BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 18 - Veteran actor Paresh Rawal has triggered a fresh controversy surrounding the 2023 hit OMG 2 after claiming that the film's original concept was his idea and that he was never credited for his contribution. The actor alleged that he had worked on the story with filmmaker Amit Rai years before the project took shape, but the script underwent major changes after Akshay Kumar came on board, eventually leading to his exit from the film. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to Rawal, the initial version of OMG 2 was significantly different from the one that eventually reached theatres. He claimed that the original story did not feature a divine character and that his name was omitted despite contributing to the film's conception. The actor expressed disappointment that he received no story or concept credit after the project moved forward without him. Producer Ashwin Varde has strongly denied the allegations, calling Rawal's claims "baseless, untrue and unsubstantiated." Varde further alleged that Rawal had once attempted to develop OMG 2 without Akshay Kumar, describing such an effort as "unethical." He maintained that the film was developed independently and insisted that Rawal's version of events does not reflect what actually transpired during the making of the sequel. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Director and writer Amit Rai has also rejected Rawal's assertions, stating that the screenplay and concept of OMG 2 were his own work. Rai denied that the film originated from Rawal's idea, effectively dismissing the actor's claims of creative ownership. With both the producer and director publicly refuting the allegations, the dispute has escalated into one of the biggest behind-the-scenes controversies surrounding OMG 2, reigniting discussions about authorship, story credits and creative recognition in the Hindi film industry.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 17 - Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar's Welcome To The Jungle is now expected to finish its theatrical run below the 200 crore worldwide gross mark, despite looking like a certain entrant into the club just a week ago. The comedy entertainer enjoyed a good opening, maintained healthy collections through its initial days, and appeared comfortably on course to cross the milestone before the box office landscape changed dramatically. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Just a week ago, Welcome 3 looked like a sure-shot 200 crore worldwide grosser. However, the arrival of Dhamaal 4, another major comedy franchise targeting the same audience, has significantly dented its momentum. With exhibitors allocating more shows to the new release and audiences shifting towards the fresher offering, Welcome To The Jungle witnessed a sharp decline in its third-week collections, making the 200 crore mark increasingly difficult to achieve. The timing of Dhamaal 4's release has proved crucial. Since both films belong to the comedy genre, there has been a direct overlap in their target audience. While Welcome To The Jungle had already enjoyed a successful theatrical run, the increased competition curtailed its long legs at the box office. The film is now expected to wrap up its run just short of the double-century milestone worldwide unless it stages an unexpected late surge. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In three weeks, the Ahmed Khan-directed flick has minted around 190 crores gross worldwide, including over 156 crores gross domestically. The turnaround now looks unlikely with Christopher Nolan's highly-anticipated The Odyssey releasing today (July 17), which will be the number 1 movie this week at the Indian box office. Despite missing the 200 crore worldwide mark, Welcome To The Jungle will still be counted among the successful Hindi releases of the year. The film delivered respectable numbers, further strengthened Akshay Kumar's resurgence at the box office, and once again highlighted the commercial appeal of well-made comedy entertainers. However, considering where the film stood only a week ago, falling short of 200 crore worldwide will undoubtedly be viewed as a missed opportunity.

BY SACNILK

Akshay Kumar's Welcome To The Jungle, serving as the third installment of the beloved comedy franchise, has now concluded its third week at the box office. With a reported production budget of 120 crore, the film has successfully navigated past that figure to emerge as a hit, currently standing with a net collection of 131.85 Cr. While the project achieved profitability, there is a distinct feeling that it could have reached a much higher peak had it not been for the aggressive competitive waves that have effectively inhabited its throne. The arrival of fresh releases has squeezed its screen presence, leaving the film to navigate a significantly tighter market as it heads toward its final lifetime numbers. As of the end of its third week, Welcome To The Jungle has achieved a cumulative worldwide gross collection of ₹190.00 Cr. This includes a domestic gross of ₹156.65 Cr and an overseas contribution of ₹33.35 Cr. In terms of India net collections, the film currently stands at ₹131.85 Cr. While the numbers are respectable, the drop from the previous weeks is quite evident as the screening landscape shifted significantly over the last seven days. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Welcome To The Jungle - Week 3 India Net CollectionDAY NUMBERINDIA NET COLLECTIONSHOW COUNTDay 15 (3rd Friday)₹ 1.00 Cr3,769Day 16 (3rd Saturday)₹ 1.60 Cr2,315Day 17 (3rd Sunday)₹ 1.90 Cr2,273Day 18 (3rd Monday)₹ 0.55 Cr1,917Day 19 (3rd Tuesday)₹ 0.75 Cr1,951Day 20 (3rd Wednesday)₹ 0.50 Cr1,908Day 21 (3rd Thursday)₹ 0.50 Cr1,902Total Week 3₹ 6.80 Cr16,035 As we look at the cumulative performance, the film has reached an India net collection of ₹131.85 Cr. However, the momentum has shifted noticeably with each passing week. After a strong ₹93.15 Cr start in its opening week, the second week saw a standard dip to ₹31.90 Cr. The most drastic change occurred in this third week, where earnings fell to ₹6.80 Cr—a sharp drop of nearly 78 percent from the previous week. This decline is largely attributed to the arrival of new major releases like Dhamaal 4 and Alpha, which took away a substantial portion of the screens and show counts. By the end of the third week, the film was operating on 1,902 shows on Thursday, a steep decline from its peak show counts in the first fortnight. Occupancy remained on the lower side, averaging around 9 to 10 percent during the weekdays. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Daily performance during the third week showed some resilience over the weekend, with Saturday and Sunday bringing in ₹1.60 Cr and ₹1.90 Cr respectively. However, the weekdays saw the numbers settling into the 50 to 75 lakh range. On its 21st day, the film collected ₹0.50 Cr net, showing a flat trend from the previous day. This stability at lower levels suggests that the film has reached its saturation point in most urban centers. Ticket sales data from BookMyShow further illustrates this journey. For the third week alone, the platform recorded roughly 1 lakh tickets sold, with the weekend accounting for more than half of that volume. Cumulatively, the film has sold over 2.32 million tickets on the platform since its release. In the broader context of 2026 releases, Welcome To The Jungle currently holds the 4th position in terms of ticket sales, trailing only behind major hits like Dhurandhar 2, Border 2, and Bhooth Bangla. While it narrowly missed the overall top 10 list for the 2025-26 period, its performance remains notable for a comedy sequel. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Multiplex engagement also saw a dip, with national chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis selling approximately 24,000 tickets throughout the third week. On the international front, the film added around ₹1.65 Cr during the third week, taking its total overseas gross to ₹33.35 Cr. The slow pace in the international market mirrors the domestic trend, as the diaspora audience also shifts focus toward newer releases. Looking ahead, the path for Welcome To The Jungle is expected to narrow even further. With Christopher Nolans The Odyssey arriving in theaters today, all premium formats and a vast majority of general screens will be occupied by the global tentpole. This will likely limit the films fourth-week prospects significantly. Based on current trends, the film is expected to finish its lifetime run with an India net collection in the range of ₹135 Cr to ₹138 Cr. While it has managed to cross the 130 Cr mark, the intense competition in the 2026 calendar has curtailed its ability to reach the 150 Cr milestone.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 16 - The Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise is gearing up for another spooky adventure. After the commercial success of the previous instalments, work has reportedly begun on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4, with reports suggesting that the film is currently in development. Kartik Aaryan is expected to reprise his popular role as Rooh Baba, continuing the character's journey in the horror-comedy universe. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to the latest report by Pinkvilla, the script for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4 is presently being written, with the makers taking their time to craft a fresh story for the next chapter. Production is reportedly being planned for 2027, although the project is still in its early stages. The remaining cast and crew, including the film's director, are yet to be officially finalised. Director Anees Bazmee had previously confirmed that the fourth instalment was in the works and stated that Kartik Aaryan's return was the only casting decision locked at the time. There is no clarity if Bazmee will return to direct the upcoming comedy entertainer, as the conversations are progressing internally on who will helm the project. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise has evolved into one of Bollywood's most successful horror-comedy series. Following the success of the original film starring Akshay Kumar, the franchise found renewed momentum with Kartik Aaryan leading Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. With a fourth instalment now in development, fans can expect another blend of supernatural thrills, comedy, and mystery as Rooh Baba prepares to return to the big screen.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 16 - The first week of December 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest box office battlegrounds in recent memory. Three major Hindi and pan-India releases are set to arrive within two days of each other, setting the stage for an intense clash before Hollywood giants Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, and Shah Rukh Khan's King dominate cinemas later in the month. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Prabhas' much-awaited period action drama Fauzi has officially locked December 3, 2026, as its theatrical release date. Directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, the film has generated significant buzz ever since its announcement and is expected to be one of the biggest pan-India releases of the year. With Prabhas returning in a larger-than-life role, the film is expected to command a massive release across multiple languages. Just a day later, on December 4, Ajay Devgn's much-awaited Ranger is scheduled to hit theatres. Sharing the same release date is Akshay Kumar's untitled collaboration with director Anees Bazmee, setting up a direct three-way contest among some of Indian cinema's biggest stars. While all three films cater to different audiences, they will inevitably compete for premium screens, show timings, and opening weekend collections. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The timing makes the clash even more significant. The three Indian releases will have barely two weeks to maximise their theatrical business before Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, along with King, arrive later in December, films that are expected to occupy a substantial share of IMAX and premium large-format screens worldwide. As a result, the opening weekend and first fortnight will be crucial for Fauzi, Ranger, and Akshay Kumar's upcoming entertainer. With Prabhas, Ajay Devgn, and Akshay Kumar all eyeing the lucrative year-end holiday season, the first week of December 2026 is set to become one of the most closely watched box office clashes in recent years. Whether all three films stick to their announced dates or one eventually opts to avoid the crowded window remains to be seen, but as of now, audiences are in for a blockbuster showdown.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 13 - Comedy has firmly re-established itself as one of the most dependable genres at the Indian box office in 2026, particularly in Bollywood. After a string of successful theatrical outings, Bhooth Bangla, Welcome To The Jungle, and now Dhamaal 4 have delivered a hat-trick of successes, proving that audiences continue to embrace wholesome entertainers on the big screen. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The remarkable run also highlights the strong demand for family-friendly films that offer laughter and carefree, light-hearted entertainment. The winning streak began with Akshay Kumar's Bhooth Bangla in April, which emerged as a solid theatrical success, grossing over 270 crores worldwide and setting the tone for the genre's resurgence in the summer to come. Welcome To The Jungle carried the momentum forward in June, while Dhamaal 4 has now laid the foundation for another successful box office run with an excellent opening weekend. Together, the three films have reaffirmed that comedy remains a major crowd-puller when backed by entertaining content. The success of Welcome To The Jungle and Dhamaal 4 is particularly significant because the two films arrived just two weeks apart. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Conventional industry wisdom has often suggested that two big-budget comedies releasing in proximity would end up affecting each other's business. However, their performances have effectively debunked that belief. Instead of competing for the same audience, both films have found acceptance, demonstrating that moviegoers are willing to support multiple entertainers if each offers a satisfying theatrical experience. The trend sends a strong message to filmmakers and exhibitors alike - release dates alone do not determine a film's fate—content does. When a comedy connects with audiences through its humour, emotions, and family appeal, theatrical success follows regardless of nearby competition. The consecutive success of Bhooth Bangla, Welcome To The Jungle, and Dhamaal 4 has once again established that laughter remains one of the safest bets at the box office, provided the entertainment quotient is high enough to bring audiences into cinemas.

BY SACNILK

The third Friday has proven to be a challenging day for Welcome To The Jungle, as the film faced a significant reduction in its theatrical footprint to accommodate the release of Dhamaal 4. On its 15th day, the comedy entertainer collected a net of ₹ 1.00 crore in India. This represents a 53.5 per cent drop from the ₹ 2.15 crore it managed on the previous day. This sharp decline is directly linked to a massive screen crunch; while the movie was running on 6,092 shows this Thursday, that number was cut down to 3,769 shows on Friday, effectively losing nearly half of its screens in a single day. Currently, the total India net collection for Welcome To The Jungle stands at ₹ 126.05 crore, with the India gross reaching ₹ 149.80 crore. On the international front, the film added ₹ 0.25 crore on Friday, bringing its total overseas gross to ₹ 31.70 crore. When we look at the global picture, the total worldwide gross collection has now reached ₹ 181.50 crore. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The impact of new competition is very clear when we examine the performance in national chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis. On Thursday, the film was holding steady in these chains with around 12,000 tickets sold, generating a gross of approximately ₹ 26 lakh. However, by Friday, those numbers saw a steep fall. Across the three major chains, the film sold only about 2,900 tickets, bringing in a gross of ₹ 9 lakh. PVR contributed nearly 1.4k tickets with a gross of ₹ 4.5 lakh, followed by INOX with 1.3k tickets and ₹ 3 lakh gross. Cinepolis saw a much smaller contribution of nearly 0.3k tickets, amounting to around ₹ 70,000 in gross collections. On BookMyShow, the shift in audience interest was also evident. The film had sold about 27,640 tickets on its second Thursday, but that figure dropped to 13,940 tickets on the third Friday. The total lifetime tickets sold on the platform have now reached 2,235,000. Much like Alia Bhatt's Alpha, Welcome To The Jungle stopped trending on the BookMyShow charts on Saturday due to the Dhamaal 4 surge. However, in a surprising turn, the film has started to trend again, particularly during the 11 AM to 12 PM window, suggesting some level of recovery or interest from the weekend crowd. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The overall occupancy for the Hindi 2D version stood at 12.92 per cent on Friday. The film started the day with 8.77 per cent occupancy in the morning shows and saw a very minor increase to 9.38 per cent in the afternoon. Evening shows remained steady at 10.23 per cent, but there was a notable jump in the night shows, which reached 17.77 per cent. This indicates that while daytime shows are struggling due to the competition, there is still a dedicated audience opting for the late-night screenings. Regional data shows some interesting variations, particularly in Bengaluru. While most cities were quiet, Bengaluru recorded an impressive overall occupancy of 27.5 per cent, fueled by a massive 47 per cent occupancy during the morning shows. In contrast, the National Capital Region (NCR) saw a modest 10 per cent occupancy across 616 shows, with night shows peaking at 14 per cent. Mumbai, with 402 shows, managed an overall 12 per cent occupancy, where night shows were the most active at 17 per cent. Lucknow performed relatively well with 11.8 per cent overall occupancy, while cities like Ahmedabad and Pune stayed under the 10 per cent mark. Surat remained the weakest performing major circuit with an occupancy of just 3.5 per cent. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the 50 per cent reduction in screens has limited its potential for a massive third week, Welcome To The Jungle is still finding pockets of audience, especially in the south. The coming two days will be crucial to see if the renewed trending status translates into a weekend jump that can help the film push further toward the ₹ 200 crore worldwide mark.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 10 - Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar's Welcome To The Jungle has continued its good theatrical run by collecting around 32 crore net in its second week at the Indian box office. Despite facing fresh competition and a reduction in screens, the comedy entertainer has displayed stability, taking its two-week domestic total to around 125 crore net. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The Ahmed Khan directorial maintained a steady hold throughout its second week, driven largely by family audiences and positive word of mouth. While weekday collections naturally slowed after a strong opening week, the film's healthy trend ensured a good second-week total of 32 crore net, keeping it comfortably among the biggest Hindi successes of the year. The film now enters its third week with Ajay Devgn's Dhamaal 4 arriving in cinemas today. As a direct comedy release, Dhamaal 4 is expected to take away a significant share of screens and show timings, making the coming days more challenging for Welcome To The Jungle. Even so, if the film manages to retain a section of its family audience, it remains on course to finish its theatrical run in the 150 crore net range in India. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Worldwide, Welcome 3 has collected approximately 180 crores in 14 days so far, eyeing a 215-225 crores finish, which is a good result. Featuring a massive ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani and several others, Welcome To The Jungle has emerged as a crowd-pleasing commercial entertainer. Its consistent box office performance over two weeks has reaffirmed the enduring popularity of the Welcome franchise and positioned the film for a strong lifetime finish. It also marked Akshay Kumar's return to the franchise after leading the original Welcome in 2007. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Welcome Franchise Box Office Collection S. No. Movie Year Second Week Lifetime India Net 1 Welcome 2007 ₹19.30 Cr ₹70.15 Cr 2 Welcome Back 2015 ₹18.70 Cr ₹96.55 Cr 3 Welcome To The Jungle 2026 ₹31.90 Cr ₹125+ Cr* As of July 9, 2026.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 9 - Ajay Devgn returns to the big screen with Dhamaal 4, the fourth instalment in the popular comedy franchise directed by Indra Kumar. The film is set to release in cinemas on July 10 and has generated decent pre-release buzz among family audiences. Riding on the franchise's popularity and the genre's appeal, the film is expected to register a decent opening at the Indian box office. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Based on the current trend, Dhamaal 4 is expected to collect 12-14 crore net on its opening day in India. As of 8 PM on Thursday, the film has recorded 5 crore+ gross in advance bookings (with block seats) for Day 1, with final pre-sales expected to close at around 6 crore+ gross. These numbers are almost identical to the booking of Akshay Kumar's Welcome To The Jungle before its release. Despite similar advance sales, the box office trajectory of the two films is slightly different. Welcome To The Jungle went on to open at 15 crore+ net (19 crore net with previews), largely because its paid previews generated positive word of mouth before the official opening day, resulting in a surge in spot bookings from morning shows themselves. Dhamaal 4 does not have the benefit of paid previews, making its opening more dependent on Friday's audience response. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Nevertheless, the film still has the potential to exceed expectations. Comedy entertainers traditionally rely heavily on spot bookings and walk-in audiences, especially in mass circuits and smaller centres. If the initial audience reactions are positive, Dhamaal 4 could witness a strong jump in evening and night shows, giving it a realistic chance of touching the 15 crore net mark on its opening day. Positive word of mouth will be the key factor in determining whether the film can outperform its current projections.

BY SACNILK

The Welcome franchise has established itself as one of the most resilient comedy brands in Indian cinema over the last two decades. The journey began in 2007 with the first film grossing roughly 119.50 crore worldwide, followed by Welcome Back in 2015 which earned approximately 168.70 crore. Together, the first two installments brought in a combined worldwide gross of 288.20 crore. Now, with the third part, Welcome To The Jungle, the franchise is expanding significantly, already pushing the collective total well past the 460 crore mark globally. Featuring a massive ensemble led by Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal, this film has managed to sustain interest by leaning into the nostalgic value of the brand. Looking at the Day 13 box office numbers, which fell on its second Wednesday, Welcome To The Jungle collected a net of 2.35 crore across India. This represents a 21.7 percent drop from the previous day’s net of 3.00 crore. While mid-week dips are expected for big-budget entertainers in their second week, the film maintained a presence across 6,372 shows during the day. This brings its total India net collection to 122.90 crore and its total India gross to 146.10 crore. When we look at the cumulative footprint, these numbers have been achieved through a massive scheduling of over 1.13 lakh shows since its release. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The international market has provided a steady cushion to the overall totals. On its thirteenth day, the film added 0.50 crore from overseas territories, taking its total overseas gross to 31.45 crore. According to data tracked by Venky Box Office, the film earned 37,000 dollars (approx. 31 lakh) in North America on Tuesday, pushing its total in that region to 1.51 million dollars (approx. 12.65 crore). When we combine the domestic and international figures, the total worldwide gross collection for Welcome To The Jungle currently stands at 177.55 crore. The major national cinema chains provides a detailed look at urban audience engagement. PVR led the contributions with approximately 4,700 tickets sold for a gross of 12.90 lakh. INOX followed with about 3,100 tickets and a gross of 7.20 lakh, while Cinepolis accounted for roughly 1,650 tickets with a gross of 3.60 lakh. Collectively, these chains sold approximately 9,450 tickets, contributing around 23 lakh to the day's earnings. The overall occupancy for the Hindi 2D version stood at 11.92 percent on Wednesday, with night shows showing the best footfalls at 16.08 percent. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Regional performance remains fairly consistent across the major hubs. The National Capital Region recorded an occupancy of 11 percent across 670 shows, while Mumbai saw slightly higher engagement at 12 percent from 421 shows. Cities like Bengaluru and Pune also hovered around the 11 to 12 percent mark. Digital engagement on BookMyShow also remains visible, with 30,940 tickets booked on Wednesday following a high of 54,120 on Tuesday. This brings the total number of tickets sold on the platform to approximately 21.93 lakh so far. Amidst this theatrical run, director Ahmed Khan has shared some significant updates regarding the future of the franchise. In an exclusive conversation with Koimoi, the filmmaker officially confirmed that Welcome 4 is already in the development pipeline. While his immediate priority is launching his son Azaan, he mentioned that the next part of the Welcome series will be his subsequent project. Ahmed Khan also hinted at having a packed schedule with multiple event films in development with producers like Firoze Nadiadwala and Sajid Nadiadwala. The confirmation of a fourth part, coming just as the third installment crosses major domestic milestones, suggests that the producers are keen on maintaining the momentum of this comedy universe. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) With its worldwide gross approaching the 180 crore mark, Welcome To The Jungle has managed to scale higher than the original 2007 film and is closing the gap with the second installment. The focus for the coming weekend will be on how much further it can push its totals before new releases arrive. For a franchise that relies heavily on ensemble energy and family-friendly humor, the current trajectory indicates that there is still a significant appetite for this brand of entertainment on the big screen.

BY SACNILK

The Golmaal franchise has been a cornerstone of Indian comedy for nearly two decades. Since its debut in 2006, Rohit Shetty has managed to turn this ensemble caper into one of the most successful film series in the country. As the team works on the fifth installment, officially titled Golmaal FIVE, new details are emerging about the cast and characters that indicate a shift from the typical formula of the series. According to an exclusive report by Variety India, the National Award-winning actress Priyamani has joined the cast in a significant role. Interestingly, she is set to portray a negative character, which is a departure from the usual casting choices in this franchise. Priyamani is no stranger to working with this team; she previously collaborated with Rohit Shetty on the popular dance number 1 2 3 4 Get on the Dance Floor in Chennai Express and shared the screen with Ajay Devgn in the biographical sports drama Maidaan. Seeing her in a villainous arc within a comic setting will be an interesting addition to the film's entertainment quotient. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The production, which officially went on floors in February 2026, has already made headlines for its massive casting choices. The biggest surprise was the addition of Akshay Kumar, marking a major casting coup for the franchise. Trade buzz suggests that Akshay might also be taking on a negative comedic role, adding a fresh layer of conflict to the story. Alongside him, the original gang is back in full force, featuring Ajay Devgn as Gopal, Arshad Warsi as Madhav, Tusshar Kapoor as Lucky, Shreyas Talpade as Laxman, and Kunal Kemmu as the second Laxman. Notably, Sharman Joshi is making a return to the franchise for the first time since the original 2006 film. Beyond the primary cast, franchise favorites like Johny Lever, Sanjay Mishra, Mukesh Tiwari, and Ashwini Kalsekar are all confirmed to return. However, there is a notable twist in the storytelling this time. Reports suggest that Golmaal FIVE will move away from traditional romantic subplots. There will reportedly be no primary heroine or romantic track for Ajay Devgn's character, shifting the entire focus toward the ensemble group madness and the chaotic dynamics between the characters. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking back at the box office history of this franchise, the trajectory has been one of steady growth. The journey began with Golmaal: Fun Unlimited in 2006, which earned approximately 47 crore worldwide and was a Superhit. Its sequel, Golmaal Returns in 2008, saw an increase in collections, grossing about 82 crore globally. The franchise hit a new peak with Golmaal 3 in 2010, which became a Blockbuster with a worldwide gross of 162 crore. The most recent entry, Golmaal Again in 2017, remains the highest earner of the series, grossing roughly 309 crore worldwide. With a combined total of over 600 crore from four films, the expectations for the fifth part are naturally quite high. The makers are currently aiming for a massive theatrical release in early 2027. This timing is intentional, as it will mark the 20th anniversary of the franchise that started it all. With the inclusion of stars like Akshay Kumar and Priyamani alongside the veteran cast, Rohit Shetty seems to be scaling up the production to ensure the milestone year is met with a significant commercial impact.

BY SACNILK

The streaming numbers for the first half of 2026 are officially in. This year has seen some massive records being shattered, specifically by franchise hits that have managed to translate their big-screen hype into record-breaking viewership velocity on platforms like Netflix and JioHotstar. The standout performer of the year is undoubtedly Dhurandhar on Netflix. Within a 10-week sprint, the film racked up 31.1 million views, setting a new benchmark for Indian cinema in the digital space. This viewership velocity has officially surpassed the numbers generated by RRR (Hindi) within the same 10-week opening window. The franchise's strength is further highlighted by its sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which secured the second spot with 18.9 million views on JioHotstar. Together, the two films have accumulated a combined 50 million views, showcasing the incredible pull of the franchise across different streaming platforms. Another interesting case study in the 2026 OTT charts is Prabhas's The Raja Saab. The film unfortunately underperformed during its January theatrical release, but its transition to the digital space on February 6 told a completely different story. Upon its premiere on JioHotstar, the movie immediately climbed to the #1 trending position and has since gathered 10.3 million views. This highlights a growing trend where films that struggle to find a massive footing in theaters are being rediscovered and embraced by home audiences, effectively recovering their reach through streaming platforms. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the overall distribution of the top 10 most-watched films, Netflix continues to be the dominant player, hosting eight out of the top ten titles. Films like the investigative thriller Accused and the cross-cultural drama Made In Korea have performed exceptionally well, securing 16.6 million and 13.5 million views respectively. Other notable entries include Rani Mukerji's Mardaani 3 and the Akshay Kumar starrer Bhooth Bangla, both of which maintained steady viewership figures above the 10 million mark. The list is rounded off by Tere Ishk Mein, which remains a popular choice for romantic drama enthusiasts with 9.7 million views. Most Watched Indian OTT Films in 2026RANKMOVIE TITLEPLATFORMVIEWERSHIP (MILLIONS)1DhurandharNetflix31.1M2Dhurandhar: The RevengeJioHotstar18.9M3AccusedNetflix16.6M4Made In KoreaNetflix13.5M5Bhooth BanglaNetflix11.9M6HaqNetflix11.3M7Mardaani 3Netflix10.7M8KartavyaNetflix10.3M9The Raja SaabJioHotstar10.3M10Tere Ishk MeinNetflix9.7M