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.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The second Monday is usually when we see how much staying power a film really has, and for Karuppu, the Day 11 numbers are looking quite steady. Based on early estimates, the film has now crossed the 150 Crore net mark in India. It is an important milestone that shows the movie is holding onto its audience well even after the initial rush of the first week. If we look at the raw data, the film collected a net of 5.90 Crore on Day 11 across 4,457 shows. While this represents a 60.0 percent drop compared to the previous day's net collection of 14.75 Crore, it is a very logical and expected trend for a working Monday following a massive second weekend. This takes the total India net collection to 154.75 Crore. On the gross front, the domestic total has reached 179.15 Crore, while the overseas market contributed another 1.00 Crore on Monday, pushing the total overseas gross to 68.00 Crore. When you combine these figures, Karuppu stands at a worldwide gross of 247.15 Crore. One of the most impressive aspects of this run is the ticket sales momentum. On its second Monday, Karuppu recorded approximately 100.84K ticket bookings on BookMyShow. To put this into perspective, we can compare it with previous blockbusters to understand the magnitude of this trend. While Jailer held a record with 126K sales on its second Monday, Karuppu’s performance of roughly 101K puts it right in the league of massive hits like The GOAT. Staying in the six-figure range for weekday ticket sales is a clear indicator of strong word-of-mouth and repeat audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Breaking down the performance in national chains for the day, we see a steady flow of revenue. In the major multiplexes, the film collected about 32.8 Lakhs gross from approximately 22.4K tickets sold. If we look at the individual chain performance, PVR led the way with 23.2 Lakhs, followed by INOX with 7.7 Lakhs, and Cinepolis with 1.9 Lakhs. The total contribution from these three major chains aligns perfectly with the overall reported 32.8 Lakhs. Even with competition from Drishyam 3, which is also vying for screen time, Karuppu maintained a superior occupancy rate of around 14.5 percent in these chains compared to its competitor's 9.1 percent. Language-wise, the Tamil version continues to be the primary engine of growth. On Day 11, the Tamil 2D version recorded an overall occupancy of 26.6 percent. Chennai remains the stronghold with 46.0 percent occupancy across 562 shows, showing particular strength in the evening and night shows which hovered around 54 to 56 percent. Coimbatore also put up a strong fight with nearly 40 percent occupancy. The Telugu version is holding its own in pockets like Vizag-Visakhapatnam, which saw a healthy 21.5 percent occupancy, outperforming even Hyderabad which sat at 16.0 percent for its 290 shows. Bengaluru, a crucial melting pot for both languages, saw a combined effort with occupancy rates staying between 12 and 13 percent for both Tamil and Telugu screenings.This consistent performance has helped the film secure a top spot on the historical leaderboard for second Monday collections in Kollywood. Kollywood 2nd Monday Highest Collection (Tamil Net)MOVIE NAME2ND MONDAY NET (TAMIL)The Greatest of All Time₹ 5.80 CrKaruppu₹ 4.90 CrVikram₹ 4.17 CrAmaran₹ 4.15 CrPonniyin Selvan - Part 1₹ 4.00 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Also Check the cumulative state-wise gross breakdown as of the eleventh day: Tamil Nadu: 120.15 Crore Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (APTG): 26.15 Crore Karnataka: 18.58 Crore Kerala: 11.51 Crore Rest of India: 2.76 Crore Total India Gross: 179.15 Crore When we look at the historical leaderboard of Tamil cinema, reaching the 250 Crore mark is a benchmark reserved for the biggest blockbusters. Speed-wise, films like Coolie, 2.0, and Leo remain the pace-setters, having achieved this global feat in just 3 days. They are followed by heavyweights like Jailer and The Greatest of All Time, which took 4 days, while Ponniyin Selvan - Part 1 crossed the line in 5 days. Karuppu is now on the verge of entering this prestigious circle. Based on early estimates, the film is expected to hit the milestone by its 12th day, placing it right alongside the steady performance of Amaran, which also reached the mark in 12 days. It is a significant achievement that highlights the film's sustained popularity across both domestic and international markets. Looking ahead, the film is on a clear trajectory to hit the 250 Crore worldwide gross mark by today. The overseas performance, which Venky Box Office reports at approximately 7.05 Million dollars or 67.1 Crore before adding Monday’s early estimates, has been a significant pillar for the film's success. As we head into the rest of the week, the stability of these numbers suggests that Karuppu is not just a opening-weekend wonder but a long-distance runner that is effectively capitalizing on its massive show count of over 60,000 screenings since its release.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 25 - The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has issued a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer Singh following his abrupt exit from the upcoming film Don 3. The decision came after filmmaker Farhan Akhtar and producer Ritesh Sidhwani approached FWICE over alleged financial and production losses caused by the actor's withdrawal from the project. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to reports, FWICE held multiple meetings and sent notices to Ranveer Singh asking him to present his side. FWICE officials later claimed that the actor responded by stating that the matter did not fall under the federation's jurisdiction. Following this, the body announced a "Non-Cooperation Directive," effectively asking industry workers and associations not to collaborate with him until the issue is resolved. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The controversy began after Ranveer exited Don 3 just weeks before shooting was scheduled to begin. Reports suggest that Excel Entertainment had already spent heavily on pre-production and promotional activities. Some reports claim the producers are seeking damages of around 40–45 crore. FWICE advisor Ashoke Pandit reportedly stated that sudden exits by actors impact not only producers but also thousands of film workers associated with productions. Meanwhile, neither Ranveer Singh nor his team has publicly issued a detailed statement on the ban so far. Meanwhile, the Dhurandhar star is scheduled to begin his next film, Pralay, around August this year. Directed by Jai Mehta and produced by Ranveer Singh's Maa Kasam Films with Hansal Mehta, the film is a Zombie thriller, which is a one-of-its-kind film for Ranveer. It needs to be seen how things fare following the actor's ban by film body.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 25 - Most movie love stories are simple. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, and they live happily ever after. Bollywood romantic comedies usually follow this sweet rule. But sometimes, a twist arrives, and that's where things get messed up, bringing heartbreak and pain of not getting the love character wanted. Maddock Films' upcoming romantic comedy Cocktail 2 is one of the most-anticipated films. Starring Shahid Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, and Kriti Sanon, it is reportedly a twisted love story unlike the first film, where two girls fought over one guy. The movie is scheduled to release on June 19 amid growing anticipation. Here are five twisted love triangle stories to watch before Cocktail 2. 1. Bareilly Ki Barfi: A Web of False Identities (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Where to Watch - ZEE5, Prime Video Starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Kriti Sanon, and Rajkumar Rao, the movie shows what happens when a small lie grows too big to control. A free-spirited girl named Bitti falls in love with a book. She wants to find the author because she thinks he understands her perfectly. The man who actually wrote the book is Chirag. He is too scared to admit it, so he makes his shy friend, Pritam, pretend to be the author. Bitti falls for the fake author, Chirag gets jealous of his own creation, and Pritam gets caught in the middle. It is a funny game of musical chairs where everyone is lying. 2. Tanu Weds Manu Returns: Loving a Ghost from the Past (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Where to Watch - Apple TV+ What happens when you fall out of love with your wife, only to fall in love with someone who looks exactly like her? This sequel follows Manu (R. Madhavan), whose marriage to the fiery Tanu (Kangana Ranaut) has completely fallen apart. While planning a divorce, Manu meets Datto, a young sports student who is a carbon copy of his wife. He decides to marry Datto to start over. However, the original Tanu returns right before the wedding to claim her husband back, creating a hilarious and chaotic showdown between the past and the present. 3. Dostana: The Fake Relationship Trap (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Where to Watch - Netflix, Prime Video Two straight men living in Miami find the ultimate dream apartment, but there is a major catch - the landlady only wants female or gay roommates to protect her niece, Neha (Priyanka Chopra). Desperate for a place to live, Sam (Abhishek Bachchan) and Kunal (John Abraham) pretend to be a gay couple. The plan backfires completely when both men fall deeply in love with Neha. They are forced to actively maintain their fake relationship while secretly sabotaging each other's attempts to win Neha’s heart, creating a hilarious cycle of lies and jealousy. 4. Hasee Toh Phasee: Swapping Sisters Before the Wedding (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Where to Watch - Netflix, Prime Video Nikhil (Siddharth Anand) is a struggling businessman who is just days away from marrying his demanding fiancée, Karishma (Adah Sharma). Everything changes when Karishma's eccentric, genius sister, Meeta (Parineeti Chopra), suddenly bursts back into the family home after years of being estranged. Nikhil is tasked with keeping an eye on Meeta to keep her out of trouble. Instead, as he spends time with her, he finds himself falling for her quirky charm. He faces the ultimate awkward dilemma of realising he is marrying the wrong sister right as the wedding countdown begins. 5. Cocktail: When Friendship and Love Collide (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Where to Watch - ZEE5 This movie looks at how a love triangle can ruin a perfect friendship. Veronica (Deepika Padukone) is a rich, wild party girl who takes in a shy, traditional girl named Meera (Diana Penty). They become best friends and share a beautiful apartment. Enter Gautam (Saif Ali Khan), a charming playboy who starts dating Veronica. The three live together like a happy family until Gautam realises he actually has deeper feelings for Meera. The movie tracks the painful choices they have to make when love threatens to tear best friends apart.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Kochi, May 25 - Superstar Mohanlal's Drishyam 3 is witnessing a fascinating box office trend as the crime suspense thriller continues its impressive theatrical run worldwide. Directed by Jeethu Joseph, the film had a huge extended 4-day weekend globally with around 140 crore gross (with estimated overseas), but its performance pattern is now drawing comparisons with Mohanlal's earlier blockbuster L2: Empuraan. While expectations were sky-high for Drishyam 3 to emerge as Malayalam cinema's second 300 crore grosser after Lokah Chapter 1, the latest trends suggest that the milestone may not be as straightforward despite the massive opening weekend numbers. The film has maintained a strong overall overseas total, but the momentum internationally has started showing signs of flattening after the massive initial rush. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Markets in the Gulf, North America, the UK, and Australia delivered excellent opening numbers, driven by franchise hype and huge anticipation surrounding Mohanlal's return as Georgekutty. However, the day-to-day trend overseas has remained relatively flat over the weekend with a drop on Sunday, indicating that sustaining the extraordinary pace required for a 300 crore worldwide finish could become challenging from this point onward. In contrast, the domestic box office trend has been far more encouraging. Drishyam 3 recorded healthy growth over the weekend in India after an expected drop on Friday, especially in Kerala, where the audience response remains solid. The thriller is also showing strong advance bookings for Monday, suggesting that the film may enjoy a stable weekday run in its home state despite mixed-to-polarising reactions from certain sections of viewers. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Interestingly, this contrasting domestic and overseas trend mirrors the pattern seen during Empuraan's theatrical run last year. It was the film which was seen as Mohanlal's biggest bet for a 300 crores grosser, especially after a weekend of around 175 crores. While the film still managed to gross over 265 crores worldwide, it failed to achieve one of the most desired box office numbers in Malayalam cinema over the last year, due to mixed word of mouth. A similar trend is visible in Drishyam 3's box office trajectory. While the film has still managed to ensure strong global opening weekend numbers despite divided word-of-mouth, Mohanlal's star power and the franchise value have, the coming weekdays will now be crucial in determining whether Drishyam 3 can regain momentum internationally while maintaining its strong hold domestically.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Suriya's latest outing, Karuppu (released as VeeraBhadrudu in Telugu), has effectively ended the dry spell at the Tamil box office, turning into a massive commercial juggernaut. After a relatively quiet nine months for the industry, this film has brought the audience back in droves, raking in a staggering worldwide gross of ₹239.40 crore in record time. With an India net collection of ₹148.85 crore and a solid overseas contribution of ₹67 crore, the film has firmly established itself as the highest-grossing Tamil release of 2026 so far. The momentum isn't just limited to the home turf; the movie is finding immense love across the Telugu states and international circuits, proving that the Suriya brand is stronger than ever. Tamil Nadu Milestone: On May 25, the film became the first in Suriya’s career to cross the ₹100 crore mark in Tamil Nadu alone, making it the 24th film in history to enter this elite club. Career Record: Karuppu took just four days to surpass the 13-year-old lifetime record of Singam 2 (₹124 crore), officially becoming the highest-grossing film in Suriya's career. ₹200 Crore Sprint: The film reached the ₹200 crore global milestone in just 8 days, outpacing blockbusters like Mersal, Petta, and Thunivu. BookMyShow Record: It set a new all-time Day 2 record on the platform by selling 690K tickets, narrowly beating out Rajinikanth's Coolie (689K) and Vijay's Leo (646K). Opening Day Strength: The film secured the 4th spot all-time for highest Day 1 ticket sales in Kollywood history with 700K bookings, trailing only Jailer, Leo, and Coolie. Telugu Market Dominance: Reaffirming his status as the Adopted Son of Telugu states, the Telugu version, VeeraBhadrudu, hit a peak booking speed of 43K tickets per hour—a career-high for the actor in that region. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Tamil Nadu Century:It became the 22nd film in history to cross the ₹100 crore mark in Tamil Nadu alone, ending a drought in the state that had lasted since August 2025. Kerala Career Best: The film has now emerged as Suriya's highest-grossing project in Kerala, which has always been a key stronghold for his mass-market appeal. North American Breakthrough: It shattered Suriya's previous records in North America, amassing over $1.1 million in its opening week alone. Middle East Juggernaut: The film is now officially his biggest grosser in the GCC/Middle East, collecting approximately $2.5 million to $2.8 million (₹21 - ₹23.5 crore) by its second weekend. UK Box Office: In just three days, it grossed £235,080, surpassing his previous film Retro to become his number one performer in the territory. Sustained Momentum: Even deep into its second week, the film is maintaining incredible longevity, booking over 255K tickets every 24 hours on digital platforms. The sheer scale of these numbers shows that Karuppu is more than just a hit; it's a revival of sorts for the Tamil trade. By the end of its second Sunday, the total BookMyShow ticket sales had climbed to 36.62 lakh, a testament to the film's broad appeal. With nearly 56,000 shows played worldwide already, the movie is still holding strong in prime properties. While it has already set a high benchmark for 2026, the focus is now on the weekday holds to see just how much more moolah it can add to its already impressive kitty.