosanjh, and Sharvari. If the current trend continues over the coming days, Main Vaapas Aaunga is expected to comfortably finish its theatrical run with over 100 crore in worldwide gross collections, completing an outstanding turnaround at the box office.