Param Sundari has performed better than expected at the box office in India. According to early estimates, the romantic comedy has collected in the range of Rs. 7.5 crores to Rs. 8 crores on Friday, performing better than the pre-release expectations of Rs. 6 crores.

The Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor film has earned Rs. 4 crores across the national multiplex chains, with the remaining Rs. 3.50 crores coming in from single screens and non-national chains. Param Sundari is continuing the golden run of Dinesh Vijan, as he is a man who has not gone wrong in the last 3 years.

The film has been reviewed positively, and the audience reactions are also in its favour, which means that a hit is on the way for Sid Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor. The music has worked well for Param Sundari, and the start in the Top 5 of their careers for both Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor.

The film should see a spike on Saturday and Sunday, and will be in a good spot post the weekend.

15 days after the twin release of much hyped War 2 and Coolie, theatres will finally see a new release in the form of Param Sundari. With Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor in the lead, the film is a romantic musical drama and comparisons with Chennai Express have already been floating around ever since the trailer unveiled. After all, this one too is about a romantic affair between a North Indian guy and a South Indian girl and what happens when former visits latter’s native town.

One now waits to see though if the comparisons are just restricted to the trailer or go beyond that in the entire film as well. It could well be the fact that this comparison has actually helped create some buzz for the film and the core storyline is actually different, something that would be known when one eventually watches it at the big screen. For both Sidharth and Janhvi, this is an important film since they are looking for a hit. The good part is that a couple of songs from the film have become popular and that has helped in it bring noticed.

That said, one would have expected the hype to go up prominently in the last couple of weeks, especially since War 2 and Coolie buzz has died down and the stage is wide open for Param Sundari to make all the noise. Yes, the lead pair has been painting the town red with multiple appearances amongst the locals and while this formula has worked for a couple of films in the past, one waits to see if that pays off in this case as well. At one point in time, it seemed like Param Sundari may well have a shot at a double digit opening though for now Rs. 6-7 crores look more feasible for the opening day, which would be decent as well.

The divine run of Mahavatar Narsimha (Hindi) is continuing with great force, and how! Despite being in its fifth week, the film is seeing huge numbers coming its way.

The animation film saw as much as Rs. 4 crores* coming in. Before release, one could well have imagined this to be the entire first week total of the film since Indian animation films practically don’t have any takers for decades. However, these are the numbers which are coming on its 31st day and that’s just unfathomable.

There is no stopping the film and now the weekdays will further bring in Rs. 3-4 crores more which will further extend its overall collections that currently stand at Rs. 175 crores*. The film will end its fifth week just a little under Rs. 180 crores mark and one waits to see if it has ample ammunition it to make an attempt for the Rs. 200 Crore Club entry.

Blockbuster.

*Estimates

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

Despite an open week with no new release, War 2 (Hindi) couldn’t sustain itself and went down further on its second Friday. The film had brought in Rs. 4 crores on Thursday, so one would have expected that if not seeing an increase in numbers, it would at least stabilise on Friday and bring in Rs. 3.75-4 crores again. However, that was not the case to be as collections plummeted further to Rs. 3.50 crores*.

This shows how the film hasn’t been accepted at all, and now all hopes whatsoever of scoring at least one more double digit number have gone for a toss. Had the collections at least moved up to Rs. 5 crores then by some stroke of luck it could have got into that Rs. 8-10 crores zone on Sunday. That would have been very tough though but at least trending wise there was some possibility. However, now that the trending is negative, going up to even Rs. 6-7 crores by Sunday looks very difficult since audiences are just not interested in catching this film in big numbers.

The Hrithik Roshan and NTR starrer has now reached Rs. 158.25 crores* and it would barely cross Rs. 165 crores by the time the second weekend is through. Also, this Friday drop indicates that an entry into the Rs. 200 Crore Club is now out of question. The best case scenario for the film is a lifetime of Rs. 180 crores and that would be about it with the flurry of new releases in the coming few weeks. The Ayan Mukherji and YRF film is now a huge box office flop and that’s very disheartening since Bollywood was having such a good run till its arrival.

*Estimates

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

Universal Pictures’ Jurassic World: Rebirth has stormed past the Rs. 100 crores benchmark at the Indian box office, becoming only the second Hollywood release of 2025 to achieve this feat. The film has collected an impressive Rs. 100.07 crores so far, pushing it just ahead of F1: The Movie (Rs. 95.04 crores), Superman (Rs. 48.89 crores), and The Fantastic 4: First Steps (Rs. 25 crores), further cementing its place as one of the biggest international hits of the year in the country.

The dino-franchise, which has consistently enjoyed massive popularity with Indian audiences since Jurassic World (2015), has once again proven its box office clout. The nostalgic appeal of the brand, combined with cutting-edge VFX and large-scale action sequences, has drawn families and younger audiences alike to theatres. Trade experts highlight that the film’s strong run also reflects India’s growing appetite for Hollywood blockbusters that combine franchise value with spectacle-driven entertainment.

With this milestone, Jurassic World: Rebirth now trails only Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which continues to dominate the charts with Rs. 110.21 crores in India. Industry insiders note that the Rs. 100 crores performance by Jurassic World: Rebirth is significant, given the competitive release calendar and the strong turnout for homegrown Hindi films around the Independence Day period.

The success of Jurassic World: Rebirth further underlines a shifting trend where international franchises are not only finding space in India’s theatrical market but also emerging as top earners. As the festive season draws closer, the film is expected to continue adding to its tally, though surpassing Mission: Impossible may remain an uphill climb.

For now, Jurassic World: Rebirth has firmly established itself as a box office dinosaur of 2025—proving that in India, the roar of the Jurassic saga is far from extinct.

Top 5 Hollywood Grossers of 2025 (India) Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning — Rs. 110.21 cr Jurassic World: Rebirth — Rs. 100.07 cr F1: The Movie — Rs. 95.04 cr Superman — Rs. 48.89 cr The Fantastic 4: First Steps — Rs. 25.00 cr

It’s a century for Jurassic World: Rebirth. In its seventh week, the film has gone past the Rs. 100 crores mark and hence has become the first Hollywood movie to enter the Rs. 100 Crore Club in 2025. In the process, it has emerged as a solid hit at the box office.

The film had opened quite well and scored Rs. 56.48 crores in its first week. Reports for the film were mixed and hence it had seemed that it would fold up around Rs. 80 crores mark. However, there is a loyal fan following of the franchise and that ensured that footfalls kept coming. Moreover, the film travelled in the interiors as well and collections in B and C centres ensured that box office kept ticking. As a result, the second week saw Rs. 25.61 crores coming in, which was just a little over 50% drop. In the third week, it again managed to score in double digits but ever since then the drops were seen for the film.

Still, somehow it has now managed to touch Rs. 100 crores mark and though it has taken time to reach there, the fact remains that it has turned out to be a box office winner. This also ensures that the franchise will stay in the reckoning and the next one too would be gladly accepted by the audiences (at least from the opening standpoint), as and when it arrives.

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

After collections went up to Rs. 8.50 crores on Blockbuster Tuesday, there was a sharp decline seen again on Wednesday. This was on expected lines as well since Monday had anyways gone into single digits with Rs. 7.50 crores coming in and while an increment on collections on Wednesday was a surprise (despite cheaper ticket rates), the word of mouth ensured that collections saw a dip all over again on Wednesday.

The film saw Rs. 5 crores* coming in and today there may be a bit of a drop seen again. The film is now just seeing some footfalls coming in on a daily basis because the release is very huge and hence with over 4500 screens running shows right through the days, even with minimum occupancy there are some sort of collections. Also, with no real competition around it as Coolie (Hindi) hasn’t been collecting either and Mahavatar Narsimha playing at few screens and shows, the Hrithik Roshan and NTR starrer is managing to collect more than all other films combined together, including YRF’s Saiyaara.

That would be the case in the coming weekend as well since there is no new notable release. In fact, it would be interesting to see if by some stroke of luck it manages to see a rise in numbers and end up scoring in double digits on Sunday. That would be some consolation for the film which has just not done well with Rs. 151 crores* being collected in its first seven days.

Flop.

*Estimates

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

For years, Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe has been Bollywood’s golden goose - a money-spinning franchise that gave the industry its biggest-ever hits, transformed stars into larger-than-life agents, and set benchmarks for event cinema in India. From Salman Khan’s Tiger franchise to Shah Rukh Khan’s thunderous comeback with Pathaan, these films didn’t just pull crowds - they created hysteria, rewriting box office history and cementing YRF as the studio that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Hollywood franchises.

But with War 2, the empire has cracked. The film, billed as YRF’s “biggest action spectacle ever,” has instead turned into its most humiliating misfire, shaking audience confidence & worrying exhibitors. What was supposed to be a roaring expansion of the Spyverse has instead exposed its weakest links.

Let’s talk numbers - because numbers don’t lie. Each Spyverse film, until now, brought in hefty numbers at the box office: Pathaan – ₹543.05 cr. Tiger Zinda Hai – ₹339.16 cr. War – ₹318.01 cr. Tiger 3 – ₹285.52 cr. Ek Tha Tiger – ₹198.78 cr. War 2 – ₹175 cr. (lifetime estimates)

To put this in perspective - War 2 will finish ₹362 crore behind Pathaan and nearly ₹150 crore short of Hrithik’s first War. For a film carrying the Spyverse brand, two megastars, and sky-high pre-release hype, this freefall isn’t just underperformance - it’s a franchise-altering disaster.

From Ek Tha Tiger to Tiger 3, the formula has barely evolved - guns, gadgets, glamour, and the girl in a bikini. By the time War 2 arrived, fatigue had set in.

An exhibitor from Mumbai, on condition of anonymity, put it bluntly: “Audiences aren’t coming for another round of bikini songs and recycled patriotism. They want storytelling, not just stunts on steroids.”

Budget ballooned, VFX hype skyrocketed, and expectations went through the roof. But when the dust settled, War 2 looked less like a slick espionage thriller and more like a confused, bloated showreel.

A trade analyst quipped, “War 2 wanted to be Mission Impossible. What we got was Mission Impossible-to-sit-through after the first hour.”

The Spyverse isn’t just any franchise - it’s Aditya Chopra’s crown jewel. Pathaan’s ₹543 crore run had convinced Bollywood that the brand was unshakable. But War 2 has ripped open a harsh reality: franchises don’t guarantee success when storytelling falters.

“This isn’t a routine flop; this is a dent in the Spyverse brand. If even Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr. together can’t pull crowds, then something is seriously broken,” an overseas distributor remarked.

War 2 isn’t just another flop - it’s the lowest rung of the Spyverse ladder, a film that failed to justify its existence in a legacy of blockbuster tentpoles. While Pathaan sits at the top as the king of the Spyverse, War 2 sits at the bottom like a cautionary tale of hype, hubris, and half-baked storytelling.

There was some respite for War 2 as collections went up on Blockbuster Tuesday. With the ticket rates going low, the footfalls went up and as a result the collections stood at Rs. 8.50 crores. This is better than Monday which had gone down to Rs. 7.50 crores, which was a huge drop from the opening day (Rs. 29 crores).

In fact, it’s some sort of respite that the collections saw some improvement because the kind of free flow that was seen on Monday, it wouldn’t have been surprising if the numbers would have gone down to Rs. 6-7 crores range despite cheaper tickets. After all, it has been seen multiple times before that when there is rejection from the audiences then there is no breathing space whatsoever.

All eyes are now on how the hold is there today and tomorrow. If somehow the collections stay around that Rs. 6 crores mark then that would mean there is some sort of second weekend ahead of it, especially due to no new notable release. However, if the collections end up hitting that Rs. 5 crores mark then that would mean Rs. 200 crores lifetime would stay on to be a major challenge. Currently, this Hrithik Roshan and NTR starrer stands at Rs. 146 crores.

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

Back in 2013 the Aamir Khan starrer Dhoom 3 hit screens, while the film itself went on to create box office collection records, Aamir had come up with a different theory to gauge a film’s success. According to Aamir Khan, “To measure a film’s success, you need to see the weekend figures and compare it with the total collection. Like 3 Idiots did Rs. 40 crores on the weekend and the total business was Rs. 202 crores, so the weekend multiplied by 5, is the behaviour of the film which is very good. That shows people have gone again and again to see the film. Jo film teen din mein 100 crore karein aur total mein 200 crore karein, then that film is not good.”

In this report, while comparing the quality of movies, we introduce a metric – Weekend to Lifetime Multiple – for the 100 crore club. According to this comparison, a higher multiple indicates strong content and therefore longevity at cinemas, which in turn signifies repeat viewership and consistent footfalls in subsequent weeks.

By this measure, Mahavatar Narsimha has emerged as a surprise frontrunner, scoring a multiple of 12.85, comfortably surpassing acclaimed performers like Kantara (10.54) and The Kashmir Files (9.31). The number suggests that despite a relatively modest opening, the film has drawn audiences steadily over weeks, pointing to word-of-mouth appeal and a narrative strong enough to ensure repeat patronage.

Interestingly, while Mahavatar Narsimha leads the chart with the highest multiple at 12.85, Pushpa – The Rise whose sheer box office scale made it the most commercially impactful film follows, with a multiple of 8.54.

The comparative table further highlights the consistency of content-driven films. 12th Fail (8.47), Uri: The Surgical Strike (6.87), and The Kerala Story (6.82) all demonstrate how smaller and mid-budget productions converted positive reception into long legs at the box office. Even mainstream commercial films like Tiger 3 (6.42) and older hits such as Queen (6.10) and Hindi Medium (5.54) reflect the same principle: strong word-of-mouth extends a film’s run far beyond its opening weekend.

That said, Mahavatar Narsimha’s showing is remarkable because it has outperformed some of the most talked-about recent successes on this metric. The fact that it managed to beat Kantara and The Kashmir Files — both films hailed as examples of content-driven phenomena — positions it among the most resilient performers of the last decade.

The lesson that emerges from this list is clear: box office success cannot be judged by opening weekends alone. Films like Mahavatar Narsimha reaffirm Aamir Khan’s decade-old formula — the true measure of success lies in a film’s ability to sustain interest over time, drawing audiences back into theatres week after week.

Top 10 Most Successful films as per Aamir Khan’s formula Mahavatar Narsimha - 12.85 Kantara - 10.54 The Kashmir Files - 9.31 Pushpa - The Rise - 8.54 12th Fail - 8.47 Uri - The Surgical Strike - 6.87 The Kerala Story - 6.82 Tiger 3 - 6.42 Queen - 6.10 Hindi Medium - 5.54

Yash Raj Films’ War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan, NTR Jr., and Kiara Advani, has officially entered the coveted Rs. 100 crore club, becoming the ninth release of 2025 to achieve this feat. Released on August 14, the high-octane action entertainer hit the Rs. 100 cr mark within just four days, placing it among the fastest grossers of the year.

According to box office reports, War 2 opened on a strong note with Rs. 28 cr on Day 1 (Thursday). The film saw a massive Independence Day boost on Day 2 (Friday), raking in Rs. 45 cr, marking a 60.71% jump. However, the film experienced a noticeable drop over the weekend, collecting Rs. 24 cr on Saturday (down 46.67%) and Rs. 23 cr on Sunday (down 4.17%). Despite the decline, the four-day extended weekend total comfortably pushed War 2 past the Rs. 100 cr milestone.

With this, War 2 joins the league of 2025’s major box office successes, though its trajectory raises interesting comparisons with other big-ticket releases. For instance, Chhaava remains the year’s biggest hit, storming into the Rs. 100 cr club in just three days before ending with an all-time high Rs. 600.10 cr lifetime. Following closely, Saiyaara and Housefull 5 both crossed Rs. 100 cr in four days, eventually finishing at Rs. 330.45 cr and Rs. 160.72 cr respectively.

War 2’s four-day journey to Rs. 100 cr puts it in the same bracket as Saiyaara and Housefull 5 in terms of speed. However, its performance so far seems more frontloaded, with a steep drop post-Independence Day. Whether the film can sustain beyond its extended opening weekend and replicate the massive legs of Chhaava or Saiyaara remains the key question for trade circles.

So far, 2025 has seen an impressive run at the box office, with diverse genres making their mark. From historical epics like Chhaava, to youthful love stories like Saiyaara, to animation with Mahavatar Narsimha, the industry has witnessed a resurgence. War 2’s entry into the Rs. 100 cr club cements its place among the year’s headline releases, though its ultimate lifetime business will depend on how it counters competition and sustains in the weeks ahead.

Fastest Rs. 100 cr grossers of 2025 at a glance: Chhaava - Rs. 600.10 cr - 3 Days Saiyaara - Rs. 330.45 cr - 4 Days Housefull 5 - Rs. 160.72 cr - 4 Days War 2 - Rs. 120 cr - 4 Days Sky Force - Rs. 131.44 cr - 8 Days Raid 2 - Rs. 178.08 cr - 9 Days Sitaare Zameen Par - Rs. 165.27 cr - 9 Days Sikandar - Rs. 103.45 cr - 10 Days Mahavatar Narsimha - Rs. 143.77 cr - 16 Days

Kiara Advani has steadily risen to become one of the most sought-after actresses of her generation, and with War 2 crossing Rs. 100 crore in just four days, she now has her fifth film in the elite 100 crore club. The high-octane actioner, which released on 14th August 2025, collected an impressive Rs. 120 crore through its extended opening weekend, further solidifying Kiara’s reputation as a consistent box office performer. The film began strongly with Rs. 28 crore on Thursday, gained big momentum on Independence Day with Rs. 45 crore on Friday, and though it dipped to Rs. 24 crore and Rs. 23 crore on Saturday and Sunday respectively, the total comfortably pushed War 2 into the 100 crore club. For Kiara, this marks yet another milestone in her already glittering career.

According to the latest figures, Deepika Padukone leads the pack of actresses with 11 Rs. 100 crore grossers, followed by Katrina Kaif with 9, and Alia Bhatt and Kareena Kapoor Khan with 8 each. Shraddha Kapoor and Jacqueline Fernandez have 7 apiece. With War 2, Kiara joins the company of Rashmika Mandanna and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who also have 5 films each past the Rs. 100 crore benchmark.

Kiara’s journey to this milestone has been lined with some of the biggest hits of recent years. Her breakout blockbuster Kabir Singh (2019) remains her highest grosser with Rs. 278.24 crore, followed by the Christmas release Good Newwz (2019), which earned Rs. 205.14 crore and was declared a super-hit. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022), a horror-comedy, turned out to be another massive winner with Rs. 185.92 crore, while M.S. Dhoni – The Untold Story (2016) contributed Rs. 133.04 crore. Each of these films underscored her ability to shine across genres, whether in intense romances, comedies, or biographical dramas.

Now, with War 2, Kiara adds a full-fledged action spectacle to her list of successes, broadening her already diverse repertoire. What stands out is her strike rate — five Rs. 100 crore films out of just over a dozen major releases — a consistency that few actresses of her generation can match.

Averages show how Kiara’s box office pull is steadily growing. Her highest grosser, Kabir Singh, crossed Rs. 278 crore, giving her an average of Rs. 180 crore per 100 crore entry. This places her ahead of several established names in terms of efficiency, with room to scale higher if War 2 maintains momentum in the coming weeks.

In contrast, Deepika Padukone averages about Rs. 247 crore per entry, boosted by mega blockbusters like Pathaan and Jawan, while Shraddha Kapoor’s average is skewed by Baahubali: The Beginning and Saaho, both of which crossed Rs. 600 crore. Rashmika Mandanna, meanwhile, has an astonishing high of Rs. 830.10 crore courtesy of Pushpa: The Rise, making her average a staggering Rs. 350 crore per entry. Against such towering benchmarks, Kiara’s consistency in Hindi cinema stands out — she may not yet have a pan-India record-shattering number, but her steady rise makes her one of Bollywood’s most bankable leading ladies.

With War 2 now in her arsenal, Kiara Advani has joined the select league of actresses who not only deliver strong openings but also sustain momentum well past the first weekend. As she continues to balance commercial entertainers with content-driven cinema, her trajectory looks poised for even greater highs.

For now, her fifth Rs. 100 crore film marks another big step in her evolution — not just as a star, but as a box office force to be reckoned with in today’s ever-competitive Bollywood landscape.

Kiara Advani’s Rs. 100 cr Grossers till date: Kabir Singh - Rs. 278.24 cr Good Newwz - Rs. 205.14 cr Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 - Rs. 185.92 cr M.S. Dhoni – The Untold Story - Rs. 133.04 cr War 2 - Rs. 120 cr

The YRF Spy Universe film, War 2, is recording a dismal run at the box office across the globe. Over the last 2 days, the Hindi version was proving to be a face-saver for the actioner. However, in a shocking turn of events, War 2 has seen a significant drop in collections on Saturday and Sunday, resulting in a poor opening weekend total.

According to our estimates, the Hrithik and NTR Jr. film opened at Rs. 28 crores on Thursday, with a jump to Rs. 45 crores on Friday. The film crashed on Saturday to Rs. 24 crores, and saw another drop to Rs. 23 crores on Sunday. The four-day weekend of War 2 stands at a low total of Rs. 120 crores, and the film will be headed for a flop status at the box-office.

The footfalls of War 2 will not just be the lowest for the Spy Universe that started in 2012 with Ek Tha Tiger, but also lower than another big-budget YRF failure, Thugs of Hindostan. The film has not performed well owing to the poor reports amongst the cinema-going audience and the subpar promotional material.

The teaser and trailer itself had dented the prospects, and the post-release content was just the final nail in the coffin.

The word of mouth of War 2 has overpowered Jr. NTR's stardom in Telugu, as the collections of Ayan Mukerji's film have come down crashing on the second day. According to early estimates, War 2 has collected a total of just Rs. 11 crores on Independence Day, down from the first-day collections of Rs. 25 crores.

The film was expected to be the big Pan-Indian film from Hindi Cinema, but the numbers have come as a shocker for the trade and even the teams working on War 2. The film was sold to Naga Vamsi for a sum of Rs. 90 crores, and the share of War 2 will be half of the amount, which means losses of juggernaut proportions for the distributors in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The drop has come despite a National Holiday, and signals that the word of mouth is negative, leading to a rejection. The Hindi version of War 2 is proving to be a saviour and will help it reach a face-saving number in the long run. By the end of the run, the Hindi version could be almost 3x the Telugu version, but that doesn't mean anything good for War 2, as the Hindi version too will end up as a non-performing asset.

There is a drop in the morning shows of Telugu on Saturday too, and the film could hit a single-digit number today.

The YRF Spy Universe film, War 2, is struggling to find momentum at the worldwide box office. After a sub-par opening of Rs. 80 crore globally, War 2 dropped to Rs. 75 crores on the second day, taking the total collections to Rs. 155 crores. The drop has come primarily due to the Telugu versions, whose collections have come down crashing on the second day.

There was little redemption for War 2 in Hindi, as the franchise value and Hrithik Roshan's stardom managed to get in some audiences on Independence Day. However, the same didn't happen in Telugu, where the negative word of mouth started to reflect on the holiday as well.

As compared to War 2, Coolie collected Rs. 90 crores on the second day, dropping from a record start of Rs. 151 crores. This happens usually for Tamil films, which are highly frontloaded. The two-day total of Coolie stands at Rs. 240 crores, and the film will be headed for an opening weekend around the Rs. 375 crore mark globally.

The reports of Coolie are also mixed, which means that it would not achieve all-time records.

The Ayan Mukerji-directed War 2 has finally found some momentum on its second day, thanks to the Independence Day holiday boost. As per early estimates, the Hindi version is heading towards a Rs. 38 to Rs. 40 crore Friday, registering a healthy 42% growth over its opening day numbers. The spike was primarily driven by strong traction in the mass belts, where footfalls were far more encouraging than on Day 1.

The national holiday brought in higher occupancies right from the morning shows, with single screens in Tier-2 and Tier-3 centres seeing the most noticeable gains. However, such an upsurge is typical for big releases on Independence Day and may not be a reliable indicator of long-term trend. The Hindi version continues to have a very limited presence in Nizam / Andhra due to the dominance of the Telugu version - a release strategy that has capped its potential in those circuits.

With this, War 2 is poised to close its two-day Hindi total in the Rs. 68-70 crore range, still far below the expectations for a Rs. 400 crore budget spectacle. While this holiday-led jump will give the film some breathing room going into the weekend, the challenge lies in sustaining business once the holiday effect wears off. Janmashtami on Saturday may help certain mass pockets maintain higher-than-normal occupancy, but the Telugu version is expected to witness a sharp drop.

For now, War 2 heads into the weekend riding holiday momentum - whether it can convert that into genuine box office legs remains the big question.

It was predicted in this column that the Hindi version of War 2 will open in Rs. 35-40 crores. After all, War 2 had taken a huge opening on its Gandhi Jayanti release back in 2019 with Rs. 53.35 crores coming its way. Now even if Thursday was a regular working day, the ticket prices were set as much higher. Also, evening and night shows were ought to be better due to long weekend factor. Moreover, the hype was immense too and all eyes were on this Hrithik Roshan and NTR starter to justify its tag of being an event film.

As a matter of fact, at the bare minimum one was looking at Rs. 50 crores opening day but looking at advance booking trending, the expectations were brought down to Rs. 35-Rs. 40 crores. However, what has happened is below this bare minimum expectation as well since the numbers have come to Rs. 28 crores. For a regular biggie, these are still decent enough numbers but when one looks at the fact that this is the sixth in the Spy Universe franchise and there is a lethal combination of two solid superstars coming together in an epic face-off, one looked for a bigger number.

The good part is that the YRF film has seen a big release in Telugu as well, and is in fact the biggest ever for Bollywood as it’s far ahead of Brahmastra, which was also directed by Ayan Mukherji. That has ensured another Rs. 23 crores to have come in. If one combines that with the Hindi version, the total stands at Rs. 51 crores. Today being Independence Day holiday, one looks for the kind of growth that comes in, though mixed reports means that the numbers won’t rise dramatically.

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

The most awaited film of the year, War 2 has scored underwhelming results at the box office across the world. While the producers are yet to release the first day collections, Bollywood Hungama has exclusively found out the worldwide opening of this Spy Universe film. Led by Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, War 2 has grossed Rs. 82 crores on the opening day at the worldwide box office.

While the Hindi version has won the battle against Telugu, what's surprising is that the first day collections of War 2 are lower than a dud like Game Changer starrer Mega Powerstar Ram Charan. The Shankar directorial, after so many delays and content issues, opened at Rs. 95 crores across the world, whereas War 2 has barely hit the Rs. 80 crore mark on the first day.

NTR Jr. and Ram Charan are among the key competitors in the Telugu market, and with War 2, NTR Jr. has failed to surpass Charan's first-day despite having additional support in the form of Hrithik Roshan. If we exclude the Hindi business, the first day of the Telugu version is barely Rs. 35 crores at the worldwide box office, whereas the Hindi version has earned around Rs. 45 crores globally.

The film has started to show cracks in Telugu belts, whereas in overseas, for Telugu, it is also curtains down on the second day.

The most awaited Pan India film, War 2, has failed to take a noteworthy start at the Indian Box Office. With early estimates of Rs. 29 crores for the Hindi version, the film has recorded the lowest start for a YRF Spy Universe film. Aditya Chopra and Ayan Mukerji had strategically cast NTR Jr. in War 2 alongside Hrithik Roshan to set the Telugu box office on fire.

However, in a shocking move, the Telugu version of War 2 has opened even lower than Hindi version as the early estimates have fallen in the range of nett collections of Rs. 25 crores to Rs. 27 crores. With this, the Hindi and Telugu nett of War 2 in India stands at a low number of Rs. 52 crores.

Funnily, War 2 was pegged to nett Rs. 100 crores on the opening day a year back, but the actuals have turned out to be half of what was expected. Naga Vamsi has bought the Telugu version of War 2 for a huge sum of Rs. 90 crores, and the first day share of War 2 is barely around the Rs. 18 crore mark, leaving a lot to be recovered.

The audience response is not upto the mark, and the troubles are mounting ahead for the YRF Spy Universe film. There is a drop in advances for day 2 in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, so the early signs are worrisome at the moment.

The Ayan Mukerji-directed War 2 with Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr. has taken a slow start in Hindi, as very early estimates are suggesting first-day business in the range of Rs. 28 crores to Rs. 30 crores. The film has just not taken off at the box office, as the footfalls were low in the mass centers and also the urban areas.

The national chains are set to collect approximately. Rs. 13 crores on the first day, with a contribution of about 47 percent. The reports from the audiences are not positive from the morning and noon shows, and this start signals danger for War 2 in the long run. What's shocking is the fact that the first day business of War 2 is not just lower than War (2019) but also the first day business of Ek Tha Tiger (2012).

War 2 has taken the lowest start of the universe, and there isn't much hope for redemption ahead. There is a holiday weekend ahead, so there will be jumps in business for War 2 over the next 3 days, but that won't be of much consequence as a Rs. 400 crore budget film should have opened at-least 2x of the present number.

The advances for Independence Day are not big either, but it's a day that strongly relies on the walk-ins, so a jump is surely on cards - how big, is something we would know only through the day.

Opening Day of YRF Spy Universe movies Pathaan – Rs. 57 cr. War - Rs. 53.35 cr. Tiger 3 - Rs. 44.50 cr. Ek Tha Tiger - Rs. 32.93 cr. Tiger Zinda Hai - Rs. 34.10 cr. War 2 - Rs. 28 cr. – Rs. 30 cr. (estimated)

It’s time for Rajinikanth’s Coolie to hit the screens this Thursday. The film is the biggest ever for Rajinikanth and inarguably the most hyped affair from Tamil cinema. There hasn’t been a week since the film’s announcement that one hasn’t heard about it. A truly star-studded affair with Nagarjuna, Upendra and Aamir Khan in prominent roles (hence covering Telugu, Kannada and Hindi film industries as well), this one is a signature Lokesh Kangaraj film with Aniruddh’s music being further highlight.

All of this means that there has already been massive craze for the film and for the loyal Rajinikanth fans (who are in abundance), this one is a must watch right at the time of release. Of course, that’s more for the Tamil version where the advance booking has been bumped ever since it opened in overseas and then in India. However, when it comes to the Hindi version, the film is seeing a very curtailed release due to the arrival of War 2. At best one screen per major multiplex has been allocated to the film which means from opening numbers standpoint, it would be more about occupancy than the actual box office results at least on the first day.

That said, it will still be the second highest dubbed outing for Rajinikanth after 2.0 (which also had Akshay Kumar for added measure) as it will comfortably go past the first day numbers of Kabali. Hindi version of the film had seen an opening day of Rs. 5.20 crores back in 2016 and that number will be comfortably surpassed as a first day of Rs. 7-9 crores is on the cards. It could have comfortably gone past the double-digit mark had the release been bigger but things could well change from Saturday onwards when few extra shows may come its way basis performance.

The Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr. film with Ayan Mukerji is finally showing some strength in advance booking in Hindi. After a rather average run in advance booking, the film has finally shown growth with healthy results in hourly sales. With over 1 and a half days still to go, War 2 has sold approximately 60,000 tickets across the top 3 national chains, and is expected to cross the 1 lakh mark by the end of this day.

The advance bookings are nowhere close to expectations, but this spike in ticket sales keeps War 2 in the race to have a shot at the final advance booking of Saiyaara, Chhaava, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, and Singham Again. Feature films like Tiger 3, Brahmastra, Animal, KGF 2, Jawan, and Pathaan are out of the league for this Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr. film.

To everyone's shock, the final advances of War 2 will also be lower than War 1, a scenario which no one could have imagined. The experts pegged the first day of War 2 at Rs. 50 to 60 crores, but now the film is headed for a start of Rs. 35 crores in Hindi, unless there is a change of tide in the next two days.

There is a big Independence Day holiday, so War 2 will be hoping to see big jumps on Friday based on strong audience word of mouth to make up for the loss of business on Day 1.

In an exceptional turn of events rarely witnessed in modern box office trends, Mahavatar Narsimha has continued to defy conventional collection patterns, recording an impressive jump in business on its third weekend. While most films see a natural drop after their opening frame — and certainly by the third week — this animated epic has rewritten the rules, drawing even bigger crowds as the weeks go by.

The film opened with a promising Weekend 1 total of Rs. 12.11 cr, backed by strong word of mouth and critical praise for its storytelling, visuals, and emotional depth. What followed was nothing short of remarkable — in its second weekend, Mahavatar Narsimha saw collections skyrocket to Rs. 32.82 cr, a phenomenal +171.02% increase, signalling that audiences were not just curious but fully invested in the cinematic experience.

However, the real box office marvel came in Weekend 3. Instead of slowing down, the film’s momentum only grew stronger, clocking an astounding Rs. 38.96 cr, marking a further +18.71% jump over its already record-breaking second weekend. This trend places Mahavatar Narsimha in a rare league of films that manage to expand their audience base week after week, largely thanks to exceptional word-of-mouth publicity and repeat viewings.

Trade experts point out that such growth is indicative of a film transcending its genre limitations. As an animated release, Mahavatar Narsimha initially faced skepticism about its mass appeal. Yet, its blend of spiritual themes, breathtaking animation, and a compelling emotional core has resonated deeply with a wide demographic — from young children to older audiences.

With this third-weekend surge, Mahavatar Narsimha not only cements its status as one of the year’s most extraordinary box office stories but also sets a benchmark for how strong content can drive sustained theatrical success. If this trajectory continues, the film could be on track to challenge some of the most unexpected blockbusters in recent memory.

It’s clear that Mahavatar Narsimha is no longer just a film — it has become an experience audience are actively recommending, revisiting, and celebrating, making it a textbook example of how quality storytelling can defy industry expectations.

Mahavatar Narsimha Box Office at a glance: Weekend 1 - Rs. 12.11 cr Weekend 2 - Rs. 32.82 cr +171.02% Weekend 3 - Rs. 38.96 cr +18.71%

Indian cinema has witnessed yet another box office milestone with Mahavatar Narsimha storming its way into the coveted list of the Top 10 highest-grossing Hindi dubbed releases of all time. In a feat few anticipated, the animated mythological epic has outperformed the record once held by the pioneering blockbuster Baahubali – The Beginning, closing its second week at an impressive Rs. 123.40 crore.

With this achievement, Mahavatar Narsimha now ranks ninth on the all-time chart, pushing Baahubali – The Beginning (Rs. 118.70 crore) to the tenth spot. The list remains dominated by mega South Indian blockbusters that have transcended language barriers—led by Pushpa 2 – The Rule at Rs. 830.10 crore, followed by Baahubali 2 – The Conclusion (Rs. 510.99 crore) and KGF – Chapter 2 (Rs. 434.70 crore).

What makes Mahavatar Narsimha’s entry into this elite club especially noteworthy is that it is the first animated film to do so, breaking through a space traditionally dominated by high-octane live-action spectacles. Its seamless blend of cutting-edge animation technology, rich mythological storytelling, and mass appeal has struck a rare balance—pulling in family audiences, animation enthusiasts, and fans of mytho-epic narratives alike.

Trade experts credit the film’s longevity to strong word-of-mouth and repeat viewings, a phenomenon typically reserved for cultural phenomena like RRR or Baahubali 2. “The collections are extraordinary not just because it’s an animated film, but because it has competed directly with live-action event films and held its own,” notes one leading distributor.

Currently, the Top 10 Hindi dubbed releases list reads as follows: Pushpa 2 – The Rule (Rs. 830.10 cr), Baahubali 2 – The Conclusion (Rs. 510.99 cr), KGF – Chapter 2 (Rs. 434.70 cr), Kalki 2989 AD (Rs. 294.25 cr), RRR (Rs. 274.31 cr), 2.0 (Rs. 189.55 cr), Salaar (Rs. 153.84 cr), Saaho (Rs. 142.95 cr), Mahavatar Narsimha (Rs. 123.40 cr), and Baahubali – The Beginning (Rs. 118.70 cr).

As Mahavatar Narsimha continues its theatrical run, it stands as both a cultural and commercial breakthrough—proving that animated cinema, when executed with scale, vision, and emotional depth, can command the same box office gravitas as the most celebrated live-action blockbusters. Its success may well redefine the future landscape of Indian animation, inspiring studios to dream—and invest—bigger.

Top 10 All-Time Highest Hindi dubbed releases Pushpa 2 - The Rule - Rs. 830.10 cr. Baahubali 2 - The Conclusion - Rs. 510.99 cr. KGF - Chapter 2 - Rs. 434.70 cr. Kalki 2989 AD - Rs. 294.25 cr. RRR - Rs. 274.31 cr. 2.0 - Rs. 189.55 cr. Salaar - Rs. 153.84 cr. Saaho - Rs. 142.95 cr. Mahavatar Narsimha - Rs. 123.40 cr. Baahubali - The Beginning - Rs. 118.7 cr.

There is no stopping Mahavatar Narsimha. The film has been defying expectations with every passing day and is collecting more than double of the total of all the other films in the running. It’s a one film show all the way with only Saiyaara being at the second spot, though far away. Otherwise no other holdover or new release is able to collect even 25% of it, which pretty much tells the tale.

This was seen on Sunday as well when the film went on rampage all over again and brought in a mammoth Rs. 17.41 crores more. Last Sunday, the film had brought in Rs. 16.27 crores and this Sunday the collections have gone up, which is remarkable. All of this also ensures that between now and Thursday, at least Rs. 10 crores more will be added to the total, hence taking it past Rs. 135 crores.

So far, the film has collected Rs. 123.40 crores and there is so much steam still left in it. In fact, if not for War 2 and Coolie arriving, it could well have aimed for that 200 crores lifetime as well but for now 175 crores is still there for the taking and that would be out of the world as well.

BLOCKBUSTER

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

The most awaited film of 2025, War 2 starring Hrithik Roshan, NTR Jr. and Kiara Advani has taken an average start in advance bookings across the national multiplex chains. The YRF Spy Universe film is expected to sell approximately 22,000 tickets in the national multiplex chains on the first day of the advance booking. PVR Inox has sold 17,000 tickets, whereas Cinepolis has sold 5,000 tickets.

Talking of 2025, the advance booking of NTR Jr. and Hrithik Roshan's War 2 is slower than the last YRF release - Saiyaara too. For those unaware, Saiyaara had sold 34,000 tickets on the first day of advance booking. The bookings are lower than Vicky Kaushal's Chhaava too, which had sold 27,000 tickets on the first day of tickets going on sale.

The start is below expectations, as films like Pathaan and Jawan had sold over 1 lakh tickets on the first day, whereas Tiger 3 and Animal also sold 55,000 plus and 45,000 tickets on the first day of advance booking. The silver lining in this advance booking is in the fact that the sales are marginally higher than Hrithik's last release, Fighter.

With three days to go, and strong competition from Coolie, it would be exciting to see the movement in advance booking of War 2 in the days to come.

Mahavatar Narsimha is continuing with its extraordinary run at the box office. While last Saturday, Rs. 11.25 crores came in, this Saturday the collections jumped all the more as not just the film entered double digit zone, it actually came close to second Sunday collections of Rs. 16.27 crores. It’s one thing for a film to keep its fantastic business running on a continuous basis and another when the collections keep growing on a week on week basis without any break whatsoever.

No wonder, with business jumping to more than triple when compared to Friday collections of Rs. 4.70 crores, the film ended up netting Rs. 15 crores more which is only justifying its blockbuster run all the more. The film is not slowing down at all and rest assured, there would be excellent numbers all over again today too as it builds on top of Rs. 104.14 crores that it has collected so far.

Last week, the film had moved up to Rs. 16.27 crores on Sunday and that too with Saiyaara going so strong and new releases Son Of Sardaar 2 and Dhadak 2 occupying a large number of screens. There is no such competition this week which means Mahavatar Narsimha would be aiming to go past Rs. 120 crores by the close of third weekend.

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

Rajinikanth is on a roll as his August 14 release, Coolie has taken the box office by storm all across the globe. With 4 days to go, Coolie has recorded an advance booking of Rs. 37 crores ($4.3 million) at the overseas box office, making it one of the highest of all time for a film of Indian origin. This is with 4 days to go, and overseas advance of Coolie could go as high as Rs. 55 crores by Wednesday.

Its competitor, War 2 meanwhile, is left far behind as far as international business is concerned. With 4 days to go, the Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr. film has clocked an advance of Rs. 5.50 crores in the overseas belt. The YRF film is trailing behind War 2 internationally by a humongous margin of Rs. 32 crores and the gap could just get wider in the days to come.

Globally, Coolie has scored advance booking of Rs. 50 crores, and the film is looking to scale new heights in the days to come. The advances for War 2 in India are expected to open soon, and with Hindi and Telugu, the film will be looking to reduce the gap. When we talk of worldwide numbers, Coolie is leading War 2 by a margin of Rs. 47 crores, which was unthinkable as a week back as War 2 was considered to be a bigger film than Coolie, but the tides have now shifted.

At the moment, it's a one-man show, as Rajinikanth yet again proves why he is the greatest superstar of all time, as one man has taken down two young generation heroes.

The Mohit Suri directorial Saiyaara continues its remarkable run at the box office, especially in the Mumbai circuit - the territory that often sets the tone for a film’s nationwide performance. Closing Week 3 with a formidable Rs. 97.78 crore, the film is now just a breath away from the Rs. 100 crore milestone in the circuit, a feat expected to be achieved this coming weekend.

The achievement is significant, as Saiyaara becomes only the second film of 2025 to breach the Rs. 100 crore mark in Mumbai, after the year’s highest grosser in the circuit, Chhaava, which has collected a staggering Rs. 265.44 crores.

What’s more impressive is Saiyaara’s climb up the All-Time Mumbai Circuit Grossers list. The film has already moved to No. 17, surpassing the lifetime tally of Kabir Singh (Rs. 95.61 crores). Over the weekend, it is likely to leapfrog past two major blockbusters - Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Rs. 99.34 crores) and Sanju (Rs. 102.39 crores) - to secure an even stronger foothold in the rankings.

The film’s continued draw is fueled by excellent word-of-mouth, repeat viewership from metro audiences, and a soundtrack that has become a rage. The Mumbai circuit’s ticket prices combined with strong occupancy levels have further propelled its numbers, ensuring Saiyaara’s place among the elite performers in the region.

It was a massive second week for Mahavatar Narsimha as it ended up scoring a half century. It has never happened before that a film has scored in the 30s in its first week and then went on to get into the 50s in the second week. This is unprecedented and it would require a really special movie for it to happen again.

Frankly, this will only happen for films which don’t have much of a hype before release and then grow phenomenally solely on the power of word-of-mouth post arrival. Otherwise, any movie with hype and awareness will as it is get its best numbers in the first week itself. Yes, it may sustain well and even that would be phenomenal since typically films do drop 50%-70% in second week. Hence, even maintaining at the same levels would be remarkable. However, for it to grow further, it can happen only for the rarest of rarest films.

Now that this has happened for this Indian animation film that currently stands at Rs. 84.44 crores, all eyes are on its entry into the Rs. 100 Crore Club this weekend. Other than Saiyaara, there is Jurassic World: Rebirth, which has done that in the recent times and even F1 The Movie has an outside chance to somehow sneak its way into the century zone. However, Mahavatar Narsimha will stay on to be special due to its unpopular genre that doesn’t have many takers in India and this could well open up newer avenues.

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

It’s Mahavatar Narsimha all the way. After Blockbuster Tuesday of Rs. 6.30 crores*, the film did settle down on Wednesday as Rs. 4.50 crores* came in. The numbers are good again, though one must add that it’s a drop when compared to Monday collections of Rs. 5.30 crores.

Last week, each of the weekdays was really steady and there was also increase in numbers seen. Of course, such a feat cannot happen week after week, especially since the weekend gone by has anyways been terrific with Saturday and Sunday running riot in double digits. Hence, what’s coming in currently is also quite good and given the genre and the format, this is in fact superb.

It’s also continuing to be the highest collecting film at theatres as no other film, be it holdover or new, is coming even close to what it’s collecting. Even today, the film should cross Rs. 4 crores mark and that will be quite good. So far, the film has collected Rs. 82 crores* and before third weekend comes to a close it would have entered the Rs. 100 Crore Club.

*Estimates

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

It was Blockbuster Tuesday yesterday and with lower ticket prices, there were much higher footfalls for Mahavatar Narsimha. From Monday collections of Rs. 5.30 crores, numbers moved all the way up to Rs. 6.30 crores* on Tuesday. That’s just fabulous because the film is now collecting more than the combined total of all the other Hindi films in the running.

It’s one sided supremacy for the mythological animation film, which is running at a good count of screens but has ample potential to go even bigger. In fact, some of the shows have already been diverted towards it and from Friday onwards, it would have the highest count of premium as well as regular screens and also the most number of shows. There are a few films arriving this Friday but one can again expect that Mahavatar Narsimha collections would be more than all the films combined together.

It will also enter the Rs. 100 Crore Club this weekend as the collections so far for the Hindi version stand at Rs. 76.64 crores*. After the second week is through, the total would have reached Rs. 85 crores and post that by Sunday - if not Saturday itself -  the century mark would be hit. The film is assured of Rs. 135 crores lifetime and whatever comes post that would be an added bonus.

*Estimates

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

In a feat few anticipated but many are now celebrating, Saiyaara, the romantic action drama starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has stormed past the Rs. 500 crore mark at the global box office. The film, which released to high expectations and even higher buzz, has raked in a staggering Rs. 502.4 crore in worldwide gross collections — and it has done so in just 18 days.

Breaking down the numbers, Saiyaara has shown remarkable performance both in the domestic and international markets. In India, the film has netted Rs. 308 crore, translating to a gross collection of Rs. 373.11 crore. Meanwhile, the film’s overseas run has been equally formidable, bringing in Rs. 129.29 crore. These combined figures have pushed the total worldwide gross to a solid Rs. 502.4 crore, making Saiyaara one of the biggest global hits of 2025 so far.

What makes this achievement even more noteworthy is the pace at which Saiyaara has achieved it. Crossing the Rs. 500 crore mark in just 18 days places the film in an elite category of blockbusters that have demonstrated not only massive opening weekends but also enduring audience interest in the weeks that follow.

Directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara has benefited immensely from strong word of mouth, repeat viewing, and the onscreen chemistry of its fresh lead pair. For debutant Ahaan Panday and rising star Aneet Padda, this milestone is more than just a commercial win — it signals their arrival as major players in the Bollywood mainstream. The film’s combination of youth-centric storytelling, high-octane action, and emotional depth has resonated with audiences across demographics and geographies.

With this new benchmark, Saiyaara now joins the rare club of films that have crossed the Rs. 500 crore mark globally — a list usually dominated by franchise films, seasoned superstars, and massive production houses. That Saiyaara has entered this league with relative newcomers at the helm is a testament to the changing dynamics of Indian cinema, where content, execution, and emotional connection increasingly trump star power alone.

As the film enters its third week with momentum still on its side, it will be interesting to see how much further it can go. One thing is clear: Saiyaara has already made its mark, and its success story is far from over

Saiyaara Worldwide Collections at a glance: India Nett: Rs. 308 cr India Gross: Rs. 373.11 cr Overseas Gross: Rs. 129.29 cr Worldwide Gross: Rs. 502.4 cr

In what can only be described as a spectacular dream run, Saiyaara has crossed the Rs. 500 crore mark at the worldwide box office, solidifying its status as one of the year’s most successful films. Starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the romantic action drama has achieved this monumental feat within just 18 days of its theatrical release, making it the second film of 2025 to enter the coveted Rs. 500 crore club after Chhaava.

According to trade estimates, Saiyaara has grossed a massive Rs. 373.11 crore in India, while its performance in the overseas markets has been equally impressive, adding Rs. 129.29 crore to its total. This takes the film’s global gross to exactly Rs. 502.4 crore, a rare milestone for a film headlined by debutant leads.

The domestic reception of Saiyaara has been overwhelmingly positive, with the film benefitting from strong word of mouth, repeat viewings, and a robust theatrical presence even into its third week. Its India nett collection stands at Rs. 308 crore, indicating that audiences across all regions have embraced the film’s emotional narrative, dynamic performances, and striking visuals.

Overseas, Saiyaara has surprised many by outperforming bigger-budgeted competitors, with key markets such as the Middle East, North America, and Australia showing sustained traction. The international appeal of its leads—particularly Ahaan Panday, who marks his grand debut—and the universal theme of love and redemption have helped the film resonate with global audiences.

With this accomplishment, Saiyaara now stands alongside Chhaava—which leads the box office charts of 2025 with an astonishing Rs. 797.34 crore worldwide—as the only two films this year to surpass the Rs. 500 crore benchmark. While Chhaava had the advantage of star power and franchise familiarity, Saiyaara has done the unimaginable by riding on fresh faces and a new storyline.

The triumph of Saiyaara is a testament to the evolving tastes of the audience and the power of storytelling. It has not only positioned Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda as serious contenders in the industry but has also proven that new talent, when backed by strong content and efficient marketing, can shatter box office ceilings.

As it continues its theatrical run, all eyes are now on how far Saiyaara will go—and whether it can narrow the gap with Chhaava to become the highest-grossing film of the year. Regardless of what lies ahead, Saiyaara has already carved a place for itself in 2025’s cinematic history.

Rs. 500 cr Worldwide Grossers of 2025 at a glance: Chhaava: Rs. 797.34 cr Saiyaara: Rs. 502.4 cr

Mahavatar Narsimha is following a trajectory of its own. While films see a gradual rise over the weekend (sometimes even meteoric), what this animation film did - and that too in its second week - was out of this world and unprecedented. Now, same is the case with the weekdays as well since the film is defying all trends, all theories, all expectations.

While Friday collections were Rs. 5.30 crores, Monday has come to Rs. 4.70 crores, which is quite good again. Considering the fact that Saturday had already got into double digits with Rs. 11.25 crores in its kitty and Sunday had seen a massive Rs. 16.27 crores being scored at the box office, the weekday trending has started on a huge note as well.

The mythological action drama is the highest collecting film amongst all others in the running and that too across languages and will keep going strong right till the arrival of War 2 now. It has already netted Rs. 70.34 crores and will comfortably go past the Rs. 90 crores mark by the time the second week comes to a close.

BLOCKBUSTER

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

Till just 3 months back, one wondered if even big budget Bollywood movies would be able to hit a century. Such was a draught of well performing films at the box office that week after week one faced disappointments from the most expected quarters. However, the situation has changed now in last couple of months. Week after week there is a film arriving which is doing well and now even the most unexpected of films are seeing good footfalls in theatres.

This is being seen with Mahavatar Narsimha as well, the Hindi version of which is running riot as it ended up collecting Rs. 16.27 crores more on Sunday. While the collections have been on an upswing ever since its release, the overall total is now super impressive, what with Rs. 50 crores mark being crossed in just 10 days and the overall numbers standing at Rs. 65.64 crores. In fact, it could well have done it in 9 days itself but then fell short of this feat by just a few lakhs. For a film that opened at Rs. 1.46 crore on its first Friday (a number that was not really expected from this animation mythological film!), to see more than 40 times its collections in next 9 days goes on to show the kind of acceptance that it has gained.

There is a lot more that the film will now do in days to come as it will start stepping its foot in the interiors as well. Now it’s a given that a lifetime of Rs. 100 crores+ will come in, and it would be truly remarkable if it could actually manage to create a case for itself for a score past Rs. 125 crores mark as well.

BLOCKBUSTER

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

Back in 2013 the Aamir Khan starrer Dhoom 3 hit screens, and while the film itself went on to create box office records, Aamir had come up with a different theory to gauge a film’s true success. According to him, “To measure a film’s success, you need to see the weekend figures and compare it with the total collection. Like 3 Idiots did Rs. 40 crores on the weekend and the total business was Rs. 202 crores, so the weekend multiplied by 5 is the behaviour of the film — which is very good. That shows people have gone again and again to see the film. Jo film teen din mein 100 crore karein aur total mein 200 crore karein, then that film is not good.”

A decade later, this formula continues to offer one of the most objective and content-driven metrics of a film’s success — its Weekend to Lifetime Multiple. And the latest to storm into this elite list is Mahavatar Narsimha, which despite a relatively modest opening weekend of Rs. 12.11 crore, has clocked an impressive lifetime total of Rs. 65.64 crore, giving it a multiple of 5.42x.

With this performance, Mahavatar Narsimha has officially entered the Top 10 All-Time Successful Films as per Aamir Khan’s metric — settling at the 10th spot on the list. In doing so, it edges past several high-profile films and proves once again that compelling content, rather than just opening hype, determines a film’s staying power.

The top rank continues to be held by Kantara (2022) with a staggering multiple of 10.54x, followed closely by The Kashmir Files (2022) at 9.31x. Both films, like Mahavatar Narsimha, were dark horses that relied heavily on word-of-mouth and grassroots audience engagement to deliver box office longevity.

Other significant entries in the list include Pushpa: The Rise – Part 1 (8.54x), 12th Fail (8.47x), Uri – The Surgical Strike (6.87x), and The Kerala Story (6.82x) — all of which demonstrated how strong narratives and emotional resonance can outlast opening weekend buzz.

Tiger 3, which released in 2023 with huge fanfare, finds itself at No. 7 with a multiple of 6.42x, while Queen (6.10x) and Hindi Medium (5.54x) occupy the eighth and ninth spots respectively. These films underscore the importance of strong word-of-mouth in building momentum beyond opening weekends — the very essence of Aamir’s argument.

That Mahavatar Narsimha finds a place in this illustrious list is especially noteworthy, considering it had little star power or marketing blitz. Instead, it banked on a spiritually charged narrative and cultural intrigue to draw in audiences, with interest peaking only after its theatrical release — a rare case of a genuine sleeper hit in today’s front-loaded industry.

As the box office continues to evolve in the age of OTT and tentpole spectacles, Mahavatar Narsimha serves as a compelling reminder: in the long run, it’s not the opening figures, but the repeat footfalls that define a film’s true legacy. And if Aamir Khan’s theory is anything to go by, Mahavatar Narsimha has certainly passed the test with distinction.

Top 10 Successful movies according to Aamir Khan’s formula: Kantara - 10.54 The Kashmir Files - 9.31 Pushpa: The Rise - Part 1 - 8.54 12th Fail - 8.47 Uri - The Surgical Strike - 6.87 The Kerala Story - 6.82 Tiger 3 - 6.42 Queen - 6.10 Hindi Medium - 5.54 Mahavatar Narsimha - 5.42

The tag of ‘Khooni Monday’ became quite a rage after being used in a song in Go Goa Gone. What’s interesting, however, is that just like everyone else, even our Bollywood folks find Mondays dreadful. Wonder why?

The first weekend of every film these days is considered to be the high-priority period. Reason being that a film stands to do maximum business on the first three days of its release – namely Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Mondays, however, are the true litmus test for even the biggest of the releases as the drop in the business determines the run of a film through the remaining days of the week.

In this analytical report, we compare the box office collections of first Friday with first Monday, to see how the movie held on the litmus test day — and Mahavatar Narsimha has emerged as one of the most surprising outliers in recent years.

Released alongside Sarzameen in theatres and Mandala Murders on Netflix, Mahavatar Narsimha opened with modest collections of Rs. 1.46 crore. Yet, against all odds, the film witnessed a phenomenal surge in numbers on its first Monday, collecting Rs. 3.89 crore — a massive 166.44% jump over its Day 1 figure.

Such a Monday boost is practically unheard of in today’s box office climate, where even the biggest tentpole films struggle to maintain weekend momentum. In fact, the last time a film registered this kind of weekday spike was during the historic run of The Kashmir Files, which saw an unprecedented 323.94% growth on its first Monday — from Rs. 3.55 crore on Friday to Rs. 15.05 crore.

With this, Mahavatar Narsimha has now secured its place as the film with the second-highest Monday growth rate ever in Hindi cinema. To put this into perspective, other notable films that posted high Monday gains include Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (95.45%), Housefull 4 (93.94%), Dolly Ki Doli (78.04%), HanuMan (70.71%), and Shivaay (69.43%).

Even relatively recent box office performers like Madgaon Express and Baby managed 66.87% and 60.22% increases, respectively, while Ek Tha Tiger, backed by major star power and an Independence Day release week, grew by 60%. Despite their scale and budgets, none came close to the 166% mark crossed by Mahavatar Narsimha.

What makes this feat even more impressive is the film’s initial reception. With a quiet release and minimal marketing buzz, Mahavatar Narsimha had little going for it apart from word-of-mouth and spiritual intrigue. Yet, this very organic chatter seems to have propelled audiences into theatres, turning the film into a sleeper hit in the making.

At a time when mainstream commercial cinema continues to experience volatile weekday drops — as evidenced by the sharp Monday crashes of big-budget films like Badass Ravi Kumar and Housefull 5 — the success of Mahavatar Narsimha offers a powerful reminder: content still has the last word at the box office.

Whether the film can sustain this momentum over the coming days remains to be seen, but one thing is clear — this Monday wasn’t “Khooni” for Mahavatar Narsimha. It was a breakthrough.

Both Son Of Sardaar 2 and Dhadak 2 saw some growth on Saturday. The Ajay Devgn-Mrunal Thakur-Ravi Kishan film has seen good response from the mass audiences and especially amongst families, and that’s what seeing enhances footfalls for itself. On the other hand, Siddhant Chaturvedi-Triptii Dimri starrer Dhadak 2 has been catering primarily to the elite at major centres.

Let’s talk about Son Of Sardaar 2 first. The film is trying to fight it out. Though there has been (forced) negativity around the film, just as was the case with Housefull 5 as well when it was released, it has been trying to find its space under the sun and not giving up. Reports for the film were decent to good by the time Friday came to a close and that is now reflecting in Saturday collections which have touched Rs. 8.25 crores. Of course a lot more is expected out of a biggie like this which is a sequel to the hit Son Of Sardaar. However, with Mahavatar Narsimha running riot and Saiyaara too being major competition, this Vijay Kumar Arora directed film will need to play it out on a daily basis. Currently it stands at Rs. 15.75 crores.

As for Dhadak 2, it is trying to make a place for itself amidst all the other films in the running. It’s a well-made film but with commercial entertainers like Saiyaara, Son Of Sardaar 2 and Mahavatar Narsimha around it, it has managed to stretch its way towards Rs. 4.05 crores mark. One now waits to see what’s the kind of growth that comes on today which can take its total ahead of Rs. 7.70 crores mark.

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

It was an excellent second week for Saiyaara as it ended up hitting a century. When films need to be really special to go past the Rs. 100 crores mark in their entire lifetime, here comes a newcomer romantic drama which has not just opened exceedingly well but also sustained pace for second week in succession to come so close to the Rs. 300 crores mark in just 14 days.

As a matter of fact, it could well have done that by the close of second week itself. However out of nowhere came Mahavatar Narsimha and that ended up collecting almost Rs. 30 crores in just the Hindi version. Now that definitely impacted the run of Saiyaara and it would be safe to assume that at least Rs. 12-15 crores could well have been lost there. This was seen from the fact that barring Tuesday (when there were reduced ticket rates and hence heavier footfalls), none of the weekdays could go past the Rs. 10 crores mark. Also, there were steady drops also seen (though in absolute terms the collections were still quite good).

The Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda film currently stands at Rs. 285.25 crores and it will enter the Rs. 300 Crore Club tomorrow. While it seemed all but confirmed that it would enter the Rs. 400 Crore Club at ease, now that won’t be possible and the best case scenario for the Mohit Suri film would be to find itself in Rs. 360-375 crores range. That would still ensure that it keeps its All Time Blockbuster tag.

Note: All collections as per various box office sources