BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, January 12 - James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash continues its dominant run at the global box office, topping the $1.23 billion mark through the 4th weekend. The sci-fi spectacle has once again proven the unmatched big screen appeal of the Avatar franchise, emerging as one of the biggest global releases of 2025. In North America, the third instalment in the Avatar franchise continues to put up good hold, hitting $343 million so far. While the numbers are lower than The Way of Water, the sustained weekend holds underline solid audience interest and premium format demand across the US and Canada. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) International markets have driven the film's big global total, with overseas collections now standing at $888 million. China remains the largest market outside North America, with $150 million, followed by France ($91.7 million) and Germany ($73.7 million). In India, Avatar 3 has performed steadily despite strong competition from local releases. The film has already grossed around 225 crore ($25 million) by the end of its 4th weekend, making it the 10th biggest international market for the film. It is heading towards finishing around 250 crores in India as one of the biggest Hollywood grossers in the country. Avatar 3 is projected to finish its run with $420+ million at the domestic box office, and $1.5+ billion globally. The previous two Avatar movies went on to top $2 billion globally, and even though the third film is unlikely to breach that milestone, it is still a mega hit for Disney. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK TEAM

Prabhas' latest release, The Raja Saab, crossed the ₹100 Crore India Net milestone over its first weekend, but the numbers highlight a concerning trajectory for the high-budget project. While the film collected a total India Net of ₹108.00 Cr (₹129.20 Cr Gross) in three days, the performance was heavily front-loaded and driven primarily by the opening day rush. The daily collection reports indicate a steady downward trend, suggesting that the film is struggling to sustain momentum beyond its core fanbase. The Telugu version remains the primary engine for the film's success, contributing a massive ₹91 Cr to the total India Net. After a solid Day 0 (Premiere) showing of ₹9.15 Cr, the film witnessed a thunderous Day 1 with ₹47 Cr. However, the subsequent days saw a sharp decline; collections dropped to ₹20.65 Cr on Day 2 and further slid to ₹14.2 Cr on Day 3 (Sunday). The absence of a Sunday jump in the home territory is a notable concern, indicating that the film is struggling to find momentum beyond the core fanbase. In the Hindi market, The Raja Saab recorded a total weekend net of ₹15.75 Cr. The film started with ₹6 Cr on Friday, followed by ₹5.1 Cr on Saturday, and concluded the weekend with ₹4.65 Cr on Sunday. Similar to the Telugu version, the Hindi market failed to show any growth on the weekend's final day, signaling that the horror-comedy genre might not be resonating as strongly with the North audience as his previous action spectacles. Meanwhile, the film faced significant challenges in other regional markets, with Tamil (₹0.85 Cr), Kannada (₹0.23 Cr), and Malayalam (₹0.17 Cr) contributing less than 2% to the total domestic net. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   On the global stage, The Raja Saab managed a Worldwide Gross of ₹161.00 Cr in its first three days. The overseas market contributed a steady ₹31.80 Cr ($3.8M approx), which helped bolster the total gross. While these numbers are statistically high, they remain slightly behind the opening weekend benchmarks set by Prabhas' previous blockbusters like Kalki 2898 AD or Salaar, largely due to the film's niche genre and the mixed reception from general audiences. Looking ahead, The Raja Saab faces a steep climb to justify its massive reported budget of ₹300–400 Crores. While reaching the ₹100 Crore India Net milestone is a feat reserved for elite superstars, the persistent downward trend and the absence of a typical Sunday surge have significantly dampened the initial hype. When measured against the astronomical benchmarks set by Prabhas' previous blockbusters like Kalki 2898 AD and Salaar, this performance appears muted, suggesting that the horror-comedy concept has struggled to achieve the event film status required for such high stakes. Ultimately, the film's commercial survival now hinges entirely on its weekday sustainability; unless it stabilizes immediately, it faces an uphill battle to recover its heavy investment.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, January 12 - Yash Raj Films has unveiled the trailer of Rani Mukerji-fronted Mardaani 3, and it looks like another winner from the successful franchise. The actress, who completes 30 years in cinema, returns to play the character of a daredevil cop Shivani Shivaji Roy in this dark, deadly and brutal tale. Mardaani 3 presents a bloody and violent face-off between good and evil, as Shivani embarks on an extraordinary race against time to rescue missing girls across the country. The trailer is intense and once again promises an uncompromising take on the issue, where 93 girls go missing in 3 months, as Shivani faces off against Amma, played by Mallika Prasad. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra, Mardaani 3 is scheduled to release on January 30, 2026, after it was preponed from February 27. The movie also stars Janki Bodiwala in a key role alongside the lead cast. Mardaani is the biggest solo female-led franchise in Hindi cinema that has garnered love and acclaim for over 10 years now. While Mardaani (first film) tackled the grim realities of human trafficking, Mardaani 2 explored the chilling mind of a psychotic serial rapist who dared to challenge the system. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK TEAM

Director Anil Ravipudi has maintained a flawless track record with his latest release, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu (MSVPG). This marks his 9th consecutive box office success since his debut, a rare milestone in the Indian film industry. By delivering nine hits in a row without a single failure, Ravipudi has established a level of consistency that remains unmatched by his contemporary filmmakers. Anil Ravipudi's journey began with the high-energy action-comedy Pataas (2015), which immediately established his knack for commercial success, collecting approximately ₹15.5 Cr India Net and earning a Super Hit verdict. He maintained this momentum with Supreme (2016), which garnered ₹25 Cr India Net, followed by the innovative blind-action thriller Raja The Great (2017). The latter amassed ₹31.10 Cr India Net (₹52 Cr Worldwide Gross), marking his superhit and proving his ability to handle unique concepts within the commercial format. The director reached a new echelon of stardom with the 2019 comedy riot F2: Fun and Frustration. The film became a Blockbuster, collecting a staggering ₹98.5 Cr India Net and crossing the ₹137 Cr mark globally. This phenomenal success paved the way for his collaboration with Mahesh Babu in Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020). Releasing during the Sankranthi window, the film dominated the box office with ₹169.55 Cr India Net and a massive ₹221 Cr Worldwide Gross, solidifying Ravipudi's reputation as the Sankranthi Specialist. Even with the challenges of the post-pandemic market, Ravipudi's 100% Success Rate remained intact. He delivered F3: Fun and Frustration (2022), which earned ₹67.34 Cr India Net (₹90 Cr Worldwide Gross), followed by the career-defining Bhagavanth Kesari (2023). Starring Nandamuri Balakrishna, this film not only collected ₹84.78 Cr India Net (₹114.5 Cr Worldwide Gross) but also won the National Film Award for Best Telugu Film, elevating Ravipudi from a commercial filmmaker to a critically acclaimed director. The streak continued into 2025 with Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, a Blockbuster that collected over ₹ 186.97 Cr India Net and ₹255.48 Cr Worldwide Gross. Now, Ravipudi has reached the pinnacle of his career by directing Megastar Chiranjeevi in Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu (MSVPG). With premiere grosses already touching ₹9.02 Cr and worldwide Day 1 pre-sales exceeding ₹35 Cr, this film is not just another project; it is a monumental spectacle that cements his 9-0 success streak and delivers one of the biggest box office starts in the Megastar's storied career (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   The highly anticipated collaboration between the industry's Hit Machine, Anil Ravipudi, and the Megastar, Chiranjeevi, has ignited the box office with an explosive start. Following a series of extensive premiere shows held yesterday, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu (MSVPG) delivered a massive statement, raking in a total premiere gross of ₹9.02 Crores. This thunderous opening is backed by overwhelmingly positive feedback from early audiences, setting a powerful tone for the film's theatrical journey. Diving into the territory-wise breakdown, the film's dominance in the Telugu states was absolute, where it amassed a combined ₹7.86 Crores. The Nizam region contributed a solid ₹2.58 Crores from just 201 shows, while Andhra Pradesh led the charge with a massive ₹5.28 Crores across 459 shows. Beyond its home turf, the film also made a significant mark in Karnataka, adding ₹1.16 Crores to the total gross. The premiere occupancy, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, was exceptionally high as fans throned theaters in record numbers to witness Chiranjeevi in a character that pays a grand, nostalgic homage to his legendary real-life name. Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu is looking at a monumental Day 1. The film has already recorded ₹35 Crore+ Gross in worldwide pre-sales (including premiere shows). With the Sankranthi festive fever kicking in and the positive word-of-mouth from premieres, the Day 1 global gross is estimated to touch the ₹65–70 Crore mark. If these numbers hold, it will rank among the biggest opening days in the Megastar's legendary career, firmly placing it alongside his elite list of high-grossing blockbusters The data suggests that the Boss is Back in his most powerful form. By combining Anil Ravipudi's knack for family-friendly commercial beats with Chiranjeevi's unmatched charisma, MSVPG has secured its status as a winner on Day 1 itself. For Anil Ravipudi, this isn't just another hit; it is the 9th jewel in his crown, proving that he truly is The Man with the Midas touch in Telugu cinema.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, January 12 - Megastar Chiranjeevi teamed up with director Anil Ravipudi for the first time for a comedy entertainer Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu. The film has been building steady buzz, leading to its premiere, where it scored one of the biggest premiere grosses for an Indian film. The buzz for the movie is palpable, which led to big pre-release business worldwide. According to the trade report, the film managed to fetch 105 crore pre-release business in the Telugu states, including 55 crore in Andhra Pradesh and around 50 crores in Telangana. The overall worldwide pre-release theatrical business of the film is in the range of 120 crores, which means the film will need around 225 crores worldwide to break even. This is said to be a reasonable business given how Chiranjeevi's last few films have performed at the box office. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) MSVPG will score 1/4 of its total business on its opening day itself, and with positive word of mouth, it can easily recover this over the Sankranthi holiday period and emerge as a clean hit. There is, however, intense competition, especially in Telugu states, with multiple films hitting the big screens at the same time. Sankranthi has been a lucrative period for Telugu movies at the box office, and more often than not, multiple films get released during this period. This year, Prabhas' The Raja Saab (January 9), along with Ravi Teja's Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi (January 13), and family entertainer Anaganaga Oka Raju (January 14), are scheduled. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK TEAM

Prabhas's latest release, The Raja Saab, has officially entered the list of Telugu films achieving a ₹100 crore+ worldwide gross on Day 1. This marks the sixth time a film headlined by Prabhas has reached this milestone, a record for any Indian actor. According to current data, the film ranks 10th among the highest-opening Telugu films of all time, joining the ranks of major releases such as Pushpa 2 and RRR. Leading the pack of these elite openers is Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2: The Rule, which remains an untouchable phenomenon. The film scripted history by grossing ₹ 275.20 crore worldwide on its opening day, the highest ever for an Indian film. Beyond its opening, Pushpa 2 became an all-time blockbuster, crossing the ₹1000 crore mark in a record 7 days. Its Hindi version alone rewrote the record books, surpassing Baahubali 2 to become the highest-grossing Hindi film ever. Following closely is S.S. Rajamouli’s global sensation RRR, which opened to ₹223 crore worldwide. Beyond its ₹1,200+ crore lifetime gross, the film achieved significant cultural impact, culminating in an Academy Award for the song Naatu Naatu. Prabhas's own filmography dominates the remainder of this high-achiever list. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion remains the ultimate benchmark for Indian cinema, having opened to ₹217 crore and becoming the first film to cross ₹1,000 crore in net collections within India. His more recent outings, Kalki 2898 AD and Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire, also posted historic opening day figures of ₹177 crore and ₹158 crore respectively. While Kalki drew praise for its futuristic vision and ₹1042 crore lifetime gross, Salaar was lauded for its raw action and strong performance in mass circuits, particularly in the Telugu states. The list also features high-octane releases from other Telugu titans. OG (They Call Him OG), starring Pawan Kalyan, delivered a staggering ₹144 crore worldwide opening, proving the actor's immense drawing power despite a limited promotional window. Jr NTR's Devara: Part 1 also made a significant mark with a ₹142 crore global start, performing exceptionally well in international markets like Japan. Even films that faced critical hurdles, such as Adipurush and Saaho, showcased the sheer pull of a Telugu star on Day 1, with both crossing the ₹100 crore gross mark globally before their trajectories were affected by mixed word-of-mouth. Telugu Stars Films With 100 Cr+ Opening (Worldwide Gross) MOVIE NAME WW OPENING COLLECTION LEAD ACTOR Pushpa 2: The Rule ₹ 275.20 Cr Allu Arjun RRR ₹ 223.00 Cr NTR, Ram Charan Baahubali 2: The Conclusion ₹ 217.00 Cr Prabhas Kalki 2898 AD ₹ 177.70 Cr Prabhas Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire ₹ 158.10 Cr Prabhas They Call Him OG (OG) ₹ 144.00 Cr Pawan Kalyan Devara: Part 1 ₹ 142.00 Cr NTR Saaho ₹ 130.00 Cr Prabhas Adipurush ₹ 127.50 Cr Prabhas The Raja Saab ₹ 100.60 Cr* Prabhas As The Raja Saab continues its theatrical run, its position among these giants highlights the evolving taste of the Indian audience, who are increasingly drawn to high-concept, pan-Indian spectacles. While its final lifetime standing remains to be seen, the film has already succeeded in its primary mission: proving that when it comes to massive theatrical openings, the Prabhas Brand remains one of the most reliable forces in the global film market.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

In an era where most big-budget films struggle to survive past their third week, Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar is defying all logic. As the film sails through its sixth week with rock-solid momentum, Jio Studios has announced a strategic Tuesday Special offer, making tickets available at a flat rate of ₹149. Don’t lose kentrol! It’s true, so don’t forget to grab this offer! 🙌🔥Book your tickets.🔗 - https://t.co/imeGQ5vWYO#Dhurandhar Ruling Cinemas Worldwide.@RanveerOfficial #AkshayeKhanna @duttsanjay @ActorMadhavan @rampalarjun #SaraArjun @bolbedibol @AdityaDharFilms… pic.twitter.com/dLn1kcASSw— Jio Studios (@jiostudios) January 12, 2026 This move is designed to further fuel the fire that has been burning at the box office since December. By making the film more accessible in its 40th day, the makers are targeting repeat audiences and family crowds who have been waiting for the hype to settle. What makes this offer even more interesting is the data behind the film's Tuesday performance, which reveals a legendary long-run stamina. When analyzing the Hindi Net collections of the year's top grossers, Dhurandhar (currently at #4 globally) and Pushpa 2: The Rule (currently at #3) present a fascinating case study. While Pushpa 2 had a massive, record-breaking start, Dhurandhar took over the lead in terms of theatrical legs starting from the second week. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   Specifically on Tuesdays, Dhurandhar showed a rare growth in its second week (₹30.5 Cr) compared to its first (₹27 Cr). By the time both films reached their fifth Tuesday, Dhurandhar was collecting ₹4.75 Cr, which is significantly higher than Pushpa 2's ₹1.5 Cr in the same period. This highlights that while Pushpa 2 was front-loaded, Dhurandhar is a genuine sleeper juggernaut. Tuesday Hindi Net Comparison: Dhurandhar vs. Pushpa 2WEEKDHURANDHAR (HINDI NET)PUSHPA 2 (HINDI NET)1st Tuesday₹ 27.00 Cr₹ 36.00 Cr2nd Tuesday₹ 30.50 Cr₹ 18.50 Cr3rd Tuesday₹ 17.25 Cr₹ 11.50 Cr4th Tuesday₹ 11.25 Cr₹ 6.25 Cr5th Tuesday₹ 4.75 Cr₹ 1.50 Cr Currently, Dhurandhar stands as the 4th Highest-Grossing Indian Film worldwide, trailing only behind Dangal, Baahubali 2, and Pushpa 2: The Rule. While Pushpa 2 maintains its lead in total worldwide gross, the gap in daily Hindi collections during the later weeks is closing rapidly. The ₹149 offer is expected to give Dhurandhar a significant boost on its 6th Tuesday (Day 40). If the film manages to hold steady, it will set a new benchmark for how long a solo Hindi release can dominate the market. For fans of the spy-thriller, the message from the makers is clear: Don't lose kentrol, because this box office fire shows no signs of going out.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, January 12 - Megastar Chiranjeevi is back with big openings and seems to be the winner of this Sankranthi festival as his action comedy Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu off to an excellent start at the worldwide box office after the record paid premeires collection in India and North America. MSVPG had a double-digit premiere gross, which started after 5 PM on Sunday in India, with approximately 10.30 crores, including around 8.75 crores gross in Telugu states and 1.35 crores in Karnataka. The move to hold early shows seems to have paid off, as initial word of mouth is positive, which is clearly reflected in its day 1 trend. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) At the North American box office, the Anil Ravipudi's directorial had a stunning premiere gross of $1.5+ million (13.50+ crores) for the worldwide total of around 24 crores, which is easily a record among veteran Indian actors. Earlier, Balakrishna's Akhanda 2 scored over 15 crores gross in premieres last month. Mana Shankara is heading towards 65+ crores worldwide opening day, including premieres, which will be Chiranjeevi's second biggest opening ever after Sye Raa Narsimha Reddy's 85 crores global start in 2019. This is despite the intense competition at the moment with multiple Telugu releases. The worldwide break-even target for the film is around 225 crores gross, and looking at the opening and audience reception, it seems like the film will easily achieve the target and become a big box office winner this Sankranthi festival. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK TEAM

Chennai, January 12 - The makers of Thalapathy Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan have approached the Supreme Court after the film's release was stalled due to a delay in obtaining its censor certificate. The political actioner, widely touted as the actor's swan song before his full-time political entry, has been caught in a legal tussle after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) withheld certification following objections that led to a revising committee review. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Earlier, the Madras High Court had directed the CBFC to grant the film a U/A certificate, a move that briefly cleared the path for release. However, the relief was short-lived as the CBFC challenged the order, which subsequently stayed the High Court's single judge directive. With the stay in place, the makers were left with no option but to move the apex court, seeking an urgent hearing to resolve the impasse. As a result, Jana Nayagan, which was expected to hit screens during the lucrative Pongal window on January 9, now faces an indefinite delay. The situation has caused disappointment among fans, given the emotional significance of the film as Vijay's final cinematic outing, and has also sparked wider debate around certification delays and their impact on big-ticket releases. Directed by H Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions, Jana Nayagan is the remake of the Telugu film Bhagwanth Kesari. It also stars Poorja Hegde, Bobby Deol (Tamil debut), and Mamitha Baiju, among many others, in key roles. As the film's future continues to remain uncertain, all eyes are now on the Supreme Court's directive. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, January 12 - The romantic horror comedy The Raja Saab is heading towards a rare failure for Pan India superstar Prabhas at the Hindi box office after the film dropped further on day 3. There seems to be no way for the movie to rebound, given the mixed to negative word of mouth and strong competition from the holdovers. The Raja Saab had an underwhelming opening with approximately 6 crore net. This was only the second film of Prabhas to score below 10 crore net opening day in Hindi since the Covid pandemic. The movie needed big growth on Saturday and Sunday to cover the lost ground, but things got even worse as it dropped further. The first Pan India biggie of the year scored around 5 crore net on Saturday, followed by around 4.65 crores on Sunday, for the cumulative opening weekend of 15.75 crores net, which is disappointing for a movie featuring Prabhas. Ideally, it should have scored at least 30+ crores net opening weekend, but all it could manage was only half of it, due to poor planning and word of mouth. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The Raja Saab will struggle to touch even 50 crores net, and it will most likely fall below this mark. It will be the second-lowest-grossing film for Prabhas in Hindi since he scored breakout success with his first Pan India blockbuster, Baahubali (2015). The lowest Hindi grosser for the actor is Radhe Shyam, which minted just over 20 crore net in 2022. Not only in Hindi, but The Raja Saab is also struggling in the overall scenario. After taking the opening of 100 crore net, the film has dropped heavily over the weekend to score just around 60 crores gross in the next 2 days. The Sankranthi holiday period is expected to bring some footfalls, but once this period is over, it will be a real struggle for the movie to sustain. Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

While most films struggle to maintain momentum after their second week, Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar is busy shattering records in its sixth week of release. The film has officially entered the history books by crossing the $20 million mark in North America, a feat previously achieved only by Prabhas' Baahubali 2. This milestone cements Dhurandhar as a global cinematic phenomenon, proving that high-quality storytelling can transcend regional boundaries even without a multi-language Pan-India release strategy. The North American market has long been a stronghold for massive event films, but Dhurandhar has turned into a case study for the industry. Nearly nine years after Baahubali 2 set the benchmark, Dhurandhar has risen to become only the second Indian film to cross the coveted $20M threshold. With over 2 million (20 lakh) footfalls in the region alone, Ranveer Singh now joins Prabhas as the only Indian stars to lead a film to this historic overseas figure. The global numbers for Dhurandhar are equally staggering. As of its 38th day, the film has amassed a massive ₹1254.9 Crore worldwide gross. Domestic performance remains the backbone of this success, with the India Net collection standing at ₹805.65 Crore. What makes these figures remarkable is the film's unprecedented consistency. Dhurandhar maintained double-digit net collections for 28 consecutive days, a record that highlights the power of extraordinary word-of-mouth. Unlike many big-budget films that rely on a massive opening day and then fade away, this film has seen immense repeat viewership, fueled by a gripping concept and stellar performances. With its current global standing, Dhurandhar has achieved what many thought was impossible for a solo-language release. By crossing the lifetime collections of industry giants like KGF: Chapter 2, RRR, Jawan, and Pathaan, it has officially secured its spot as the 4th Highest-Grossing Indian Film of All Time worldwide. The film now sits in an elite bracket, trailing only behind the historic totals of Dangal, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, and the recent phenomenon Pushpa 2: The Rule. This trajectory is largely due to its unprecedented Week 2 Jump, where it actually earned more than its opening week—a rarity in the era of front-loaded blockbusters. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   The true testament to Dhurandhar's grip on the audience is visible in its current daily performance. Even in its sixth weekend, the film is showing weekend growth that is eluding newer big-budget titles. On its 37th day (Saturday), the film collected ₹5.75 Crore, and it jumped further to ₹6.15 Crore on its 38th day (Sunday). The film's journey at the domestic box office has been nothing short of legendary. Dhurandhar achieved a rare feat in its second week, where the collections actually surpassed the first-week numbers—a clear indicator of the extraordinary word-of-mouth it enjoyed. Even in its fifth week, the film maintained a stronghold that most big-budget releases fail to achieve in their second weekend. Below is the week-wise breakdown of its historic run: WEEK INDIA NET COLLECTION Week 1 ₹ 207.25 Cr Week 2 ₹ 253.25 Cr Week 3 ₹ 172.00 Cr Week 4 ₹ 106.50 Cr Week 5 ₹ 51.25 Cr With an overseas haul of ₹288.25 Crore and a domestic gross nearing the ₹1000 Crore mark, Dhurandhar has earned the All-Time Blockbuster verdict. Much like director Aditya Dhar's previous work with URI, the success of Dhurandhar is built on a foundation of solid content rather than just marketing hype. As it continues its theatrical run, it isn't just breaking records; it is setting a new gold standard for what a solo Hindi release can achieve on the global stage.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The box office is currently witnessing a rare phenomenon where a month-old veteran is outperforming a star-studded new release in a key market. Prabhas' latest outing, The Raja Saab, arrived with massive pan-India expectations but is finding the going tough in the Hindi belt. Meanwhile, Ranveer Singh's spy thriller Dhurandhar, which entered its sixth week, continues to show remarkable resilience. The most striking takeaway from the current box office reports is the Hindi net collection. On its third day (Sunday), The Raja Saab managed to collect approximately ₹4.65 Cr in the Hindi market. In a sharp contrast, Dhurandhar—on its 37th day—earned an estimated ₹5.75 Cr. It is highly unusual for a new film led by a Pan-India superstar to be outpaced in its first weekend by a movie that has been in theaters for over five weeks. The Raja Saab's Hindi journey started with ₹6 Cr on Day 1, followed by ₹5.1 Cr on Day 2, and the decline to ₹4.65 Cr on Day 3 sis particularly concerning, as the film missed out on the standard Sunday surge usually seen at the box office. While the Hindi numbers tell a story of struggle, the overall India Net and Worldwide figures for The Raja Saab remain respectable, largely due to Prabhas' iron grip on the Telugu market. In its first three days, the movie has clocked: India Net Collection: ₹108.00 Cr India Gross Collection: ₹129.20 Cr Worldwide Collection: ₹161.00 Cr Overseas Collection: ₹31.80 Cr These figures are a testament to Prabhas' massive fanbase, which ensured a strong opening despite the hurdles. However, for a film reportedly mounted on a budget of ₹300–400 Cr, these numbers need significant sustainability, which is currently under threat. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   The primary reason for The Raja Saab's struggle in the Hindi belt appears to be the poor word of mouth.Unlike Prabhas' recent hits like Kalki 2898 AD or Salaar, which offered high-octane action or grand sci-fi, The Raja Saab is a horror-comedy that many critics have labeled as too regional or outdated. Audience feedback has been critical of the concept lack, uneven VFX, and a screenplay that fails to grip the viewer.Many North Indian viewers, who were expecting an event film, found the horror elements lacking logic and the comedy failing to land. On the other side of the spectrum, Dhurandhar has set a benchmark for consistency.Released only in the Hindi language, the film achieved the rare feat of maintaining double-digit daily collections for 28 consecutive days. Even with the arrival of a major competitor, Dhurandhar saw a 69% jump in its sixth Saturday, proving that solid word-of-mouth can sustain a film long after the initial hype fades. While The Raja Saab is fighting a battle of damage control in the North, Dhurandhar is comfortably sitting on a domestic net of over ₹805 Cr, making it the most successful solo Hindi release in recent history. The comparison highlights a clear divide: while stardom can guarantee a ₹100 Cr opening weekend, longevity is driven by content.The Raja Saab remains afloat on the strength of the Telugu states, but its inability to surpass a 37-day-old Dhurandhar in the Hindi belt serves as a reality check for the film's pan-India appeal.