BY SACNILK TEAM

In 1929, American astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered that the universe is expanding. But till today, the presently accepted model of the universe cannot answer a simple question "if the universe is expanding, what it is expanding into?" Even more embarrassingly, scientists have not been able to locate a center of the universe. Scientists avoid that uncomfortable question by taking refuge to 'an infinitely large universe'. But there is a BIG problem.  In the vastness of the cosmos, each galaxy can be considered as a point mass. Even when the number of galaxies (n) tends to infinity, the powerful formula for ‘center of mass’ guarantees that there remains a single point as the center of mass. The mere invocation of infinity will not dissuade anyone from the conclusion that there is indeed a center. Only a balloon shaped universe can rescue cosmology from this situation. There is a true center of the balloon, but it does not lie anywhere on the surface. The basic difference is: A balloon has a 2D surface, and exists in 3D space; while the (hyper) balloon universe has a 3D surface and exists in 4D (hyper) space. A recent, Nature Astronomy paper (Ref.1) had claimed with 99% confidence level that the universe is closed. Another paper (Ref.2) claimed betting odds of 2000 ∶ 1 against an open, flat and infinite universe. Both papers have mortally wounded the presently accepted, Standard Model of Cosmology (SMC). Eight serious shortcomings of the SMC are highlighted (Ref.3A). Each of these points is serious on its own. When taken together, one must agree that cosmology is in crisis, and it is time for a complete paradigm shift in science. Physics currently rests on two pillars: General Relativity (GR) and Quantum Mechanics (QM). However GR and QM are mutually inconsistent, and there are bitter conflict between the two greatest theories of physics (Ref.3B). Physics is in crisis too, which is publicly accepted by physicists themselves (Ref.3C). Indian Scientist (Physicist) Subhajit Waugh has boldly claimed that Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity appears mutually incompatible because scientists are using the wrong model of the universe (4A). He has provided the exact shape and size of the universe (Ref.4B). Scientists and experts in the field can look at these (Ref.5, 6, 7). Mr. Waugh has claimed that an 'expanding (hyper) balloon' model of the universe leads to 'unified physics and cosmology', which comes pretty close to the ‘theory of everything’. Edwin Hubble had observed that galaxies are moving away from Earth at speeds proportional to their distance. In other words, the farther they are, the faster they are moving away from Earth. This particular form of Hubble's law made sense if an expanding balloon is used as an analogy of the universe. Indeed! The wall of the balloon universe is made up of invisible scalar HIGGS fields (somewhat similar to invisible electric and magnetic fields) and particles (which are mere excitations/resonances in those fields, just as the stunningly accurate 'Quantum Field Theory' insists). Since stars and planets and humans are made up of particles, therefore every matter is eternally trapped within the 3D hypersurface of fields which makes up the wall of the (hyper) balloon. NOTE :- Taking the radial increment/expansion velocity of the universe as c = 299,792,458 m/s and the age of the universe as 13.8 billion years, the calculated Hubble constant value (71.002 km/s/Mpc) agrees well with the accepted values (69.8 and 74 km/s/Mpc measured by two different methods). The expanding balloon model of the universe implies the existence of two different frames of reference/viewpoints: The center of the universe viewpoint, and the viewpoint of humans from an awkward position in the surface-wall of the universe. Relativity is human viewpoint, while Quantum Mechanics is Nature’s viewpoint (or God’s viewpoint) from the center of the universe. The universe is perceived differently from each viewpoint, but it is precisely this which allows the reconciliation between General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. From the center of universe viewpoint, simultaneity is absolute (as demanded by Sagnac effect), and there is indeed absolute universal time (as demanded by quantum mechanics) because the time passed since the Big Bang is simply a function of radius of the universe. From human viewpoint, locality is absolute and velocity c=299,792,458m/s is the upper limit, and remains constant for every observer. Those were Einstein’s firm belief, which were later shattered by Quantum Entanglement experiments (which led to the award of year 2022’s Nobel Prize in Physics). The constancy of the speed of light turns (our) space and time into inseparable twins, and makes (our) time a relative concept. This solves the problem of time (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_of_time) which so stubbornly resisted the reconciliation of Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity. Relativity changes into the realm of Quantum Mechanics with decreasing size scale due to exchanging roles of time and space. Three space dimensions and one time dimension (3+1) is sub-luminal (i.e. ‘inside the light cone’ realm of Relativity), while 1+3 is super-luminal (i.e. ‘outside the light cone’) and is the realm of Quantum Mechanics (Ref.8 and Ref.9). Every spooky Quantum phenomena arises naturally from super-luminal possibility. REFERENCES 1) Planck evidence for a closed Universe and a possible crisis for cosmology 2) Curvature tension: Evidence for a closed universe 3A) A candid assessment of standard cosmology 3B) Relativity versus quantum mechanics: the battle for the universe 3C) World's largest physics conference in Las Vegas will be grand; but will it be worthwhile? 4A) Physicist Proposes New Theory Unifying General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics 4B) Physics and cosmology are both in crisis because of wrong notion about the shape, size and workings of the universe 5) Shape and size of our universe: challenging the Standard Model of Cosmology 6) Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity are compatible, and have a common origin: the expanding (hyper) balloon universe 7) Is everything we know about the shape and size of our universe, and how it works, wrong? 8) Quantum principle of relativity 9) Relativity of superluminal observers in 1 + 3 spacetime

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Akshay Kumar latest horror-comedy, Bhooth Bangla, is making a massive splash at the box office as it completes its first weekend. The film, which marks the much-awaited reunion of the superstar with director Priyadarshan, has shown an excellent upward trend on its first Sunday. With the audience flocking to theaters, the film has comfortably crossed the crucial ₹50 Crore net milestone in just three days, proving that the horror-comedy genre remains a favorite among Indian moviegoers. The film is also finding solid footing in international markets, specifically in North America. According to data shared by Venky Box Office, Bhooth Bangla collected a gross of $405K on its first Saturday in North America, taking its total there to $750K. Furthermore, the film had already established its overseas strength by collecting ₹10.00 Cr on Day 2 alone. This international push is instrumental in driving the worldwide gross towards decent heights by the end of the first weekend. The Sunday momentum is clearly reflected in the theater occupancy levels across the country. Bhooth Bangla started the day with a decent morning occupancy of 21.92%. However, as the day progressed, the numbers saw a significant jump, with afternoon shows recording 52.16% and evening shows soaring to 60.42%. These figures are particularly impressive when compared to previous Akshay Kumar hits. For instance, Good Newwz had an evening occupancy of 73.87%, while Mission Mangal saw around 65-70%. Bhooth Bangla is maintaining a similar trajectory, indicating strong word-of-mouth. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the ticket booking front, BookMyShow (BMS) is witnessing heavy traffic for the film. From 7 am to 9 pm today, approximately 2,67,920 tickets were sold on the platform, which is higher than yesterday total of 2,59,320 in the same period. Between 2 pm and 3 pm alone, the film saw nearly 28,470 tickets being booked, showing a clear spike for afternoon and evening screenings. Comparing it to other recent big releases, Bhooth Bangla (173K tickets from 7 am to 3 pm) has outperformed the initial Sunday trends of films like War 2 and Housefull 5, though it trails slightly behind Dhurandhar. The performance across national chains—including PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—further highlights the film's strong urban appeal. For the tracked period, Bhooth Bangla has recorded over 18,200 ticket sales in these major chains, resulting in a gross of approximately ₹47 Lakhs. PVR is leading the contribution with nearly 9,600 tickets sold, while INOX and Cinepolis follow with around 5,800 and 2,700 tickets respectively. This momentum is bolstered by a massive 11,205 shows running nationwide today, which has already helped the film rake in a live net of ₹20.16 Crore for Day 3. These figures across hundreds of tracking venues provide a rock-solid foundation for the film's explosive first Sunday performance. Akshay Kumar Top 5 Hindi Net Collection MoviesMOVIE NAMEHINDI NET COLLECTIONRELEASE YEARHousefull 4₹ 210.30 Cr2019Good Newwz₹ 205.09 Cr2019Mission Mangal₹ 203.08 Cr2019Sooryavanshi₹ 195.55 Cr20212.0 (Hindi)₹ 190.48 Cr2018 Currently, the live tracking for Day 3 suggests a net collection of ₹20.16 Crore with night shows still running. If the night shows hold steady at the current pace, the final Day 3 net collection is expected to reach around ₹24.50 - 25 Crore. This would place its extended opening weekend total at a massive ₹59.50 - 60 Crore net, building on the ₹35 Crore already collected through previews and the first two days. When comparing these figures to his major lead roles—excluding 2.0 where he played the antagonist—Bhooth Bangla is trending very close to the Day 3 numbers of Mission Mangal (₹23.58 Cr) and Good Newwz (₹25.65 Cr). While it remains behind the massive Sunday numbers of Housefull 5 (₹32.5 Cr) and Sooryavanshi (₹26.94 Cr), reaching the ₹60 Crore milestone in its first weekend is a fantastic sign for its long-term run. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Day 3 Hindi Net Comparison: Akshay Kumar Top 5 Lead MoviesMOVIE NAMEDAY 3 NET COLLECTIONDAY 3 OCCUPANCYHousefull 5₹ 32.50 Cr39.52%Sooryavanshi₹ 26.94 Cr54.50%Good Newwz₹ 25.65 Cr48.58%Bhooth Bangla₹ 24.50 Cr (Estimated)55.00% (Approx)Mission Mangal₹ 23.58 Cr53-58% As per early estimates, the total India gross collections for Bhooth Bangla have now reached approximately ₹65.79 Crore, with the final Day 3 numbers expected to push this even higher once night show reports come in. With no major competition in the coming weekdays and a positive reception from the family audience, the film is well-positioned to continue its strong run. The chemistry between Akshay Kumar and the supporting cast, combined with Priyadarshan trademark comedy, seems to have struck gold yet again, ensuring a solid foundation for the week ahead.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, April 19 - Director Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge continues to prove its box office strength even in its fifth week, registering a solid jump on its 5th Saturday despite facing stiff competition from the new release Bhooth Bangla, starring Akshay Kumar. The Ranveer Singh starrer earned 4.5 crore net in Hindi on its 5th Saturday, marking a strong 73% jump from the previous day's collections. This growth comes after a dip on Friday (2.60 crore), largely due to the arrival of a new competitor in theatres. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) What's notable is that the film managed to bounce back despite reduced screens and show cuts, indicating sustained audience interest even after a month-long run, and being heavily frontloaded. It scored the fifth biggest 31st day at the Hindi box office, with the first Dhurandhar taking the top spot with 12.75 crores. Meanwhile, Bhooth Bangla has taken the top spot in daily collections and is clearly winning the weekend with a solid margin. The horror-comedy has already crossed 60 crore worldwide, including 42 crores in India, in just two days, clearly dominating the current box office charts. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Despite this, Dhurandhar 2 remains a formidable force. The film's total Hindi net collection has already crossed 1000 crore, and currently stands at 1043 crores net in 31 days. On a larger scale, it has already crossed the 1100 crore mark in India (all versions), and worldwide, it has minted 1750 crores. In conclusion, while Bhooth Bangla currently leads in daily earnings, Dhurandhar 2's strong weekend jump highlights its remarkable staying power. Even in its fifth week, the film is not just surviving—but actively competing, making this box office clash one of the most interesting in recent times.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, April 19 - Superstar Akshay Kumar's latest horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla has taken a good start at the box office, delivering impressive numbers in its opening weekend. The film, which blends humour with supernatural elements, is witnessing solid traction across both urban multiplexes and mass circuits. Bhooth Bangla Crosses 60 Crores Worldwide In 2 Days (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) After the worldwide opening of 28.70 crores gross, including 19+ crores gross in India alone, Priyadarshan's directorial witnessed a solid growth of 55% on its second day at the domestic box office to score around 23 crores gross. It remained good in overseas markets as well to earn in the double digits. Bangla has grossed 61.50 crore worldwide in just two days, marking one of the fastest starts for an Akshay Kumar film in recent times. While the overall numbers are impressive, the film's overseas performance is seeing one of the best responses for an Akshay Kumar-starrer, especially in the Gulf region. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A BMS Record For Akshay Kumar Showing confidence in the movie, the makers kept paid previews on April 16 from 9 PM, and this move paid off with better than expected premiere numbers of 3.75 crores net, and set the tone with positive word of mouth. The growing interest among the audiences was clearly reflected in the ticket sales on BookMyShow. On Sunday, Bhooth Bangla crossed 30K tickets per hour, making it the first instance for an Akshay Kumar starrer since BookMyShow started hourly trend. The film clocked peak hour at 32.65K tickets, which indicates a strong day at the domestic box office. The horror-comedy genre, which has seen renewed popularity in recent years, seems to be working in favour of Bhooth Bangla. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film’s mix of spooky thrills and comedic timing has struck a chord with audiences, particularly families looking for a light-hearted theatrical experience. With the weekend momentum still strong, all eyes are now on whether Bhooth Bangla can maintain its pace beyond the weekend.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, April 19 - Following the ground-breaking success of Mahavatar Narsimha last year, Hombale Films, in association with Kaleem Productions, has intensified excitement around its ambitious animated Mahavatar Cinematic Universe by unveiling the first poster of Mahavatar Parshuram, with release confirmed for December 2027. The first look poster, timed around Parshuram Jayanti, has instantly grabbed attention for its intense and larger-than-life presentation. The poster delivers a striking visual of Parshuram, showcasing him in the midst of a brutal battlefield. With a blood-soaked axe (parshu) in hand and warriors scattered in the background, the imagery emphasises the avatar's fierce persona and his role as a warrior sage. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The tagline, When Dharma Falls, The Parshu Rises, sets the tone for a story rooted in vengeance, justice, and divine duty. Known as the warrior sage, Parshuram's story is rooted in themes of justice, rage, and righteousness, and the film promises to bring this powerful narrative to life on a grand cinematic scale with cutting-edge visuals. Mahavatar Parshuram serves as the second instalment in the Mahavatar Cinematic Universe, a long-term franchise planned by Hombale Films that explores the different avatars of Vishnu. The universe kicked off with Mahavatar Narsimha in 2025, followed by Parshuram's story, with multiple films already mapped out for the coming decade. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Akshay Kumar is finally back in the zone where fans love him the most in. The much-anticipated horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla has hit the screens, and the opening day numbers suggest that the audience was ready for this spooky ride. After building a massive buzz through its promos, the film has managed to post a solid total on the board, especially considering it is part of a genre that relies heavily on family footfalls and evening shows. The journey for Bhooth Bangla actually began a day earlier with paid previews on Thursday, which we can call Day 0. These limited screenings performed exceptionally well, recording an occupancy of 30 percent across 2,485 shows and bringing in 3.75 crore net. This early momentum set the stage for the big Friday release. On its official opening day, the film saw a massive expansion in its reach, playing across 12,386 shows nationwide. This wide release helped the film collect 12.25 crore net on Friday, bringing the total Indian net collection to 16 crore. If we dive deeper into the collection analysis, the gross figures tell an even more impressive story. The India gross collection stands at 19.20 crore. When we add the overseas performance to the mix, the film has already crossed a significant milestone. In international markets, Bhooth Bangla grossed 9.50 crore, pushing the total worldwide gross collection to a healthy 28.70 crore in just its opening window. Markets like Australia and New Zealand showed promising advance trends, with Australia contributing A$15.5K on the first day alone. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking deeper into the international front, the momentum seems likely to hold through the weekend based on the advance booking trends. While Australia opened with a strong A$15.5K on the first day, the bookings for Saturday and Sunday are already showing a stable trend at A$8.5K and A$2.5K, respectively. In New Zealand, the film has maintained a very consistent pace with NZ$1.5K on both the first and second days. This steady performance in the Oceanic region shows that the NRI diaspora is engaging with the content, providing a necessary cushion to the global box office collections as the film heads into the crucial Saturday and Sunday growth period. The performance in major Indian circuits has been quite interesting. While the overall occupancy on Friday was around 19 percent, the sheer volume of shows ensured the numbers kept ticking. Delhi-NCR led the show count with 1,076 screenings, followed by Mumbai with 613 shows. One of the highlights of the opening has been the performance in Bengaluru. The city has been a major contributor, especially during the paid previews where it alone grossed 35 lakh, proving once again that horror-comedies have a loyal fan base in the urban centres. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Beyond the top metros, the film is finding a solid footing in other major hubs across the country. Ahmedabad and Pune have shown promising numbers with 491 and 364 shows respectively, suggesting that the mass pockets are warming up to the horror-comedy theme. In the South, apart from the Bengaluru stronghold, Hyderabad recorded 256 shows by midday, indicating a decent spread even in non-traditional territories for a pure Hindi comedy. Even in the East, Kolkata is holding steady with 248 shows, followed by Lucknow with 201 shows, ensuring the Hindi heartland remains a key contributor to the overall tally. What is particularly interesting is how the show count surged as the day progressed, reflecting a positive trend in real-time demand. By 9 am, Delhi-NCR had 1043 shows, which jumped to 1076 by noon. Similarly, Mumbai saw a significant climb from 483 shows in the morning to 613 by 12 pm. This rapid expansion in the show count within just a few hours indicates that exhibitors were quick to add more screenings as the initial morning response and walk-in crowds trickled in, which is always a healthy sign for a big-budget star vehicle. Ticket sales on online platforms have been reflecting this positive trend as well. On BookMyShow, the film recorded 169.87K tickets through pre-sales, while Friday saw another 260.52K tickets being sold. This brings the total ticket count on the portal to over 4.30 lakh. With the weekend now in full swing, the trade expects a significant jump on Saturday and Sunday, as the family audience usually steps out in large numbers for this genre. If the word of mouth remains steady, Akshay Kumar might just have another winner in his favorite playground.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Kochi, April 18 - The Malayalam blockbuster Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Bros continues its sensational theatrical run, despite the arrival of new releases, and achieved a historic milestone at the Kerala box office. The coming-of-age comedy drama, headlined by Hashir, has become the fastest film to enter the 100 crore club in Kerala, setting a new benchmark in the industry. The film crossed the 100 crore mark in just 16 days, surpassing previous record holders like Thudarum and Lokah Chapter One: Chandra. This achievement makes it only the third Malayalam film ever to hit the coveted 100 crore mark in Kerala, further highlighting its massive popularity, despite being a non-starrer. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film had already shown extraordinary momentum in its opening weeks. It wrapped up its extended first week with around 57 crore and continued its strong hold in the second week, reaching 99.65 crore by Day 15 before comfortably crossing the milestone soon after. The consistent collections indicate excellent word-of-mouth and repeat value among audiences. What makes this success even more remarkable is the film's relatively fresh cast and content-driven appeal. With engaging storytelling, Vaazha 2 has managed to attract both youth and family audiences, turning it into a full-fledged blockbuster. The film had also crossed 100 crore worldwide within just a week of release, and is now nearing the 200 crores club. It has crossed the 190 crores mark by the 16th day. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) 100 Crore Grossers In Kerala S. No. Movie Kerala Gross 1 Lokah Chapter 1 ₹ 120.85 Cr 2 Thudarum ₹ 118.90 Cr 3 Vaazha ₹ 103+ Cr As of April 17, 2026 With this record-breaking feat, Vaazha 2 is now eyeing bigger milestones and could potentially challenge the all-time Kerala box office records in the coming weeks, cementing its place as one of the biggest Malayalam hits of all time.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Ranveer Singh has achieved what very few stars in the Indian film industry can claim—sustained dominance even in its fifth week of release. Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has officially entered its 31st day, and far from slowing down, the film is witnessing a noticeable spike in momentum. After holding steady through the weekdays, the Saturday numbers suggest that the Ranveer Singh-starrer is heading for a strong weekend revival, proving that the content has truly resonated with the long-term audience. The real-time tracking on BookMyShow provides the most accurate picture of this Saturday surge. During the 11 am to 12 pm window today, the film sold 5,940 tickets, a massive jump from the 3,400 tickets sold during the same slot yesterday. This momentum accelerated further in the next hour, peaking at 6,380 tickets between 12 pm and 1 pm. In total, the cumulative ticket sales from 8 am to 1 pm stand at approximately 23,380, which is a staggering 68 percent higher than the 13,900 tickets sold during the same period on Friday. This nearly 70 percent surge in morning velocity is a clear indicator of a massive weekend jump on the cards. The occupancy levels are also telling a very positive story for the fifth Saturday. The morning show occupancy today was recorded at 18.14 percent, which is a massive jump compared to the 7.83 percent recorded during the same period yesterday. This doubling of the morning occupancy rate is a clear indicator of the film's incredible legs at the box office. In the national cinema chains—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—the film has already sold approximately 25,000 tickets for the day. While the show count has naturally been reduced to 1,569 screenings to accommodate newer releases, the film is making the most of its limited footprint by recording significantly higher per-show collections and better filling rates across premium venues. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the overall standings, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge concluded its 30th day with an India net total of 1,105.82 crore. The film has been a global phenomenon, with the worldwide gross collection currently standing at a mammoth 1,742.23 crore. Even on its fifth Friday, it managed to pull in 2.70 crore net, showing minimal fatigue. The overseas market has also remained a steady contributor, adding 0.85 crore on Friday to take the total international gross to 418.50 crore. These numbers place the film in the elite bracket of all-time Indian blockbusters. The target of 4.50 crore net is not just about a standard weekend jump; it is about chasing box office history. To understand the magnitude of this performance, let's look at the elite list of movies that currently hold the records for the highest 5th Saturday net collections in Hindi cinema history: Dhurandhar: ₹11.75 Cr Chaava: ₹7.25 Cr Stree 2: ₹5.40 Cr Mahavatar Narsimha: ₹5.00 Cr Uri: The Surgical Strike: ₹4.70 Cr Taking a closer look at the projections for Day 31, the film is heading for a significant leap in its daily collections. If we analyze the current trajectory using the 70 percent surge in morning ticket sales and the improved occupancy, a Saturday India net in the range of 4.25 to 4.50 crore seems highly likely. This would represent a growth of over 60 percent from Friday's 2.70 crore net. If the evening shows continue this momentum, the actuals could even push toward the 5 crore mark, which would be an extraordinary feat for a film in its fifth weekend. Ranveer Singh is officially steering this revenge saga toward a historical lifetime finish. With Dhurandhar 2 currently trending toward the 4.50 crore mark, it is knocking on the doors of the top 5 prestigious list. If the evening shows witness an even stronger push than the current 70 percent surge suggests, Ranveer Singh might just dethrone Uri to claim a spot among the top five highest 5th Saturday earners of all time, further cementing the film's status as a legendary blockbuster with unprecedented legs.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Akshay Kumar has once again proven that the horror-comedy genre is his strongest playground. After a solid opening on Friday, his latest release Bhooth Bangla has witnessed a massive surge on its second day, showing the kind of growth that usually indicates a long theatrical run. The Saturday morning momentum suggests that the family audience has fully embraced this spooky ride, leading to a significant jump in ticket velocity across all major online platforms and national theater chains. When we look at the real-time data from BookMyShow, the trend is nothing short of exceptional. During the crucial 11 am to 12 pm window today, the film sold nearly 22,000 tickets, which is a massive leap compared to the 13,000 tickets sold during the same period yesterday. This represents a growth of over 60 percent in hourly momentum. If we look at the cumulative morning trend from 7 am to noon, the film has already crossed 62,000 tickets today, while yesterday the figure stood at around 38,000. This early morning traction is a clear sign that the film is not just holding its ground but is expanding its reach into the mass pockets. The peak performance on Saturday was recorded between 12 pm and 1 pm, where the hourly booking touched a high of 24,000 tickets. This rapid acceleration has pushed the total tickets booked on BookMyShow past the 500,000 mark. The buzz surrounding the film's ensemble cast and the direction by Priyadarshan is clearly working in its favor. While the morning occupancy on Friday was around 10.02% percent, it has jumped to nearly 14 percent today. This improvement in morning show occupancy is a strong lead indicator for how the evening and night shows will perform, especially with the weekend crowd stepping out. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In the national theater chains—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—the growth story remains solid. After recording 76,000 ticket sales on its opening day including previews, the film has moved up to 85,000 tickets on Saturday. Interestingly, when we compare this to the trend of Akshay Kumar's previous hit Jolly LLB, the dynamics are quite different. While Jolly LLB saw an explosive jump from 40,000 to 81,000 tickets, doubling its numbers, Bhooth Bangla is operating on a much larger base. Even though it doesn't have the same percentage leap as the courtroom drama, it has managed to sustain its high opening momentum and still grow, ultimately edging past the Saturday numbers of Jolly LLB. This indicates that while the former relied on word-of-mouth for a big Day 2 surge, Bhooth Bangla started as a big-ticket event and is managing to build further on that massive volume. Taking a closer look at the projections for Day 2, the film is heading for a very healthy jump. If we analyze the trajectory using a standard box office multiplier, a 40 to 50 percent growth from Friday's 12.25 crore net seems highly likely. This would put the Saturday India net collections in the range of 17 to 19 crore.. Given that the morning shows are already outperforming the opening day by such a wide margin, it won't be a surprise if the actuals lean toward the higher side of this prediction. Akshay Kumar's horror-comedy is officially on track to deliver a massive opening weekend, resetting the box office dynamics for his upcoming slate.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Superstar Rajinikanth is currently in a league of his own where he keeps resetting the benchmarks he once created. In a massive development that has sent ripples through the South Indian film industry, the digital rights for his upcoming mega-sequel Jailer 2 have been sold for a record-breaking price. According to an exclusive report by Lets Cinema, Amazon Prime Video has secured the post-theatrical streaming rights of this Sun Pictures production for a staggering 160 crore. This deal is not just a high point for Rajinikanth but stands as the biggest digital rights acquisition in the history of Tamil cinema. To understand the sheer magnitude of this deal, one has to look at how the market for the Superstar has exploded in just three years. Back in 2023, the original Jailer was picked up by the same platform for approximately 75 crore. Fast forward to his collaboration with Lokesh Kanagaraj for Coolie, the number jumped to 120 crore. Now, with Jailer 2, the value has touched 160 crore, marking a massive 113 percent growth from the first installment's digital price. This suggests that streaming giants now view the Jailer franchise as a goldmine that transcends regional boundaries, especially after the first part grossed over 600 crore worldwide. Jailer 2 has now officially pushed the boundaries of the Tamil film market, sitting comfortably at the top with its massive 160 crore deal. It has comfortably surpassed the previous records held by Thalapathy Vijay's Leo and Rajinikanth's own upcoming film Coolie, both of which were valued at approximately 120 crore. This shift also highlights the intense competition between streaming giants, as Amazon Prime Video reclaimed the crown from Netflix, which had previously made headlines with high-profile acquisitions like Leo and Kamal Haasan's Thug Life, the latter being pegged at around 110 crore. The jump is even more poetic when compared to the first installment of Jailer, which was picked up for a relatively modest 75 crore just two years ago, proving that the brand value of the Superstar is on an unprecedented upward trajectory. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The premium price tag comes from the fact that Sun Pictures is bringing back the entire winning combination that made the 2023 blockbuster a cultural phenomenon. Nelson Dilipkumar returns to the director's chair to expand the world of Tiger Muthuvel Pandian, while Anirudh Ravichander is set to compose the score. The cast is equally formidable, with Ramya Krishnan, Yogi Babu, and Vinayakan reprising their roles. Adding more fuel to the fire is the inclusion of S. J. Suryah in a pivotal role, along with the confirmed return of Mohanlal as Mathew and Shiva Rajkumar as Narasimha. While the financial side of the film is looking rock solid, there is a slight shift regarding its arrival on the big screen. Initially, there were reports suggesting a June 12 release, but the latest industry buzz indicates that the makers are now eyeing the Independence Day corridor in 2026. With principal photography having wrapped in April, Nelson is reportedly spending more time on the post-production and action recalibration to ensure the sequel matches the sky-high expectations. Releasing around August 13 or 14 would allow Jailer 2 to capitalize on the same holiday window that the original conquered so effortlessly. For Sun Pictures, this 160 crore deal is just one part of the recovery puzzle. With Tamil satellite rights expected to stay with Sun TV and separate packaging for Hindi and international dubbed rights, the film is likely to be in the profit zone before the first show even begins. It is clear that the ceiling for Tamil OTT deals has been permanently shattered, and as of now, the Superstar remains the undisputed king of the digital landscape.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumabi, April 18 - A minor social media activity involving cricket legend Virat Kohli recently turned into a viral sensation after fans noticed that he had liked — and later unliked — an Instagram post of German influencer LizLaz. While the like disappeared quickly, screenshots had already spread across platforms, sparking widespread discussion and a flood of memes. The curiosity around the incident grew because Kohli does not follow LizLaz, and the interaction reportedly took place on an older post. As social media users dissected every detail, the moment quickly escalated beyond a simple "like," becoming one of the most talked-about online topics. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Breaking her silence, LizLaz responded with a calm and balanced perspective. She revealed that she was unaware of the like initially and only found out after receiving numerous messages. While she admitted feeling happy at first, she later said she felt "a bit sorry" for Kohli as the situation snowballed into an unnecessary controversy. "No, I felt a bit sorry for him, actually! I was so happy that he liked it, but then him unliking it, I felt a bit bad for him because I don't even know how it became such a big story. How did people notice, how did they make it news... that was probably not his intention behind it, but still I am grateful for it, and I appreciate the support from him", LizLaz said (via Hindustan Times). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Interestingly, LizLaz is also a fan of Kohli and follows the Indian Premier League (IPL), particularly supporting the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. She has previously described Kohli as one of the most exciting players to watch, making the viral moment feel more like an unexpected fan interaction than anything serious. Funnily, Virat Kohli was in a similar situation last year, also when he accidentally liked one of the pictures of actress Avneet Kaur, and he later issued a clarification stating that it was non-intentional and happened due to the algorithm of Instagram. Ultimately, the episode highlights how even the smallest actions of global celebrities can become amplified in the digital age. Despite the noise, LizLaz’s composed reaction helped keep the situation light, turning what could have been a controversy into a fleeting and largely harmless viral moment. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) View this post on Instagram A post shared by LizLaz (@lizlaz_tv)

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, April 18 - Ranveer Singh-fronted Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has climbed one more milestone at the global box office. The blockbuster has now surpassed the lifetime worldwide box office of Pushpa 2: The Rule to emerge as the third-highest-grossing Indian film of all time. It is produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Aditya Dhar and Lokesh Dhar under the banners of Jio Studios and B62 Studios. After a phenomenal theatrical run spanning weeks, Dhurandhar 2's worldwide gross has climbed to 1,742+ crore, overtaking Pushpa 2, which concluded its run at around 1,742 crore. The achievement comes on the back of sustained momentum in both domestic and overseas markets, after the monstrous opening week. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Strong Hold Across Markets The film has performed exceptionally well in India, where it has already crossed the 1,100 crore net mark, making it the highest-grossing Bollywood film in the country. Internationally too, Dhurandhar 2 has delivered outstanding numbers, contributing around 420 crores to the overall total. What makes this run even more remarkable is the film's consistency. Even in its later weeks, it has managed to draw audiences to theatres, aided by positive word-of-mouth and repeat viewership. With this milestone, Dhurandhar 2 now stands behind only two films in the all-time global rankings (including all markets). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top Indian Grossers Worldwide Without Gulf & China S. No. Movie Total Worldwide Gross 1 Dangal ₹ 2070 Cr 2 Baahubali 2 ₹ 1788 Cr 3 Dhurandhar 2 ₹ 1742+ Cr 4 Pushpa 2 ₹ 1742 Cr As of April 17, 2026. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A Landmark Moment For Bollywood The success of Dhurandhar 2 is being seen as a significant boost for Bollywood on the global stage. Not only has it outperformed several big-ticket releases, but it has also proven the massive overseas potential of Hindi cinema without depending heavily on select international territories. In fact, it is the highest-grossing Indian film overseas, if excluding China. The film's scale, mass appeal, conviction to tell the original story, and star power have all contributed to its historic run, with Ranveer Singh delivering one of the biggest successes of his career. While Dangal remains far ahead at the top, the next immediate target for Dhurandhar 2 is Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. With a gap of around 45 crore, the film still has an outside chance of climbing to the second position, depending on how long it can sustain its run in theatres. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Highlight of Dhurandhar 2's Box Office Run - The first film ever to cross 1000 crore net in a single language in India - The highest-grossing Indian film of all time without China. - Places Dhurandhar among the biggest global film brands from India - Only Indian film series to have two titles in the 1000 crores club - Highest-grossing Indian film overseas without China. - The first Indian film series to cross 3000 crores worldwide (Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar 2).