BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, July 29 - Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan has reached another major milestone at the box office, crossing 250 crore worldwide while also surpassing 100 crore gross in Tamil Nadu in 7 days. After opening below the sky-high expectations associated with Vijay's farewell film, the H. Vinoth directorial has displayed good staying power, posting a solid first week despite the usual weekday slowdown. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Jana Nayagan has grossed around 246 crore worldwide in its first six days of release, with Tamil Nadu leading the charge with around 97 crore gross. The film has now crossed the prestigious 100 crore gross mark in the state, making it Thalapathy Vijay's ninth film to achieve the feat in the state, while also topping 250 crore worldwide in just 7 days. The milestone once again highlights Vijay's extraordinary dominance at the Tamil Nadu box office, where he continues to set benchmarks unmatched by any contemporary Tamil star. The film's performance becomes even more impressive considering the challenges it faced before release. Jana Nayagan arrived in cinemas after a release delay, suffered an online leak, and was awarded an 'A' certificate, factors that could have significantly affected its commercial prospects. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) However, strong fan support and Vijay's immense popularity ensured a solid opening weekend, while the surprisingly steady weekday hold has kept the collections, despite outright negative reception. The focus now shifts to the film's second weekend, which is expected to determine its long-term theatrical run. A strong hold over the weekend could comfortably push Jana Nayagan beyond the 300 crore worldwide milestone, which will be a massive win given the circumstances.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has always had a flair for the grand and the unconventional, and it looks like he is about to change the rules of the game once again with his upcoming project, Love and War. According to an exclusive report by Bollywood Hungama, the film—which features the powerhouse trio of Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal—will not be starting its promotional journey with a typical teaser or a motion poster. Instead of the usual marketing route, the director is reportedly working on something far more ambitious. Bhansali is personally shaping a special promotional asset designed to be an immersive experience for the audience. This isn't just a standard clip or a still image; it is being crafted to serve as a proper introduction to the emotional depth and scale of the cinematic world he has built for this movie. The idea is to give fans a first glimpse that feels like a journey into the film's atmosphere rather than just a quick preview. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The project is currently in its final stages of development, with the filmmaker collaborating closely with his creative team to ensure the vision is perfect. The plan is to unveil this special asset sometime in August, which will mark the official start of the marketing campaign. By skipping the traditional teaser format, the aim is to create an event-like atmosphere that transports viewers straight into the essence of the story before they even see a full trailer. This strategy fits perfectly with Bhansali's philosophy that storytelling begins the moment a project is announced. He wants to capture the specific mood and scale of Love and War rather than just showing isolated character looks or a standard motion poster. Since this is the first time Ranbir, Alia, and Vicky are sharing the screen under his direction, the anticipation is already at a fever pitch, and this unique launch strategy is likely to amplify that buzz significantly. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Industry insiders are calling this a potential landmark in promotional history. It suggests that the movie is much more than a standard big-budget release; it is an experience that the director wants the audience to feel from the very first glimpse. If everything goes according to plan next month, fans will finally get their first taste of what is expected to be one of the biggest releases in the Hindi film industry in recent years.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The collaboration between Allu Arjun and director Atlee for their upcoming film Raaka is taking the Indian film industry by storm with its massive scale. According to an exclusive report by India Today, this project is no longer just a single film but has been expanded into a two-part franchise. The sheer ambition of the project is reflected in its staggering budget, which is currently estimated to be around 1,000 crore, making it one of the most expensive cinematic ventures ever attempted in the country. What makes Raaka particularly interesting is its narrative structure, which aims to bridge the gap between ancient mythology and the modern day. The film is set to weave together two entirely different worlds across distinct timelines. One major segment of the story will transport audiences back to a tribal Puranic Vedic era, a period that promises to showcase a unique aesthetic rarely explored with such high-end production values. The second segment will contrast this by bringing the story into a modern contemporary world. This dual-timeline approach suggests a deep, interconnected mystery between the ancestral past and the present, with Allu Arjun at the center of the narrative. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The casting choices for the film further highlight the divide between these two distinct eras. In the contemporary setting, Mrunal Thakur is set to play a lead role. Meanwhile, the historical Puranic Vedic segment will feature an incredible trio of leading ladies, including Deepika Padukone, Janhvi Kapoor, and Rashmika Mandanna. Having four major stars like this in a single project shows the level of world-building Atlee is putting into the franchise, ensuring that both parts carry significant star power and narrative weight across the different time periods. Beyond the primary cast, the film continues to generate headlines with its high-profile special appearances. The much-anticipated cameo by Shah Rukh Khan remains a key highlight for fans. It is reported that his portions are yet to be filmed and are currently being planned for an international schedule overseas to match the global aesthetic the makers are aiming for. Despite the complexity of filming two separate timelines and managing such a massive ensemble, industry reports suggest that the team intends to complete the principal photography for both parts before the end of this year. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the production house has kept specific plot points under wraps, the vision for Raaka is clearly aimed at creating a landmark cinematic experience. By moving away from a standalone format and embracing a two-part franchise model, Atlee and Allu Arjun are giving the story the room it needs to breathe.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, July 29 - Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures' Spider-Man: Brand New Day is rewriting the record books even before hitting the big screens in India. The Tom Holland-led superhero blockbuster has registered unprecedented demand across the country, putting it on course to deliver the biggest opening ever for a non-Indian film. With bookings continuing to surge, the film is now within touching distance of surpassing Avengers: Endgame's long-standing pre-sales record. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to the latest update, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has sold approximately 85+ crore gross worth of tickets for its opening weekend, including around 45+ crore gross for the opening day alone. The film is expected to overtake Avengers: Endgame's estimated 90 crore opening weekend advance booking before the first show begins and could even become the first Hollywood release in India to touch the 100 crore gross pre-sales milestone. These are unprecedented numbers for a non-Indian title and reflect the extraordinary anticipation surrounding the latest Spider-Man adventure. The massive bookings have put Brand New Day firmly on track for a historic debut at the Indian box office. Industry projections suggest the film is capable of delivering the biggest opening day and opening weekend ever for a Hollywood release in India, surpassing the benchmarks established by Avengers: Endgame. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Strong occupancy across premium formats, coupled with exceptional momentum in national multiplex chains, has fueled confidence that the film will shatter multiple box office records over its first four days. The record-breaking trend is mirrored worldwide, where Spider-Man: Brand New Day is tracking for one of the biggest global openings in cinema history. With exceptional pre-sales across major international markets and overwhelmingly positive early buzz, the Marvel blockbuster is poised to begin its theatrical run with a historic worldwide opening, further cementing Spider-Man's status as one of the biggest cinematic brands on the planet. It is scheduled to release on July 30 in India in multiple languages.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, July 29 - The cast of director Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana Part 1 is not only gearing up for one of the biggest Indian films ever made but is also preparing for an incredibly busy theatrical window. Several of the film's lead actors have two major releases within roughly three months, either before or after Ramayana Part 1, ensuring they remain in the spotlight throughout the festive season and into early 2027. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Ranbir Kapoor, who plays Lord Rama, will first headline Ramayana Part 1, slated for a grand Diwali 2026 release, before reuniting with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Love & War, which is scheduled to hit theatres on January 21, 2027. The gap between the two releases is less than three months, giving the actor back-to-back event films in completely different genres. Yash, who essays Ravana in Ramayana, will kick off his theatrical run with the action thriller Toxic on August 26, 2026, which will be his first release in 4 years since the mega blockbuster KGF: Chapter 2. He will then return to the big screen during the Diwali season with Ramayana Part 1, making it two of the year's biggest pan-Indian releases within a short span. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Sunny Deol is also set for a packed release schedule. The actor will first arrive with the period drama Batwara 1947 on August 14, 2026, before portraying Hanuman in Ramayana Part 1 during Diwali. He also has the emotional drama, Gabru, ready for release. Similarly, Sai Pallavi will be seen in Dhanush-fronted OM Chapter 1 on October 16, 2026, followed shortly by her portrayal of Sita in Ramayana Part 1. With blockbuster titles such as Toxic, Batwara 1947, OM, Ramayana Part 1, and Love & War arriving within a compact three-month window, the ensemble cast of Ramayana is poised to dominate the box office conversation. It is rare for so many stars from a single film to have multiple high-profile theatrical releases clustered so closely together, making the final months of 2026 and the beginning of 2027 particularly significant for Indian cinema.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently witnessing a massive wave of excitement across the Indian box office. The wall-crawler has always been a favorite in the Indian market, but the pre-sales numbers for this latest installment suggest we are looking at something truly historic. As of now, the film has already sold a gigantic 1.3 million tickets in advance on BookMyShow alone. This incredible surge has placed the movie at the number eight spot for the best pre-sales on the platform since August 2023, and the momentum is not showing any signs of slowing down. When we dive into the data from the national cinema chains—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—the performance is even more striking. For the release date of July 30, the film has already locked in approximately 3,69,500 tickets. This has resulted in a staggering advance gross of over 18 crore from these major multiplexes alone. If we break down these numbers, PVR leads the charge with about 1,76,100 tickets, followed by INOX with 1,20,400 tickets, and Cinepolis contributing 73,000 tickets. These figures represent an elite level of interest that is usually reserved for the biggest Marvel crossover events. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The interest remains strong for the second day as well. For Friday, July 31, the national chains have already sold approximately 1,97,400 tickets, which has brought in an additional of over 10 crore in gross collections. PVR has moved about 1,04,200 tickets for the second day, while INOX and Cinepolis have sold 59,600 and 33,600 tickets respectively. Seeing nearly 2 lakh tickets sold for a second day while the first day is still in pre-sales mode is a clear indicator that the film is heading for a massive opening weekend. To understand the scale of this performance, we have to look at how it compares to previous Hollywood blockbusters in India. Trade analysts are projecting that Spider-Man: Brand New Day is firmly on track to close its total pre-sales at over 5,00,000 tickets across national chains. If it hits this mark, it will comfortably surpass the record set by Avengers: Infinity War, which sold 4,86,000 tickets. This would make it the third-highest Hollywood advance-seller of all time in the country, trailing only its predecessor Spider-Man: No Way Home and the all-time record holder, Avengers: Endgame. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The hype surrounding this film is fueled by several factors. Following the emotional conclusion of the previous film, fans are eager to see Tom Holland's Peter Parker navigate a world where no one remembers him. The inclusion of the Hulk in the promotional material has also sent ripples through the fanbase, suggesting a new and unexpected team-up within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Furthermore, the film is being heavily promoted for premium formats like 4DX and IMAX, which are driving a significant portion of the higher-priced ticket sales in urban centers. With an overall occupancy of nearly 39 percent for the first day based on current bookings, the film is dominating theater schedules. In some premium venues, evening and night shows are already nearing capacity. Given the current rate of hourly bookings, the 5 lakh ticket milestone seems almost certain. Here is how the film currently stands compared to the top Hollywood performers in terms of first-day ticket sales at national chains. Top Hollywood Openings - National Chain Ticket Sales (Approximate)HOLLYWOOD MOVIETICKETS SOLD (PIC)Avengers: Endgame10,25,000Spider-Man: No Way Home5,50,000Avengers: Infinity War4,86,000Spider-Man: Brand New Day3,69,500*Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness3,90,000 Note: The figure for Brand New Day reflects current pre-sales and is expected to climb significantly before release.