BY SACNILK

Chennai, August 13 - Superstar Rajinikanth is proving to be a real deal as, at the age of 75, he has once again displayed his unmatched box office dominance with his upcoming gangster action drama film Coolie. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film has achieved a monumental feat by crossing 100 crore in advance bookings for its opening weekend. ## The film has already sold tickets worth over 50 crore in India, including around 38 crores for the opening day, spanning all languages. The overseas pre-sales are on the next level, scoring 60 crore gross for the weekend, including around 45 crores for the opening day. This remarkable overseas response is attributed to Rajinikanth's massive global fan base and the film's strong promotional campaign. ## With a day still left for the release, Coolie has generated advance booking sales worth 110+ crores for the opening weekend, including 80+ crores gross for the opening day alone. Produced by Sun Pictures, Coolie is set for a worldwide release on August 14, just ahead of the Independence Day holiday. ## Trade experts believe the combination of Rajinikanth's stardom, Lokesh Kanagaraj's proven track record in action thrillers, and the festive weekend could push the film to unprecedented opening numbers. With these advance booking figures, Coolie has already joined the league of the biggest Indian film launches ever, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with major Hindi and Telugu blockbusters in terms of pre-release business. ## Now, all eyes are on its box office debut to see if it can convert this hype into historic collections. The movie will be released in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Chennai, August 12 - Superstar Rajinikanth is all set to rewrite the history books of Tamil cinema with his upcoming gangster action drama Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. The actor-director duo is already creating havoc at the global box office even before the film's release, and the pre-sales numbers stand as solid proof. ## Produced by Sun Pictures, Coolie is racing towards the historic 100 crore mark in its opening day pre-sales. With just one day left before release, the film has already scored around 75 crore worldwide, including 30+ crore gross from India, which is truly sensational. ## The pre-sales of Coolie opened with a bang in the Telugu states, where bookings opened to massive demand and have been surging ever since. Going by the current momentum, the film is poised to hit the 100 crore opening day pre-sales milestone, and has reportedly already crossed the same figure for its opening weekend. ## If trends hold, Coolie will become Rajinikanth's biggest opener ever with the pre-sales only, surpassing the superstar's current record set by Nelson Dilipkumar's action drama Jailer, which grossed around 96.50 crore worldwide on day one in 2023. ## The trade is bullish about Coolie's worldwide opening. With record-breaking pre-sales, the movie is certain to open with 125+ crores gross, and if audience word-of-mouth turns out positive, Coolie could even dethrone Thalapathy Vijay's Leo (143 crores) to become the biggest Tamil opener of all time. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Hyderabad, August 12 - The advance booking of War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, has finally gained momentum following its opening in the Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Initially slated to open on August 11, pre-sales in these regions were delayed by a day due to a pending government order regarding ticket price hikes. ## Prior to bookings opening in the Telugu states, War 2 had secured around 10 crore gross (with block seats) for the opening day for its Hindi version, which is a decent figure, though slightly below trade expectations. The scenario changed once Telugu state bookings went live, with BookMyShow registering over 20,000 ticket sales per hour for the first time. ## This surge is expected to give Hindi belt sales a much-needed push, especially in North India, as the film heads into its August 14 release with just over a day of pre-sales left. ## Directed by Ayan Mukerji, War 2 is clashing with superstar Rajinikanth's gangster action drama Coolie, which is one horse race at the moment as far as advance booking is concerned. The Tamil blockbuster has been dominating the advance booking race, with opening day sales already touching an 75 crore gross worldwide — including 30 crore from India alone — and still a full day to go before release. ## War 2 marks the sixth installment in Yash Raj Films' blockbuster Spy Universe and serves as a direct sequel to the 2019 hit War. Directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Aditya Chopra, the film also features Kiara Advani as the female lead alongside Ashutosh Rana and Anil Kapoor in key roles. It is set for a grand release in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil on August 14. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, August 11 - There is no stopping Mahavatar Narsimha at the box office as the devotional epic action drama continues to rewrite box office records for an Indian animation film. Directed by Kaleem Productions and Hombale Films, the movie had an excellent third weekend, which saw it cross 200 crores worldwide. ## Directed by Ashwin Kumar, Mahavatar Narsimha is already the highest-grossing Indian animated movie of all time by an uncomparable margin, and now, it has become the highest animated grosser at the Indian box office by beating Disney's The Lion King (2019). ## Directed by Jon Favreau, The Lion King is a photorealistically animated remake of the traditionally animated 1994 film. It grossed over 190+ crores in India in 2019, a record which has now been broken by the first film in the Mahavatar Cinematic Universe. ## The Indian blockbuster has grossed approximately 202 crores (169+ crores net) in India, while its overseas collection is around 213 crores gross in 17 days so far. These numbers are unheard of for an Indian animation, as the second biggest grosser is 2005's Hanuman, which scored around 11 crores gross domestically. ## Mahavatar Narsimha chronicles the Mahaan avatars of Bhagwan Vishnu - Varaha and Narsimha. Varaha, a mighty boar, rescues Bhudevi (Mother Earth) from the Asura Hiranyaksha. After his victory, the story shifts to Hiranyakashipu, Hiranyaksha's brother, who gains a boon, declares himself a god, and oppresses Vishnu’s followers. Prahlad, his son and devoted follower of Vishnu, remains faithful despite his father's threats. To save Prahlad and defeat evil, Vishnu appears as Narsimha, a half-man, half-lion form, who kills Hiranyakashipu while honouring the conditions of the demon's boon from Bhagwan Brahma.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Hyderabad, August 11 - The pre-release event of Yash Raj Films' highly-awaited spy action thriller War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, was held on August 10 in Hyderabad, and it was hugely successful in generating hype for the film. The atmosphere was electric with thousands of fans cheering for the War 2 team. ## The star-studded event was full of high praise for the movie and some bold statements regarding the same. Jr. NTR, Hrithik Roshan, director Ayan Mukerji, and producer S. Naga Vamsi — who took the stage to share memories, gratitude, and promises ahead of the film's release. ## Jr. NTR Lauds Director Ayan Mukerji For The Films, Calls Hrithik "Best Dance of Our Country -## The Telugu superstar, who marks his Bollywood debut with this 2-hero action spectacle, said during the grand event that War 2 is one of the greatest films of our time, and director Ayan Mukerji will be remembered for this film in years to come. ## He also shared what made him do War 2, and he is proud of his choice. "Aditya Chopra (YRF head) relentlessly chased me to do this film. He promised me that my fans will be proud of my role. He's the main reason I accepted this film, and now I think I made the right choice". ## Jr. NTR spoke candidly about the deep admiration he holds for Hrithik Roshan, saying that as a child, he only knew Michael Jackson until he saw Hrithik's powerful dances and performance in Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, "it made me go mad." He added, "Hrithik sir is one of the finest and most impeccable actors and dancers in India. He is the only actor in the country who is dedicated to his craft." ## He also addressed the fan debates comparing their dance skills. "There is no competition between us in that song... It's a song where two dancers appreciate and celebrate each other." He called Hrithik "the greatest dancer in the country," expressing how privileged he felt to share screen space with him and noting they'd worked together for 75 days. ## Hrithik Roshan Calls Jr. NTR a "One-Take Final-Take Star" ## Hrithik began his address in Telugu with a warm greeting, setting an enthusiastic tone for the evening. He then showered praise on Jr. NTR, calling him a "one-take star", a performer who nails every shot perfectly without needing retakes. Hrithik said, "I saw myself in Jr. NTR," emphasising the parallel in their journeys. He elaborated on what he learned from his co-star. ## "Tarak, I have not just observed you, but I have learnt from you. I have learnt how to go into a shot 100% — not 99.99%, not 99.999, but 100%. Which is why when he comes out of a shot, there is no judgment on me. He will not even check the shot because he knows he has given everything to it." ## He added, "Tarak (Jr NTR) and I started as co-stars and we ended up like brothers in real life. I want everyone to give me a promise today. I want you to promise me that you will love my brother the same way forever! Because he deserves it (smiles)." ## Speaking about the movie, the Fighter star said, "War 2 sits right on top of everything that I have done! The love and appreciation I got for playing Kabir in War reminded me of the love I got in Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Dhoom 2 and Krrish. I humbly hope that you all enjoy Kabir again. This time, he's even more intense and in a bigger dilemma. Moreover, this time, he's in front of the real tiger himself! Hence, this would be unmissable". ## Ayan Mukerji Refutes Rumours and Keeps the Mystery Alive For War 2 ## The director addressed the hot rumours about Jr. NTR's entry in the film. Without disclosing much, the filmmaker refuted those rumours and said, "We are smart enough not to make a movie where he (Jr. NTR) comes at the interval point in the movie. That much sense we have." This statement confirmed that NTR's entry would be impactful—but not delayed until the halfway mark. He further teased that fans will need to watch the film to experience the exact timing of his appearance. ## The Brahmastra director also spoke about the overall experience of War 2, emphasising that the film is meant to deliver a compelling blend of spectacle and emotion, with key story details held back to preserve audience surprises. "Everyone is in for a real surprise on August 14th. The true soul of the film hasn't been revealed yet," he said. ## Naga Vamsi's Bold Challenge to Fans ## Producer Naga Vamsi of Sithara Entertainments will distribute War 2 in the Telugu states (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana), and he seemed highly confident about the movie and its box office prospects. He emphasised War 2 as a truly Telugu film, urging fans to show even greater support than they did for Devara. "The Telugu version must collect at least one rupee more than the Hindi version's net collection." ## Vamsi then threw a bold challenge and said, "If you don't like War 2, scold me as much as you want. No fan will be disappointed after watching the film. If that happens, I won't ask you to watch another film from me." ## War 2, which also stars Kiara Advani as the female lead alongside Ashutosh Rana and Anil Kapoor, is scheduled to release on August 14 in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, August 9 - In a landmark moment for Indian cinema, Kaleem Productions and Hombale Films' Mahavatar Narsimha has officially crossed the 100 crore net mark in Hindi after an extraordinary surge on its third Saturday (Day 16). ## The devotional action epic, directed by Ashwin Kumar, continues to defy all expectations, proving that animated films can command mass appeal and theatrical dominance in India. On its 16th day, the film is looking to score 14-16 crores net in Hindi, which takes its total Hindi collection to around 107 crores net. ## With this, Mahavatar Narsimha has become the first ever animated movie (including The Lion King, and Mufasa: The Lion King) to score 100 crores net in a single language in India. The film witnessed a phenomenal jump of around 200% in collections on Day 16 in Hindi, driven by strong family turnout, word-of-mouth appreciation, and repeat viewership.## Overall, the film grossed over 20 crores in India on its third Saturday, which takes its total collection to 170+ crores gross (140+ crores net) in 16 days. The movie will enter the 200 crores gross club by the third Sunday (most likely) and become the first ever animated film to do so. ## With its visually stunning animation, compelling retelling of the Narasimha avatar legend, and powerful music score, the film has resonated strongly with audiences across demographics. The upcoming Independence Day holiday week is expected to further boost collections. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Chennai, August 9 – Superstar Rajinikanth's much-awaited gangster action drama Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, is having sensational advance booking collection for the first day worldwide, and is proving to be an unstoppable force at the box office even before its release. ## The film has been going great guns in the international markets, and is on course to score the biggest opening for a Tamil title. As I type this, it has grossed approximately 37+ crores pre-sales collection for the opening day (including premieres) internationally, and is heading towards the 50 crores mark sooner than expected. ## While the overseas market has been the driving force so far, it was a matter of time before the pre-sales opened in India to get a blockbuster response, and that's what happened when tickets went live on August 8. Within no time, the movie sold over 100K tickets, and has been unstoppable since then.## Currently, the booking for the first day stands at around 14 crore gross in the domestic market, with strong numbers coming in from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The worldwide pre-sales for the opening day are 51+ crores. The momentum is expected to accelerate as the Independence Day weekend approaches, especially once multiplex chains and more centres open full-fledged bookings. ## The trend indicates that Coolie can go o to score 100+ crores pre-sales gross for the first day. Given the current trend, Coolie is well on track to deliver one of the biggest worldwide openings ever for an Indian film, with trade circles predicting a possible record-breaking day one for Tamil cinema. ## (Note - Some data in the Sacnilk advance booking report is missing) ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, August 8 - Yash Raj Films' romantic drama Saiyaara is an unstoppable force at the box office. After breaching the 500 crores milestone worldwide, the Ahaan Pandey and Aneet Padda-fronted blockbuster has now become the highest-grossing Indian film at the overseas box office. ## Directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara has outgrossed the Malayalam blockbuster L2: Empuraan (142.25 crores) and emerged as the biggest overseas grosser of the year. The movie has grossed approximately 144 crores in 22 days so far, and is marching towards finishing with 160+ crores in the international markets. ## Yash Raj Films announced on social media that Saiyaara is now the highest-grossing Indian love story at the overseas box office. Featuring debutantes, the film was never presumed to become such a monster, even domestically, forget about the international box office. ## Saiyaara is already the second biggest Indian grosser globally. Through the fourth Friday (22 days), the movie has grossed approximately 517+ crores worldwide, including 373 crores (310.50 crores net) in India. Vicky Kaushal's historical action drama Chhaava is currently the number one title with 808 crores worldwide. ## About Saiyaara Movie ## The film stars Ahaan Panday as Krish Kapoor, a rising musician whose raw talent and ambition set him on a collision course with the realities of the modern music industry. When Krish is introduced to Vaani (Aneet Padda), a gifted and principled songwriter, sparks fly – both creatively and personally. As their partnership deepens, so does their connection, blossoming into a romance that is as passionate as it is complicated. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Chennai, August 8 - After the excellent response overseas, the advance booking of superstar Rajinikanth's highly-awaited gangster action thriller Coolie has kicked off on a blockbuster note in the domestic market too, proving the huge buzz it carries. ## Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the pre-sales of Coolie have already begun in Kerala, and the initial response is nothing short of extraordinary. As I type this, the movie has already sold nearly 200K tickets worth over 3 crore gross in Kerala, and the number is increasing rapidly. In the early hours, it sold 50K tickets per hour. ## Once the all-India booking commences, expect Coolie to sell over 100K tickets per hour as the hype is real. Still early days, but the initial response shows that the film might take the biggest openings in Kerala, and if the same momentum continues, the movie has the potential to break records for a Tamil title. ## As said, the overseas bookings for Coolie are excellent and are nearing 30 crores gross for the opening day. Trade predicts that it is heading to take the biggest opening for a Tamil title in the international markets, beating Thalapathy Vijay's Leo (66 crores). ## Produced by Sun Pictures, Coolie stars Rajinikanth in the lead, supported by a star-studded ensemble including Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Sathyaraj, and a special cameo by Aamir Khan. Music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, whose soundtrack has already become a rage among fans. The film is set for a worldwide theatrical release on August 14 and will be available in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, August 8 – Yash Raj Films' high-octane spy action thriller War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, is one of the most anticipated movies of the year, and moviegoers are inquiring about when advance booking will open in India. The pre-sales have already opened in overseas markets and are seeing a good response so far. ## According to the latest reports, the all-India pre-sales of War 2 will go live on Sunday, August 10, four days before the release date, while some theatres may open the booking a day earlier. The film, part of the blockbuster YRF Spy Universe, is set for a grand release on August 14 and will go head-to-head at the box office with Rajinikanth's Coolie in one of the biggest clashes of the year. ## With Hrithik Roshan reprising his role as super-spy Kabir and Jr. NTR making his explosive entry into the YRF Spy Universe, War 2 has become one of the most anticipated films of 2025. The film will be aiming to score one of the biggest advance sales for a Bollywood title, given the massive star power it features. ## Early reports suggest that premium formats like IMAX and 4DX are already witnessing strong demand in metropolitan cities, while single screens in mass belts are gearing up for a high turnout thanks to Hrithik and Jr. NTR's huge fan base. Given the film’s pan-India release, trade experts are predicting a record-breaking opening day — making this Independence Day weekend one for the box office history books. ## The movie is directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Aditiya Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films. The movie also features Kiara Advani as the female lead alongside Ashutosh Rana and Anil Kapoor in key roles. It is scheduled to release on August 14 in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Chennai, August 7 - Director Lokesh Kanagaraj might just outdo himself at the overseas box office as his upcoming gangster action drama Coolie, starring superstar Rajinikanth, is threatening to outgross the opening day record of his previous blockbuster, Leo, which starred Thalapathy Vijay in the leading role. ## The Rajinikanth-starrer is among the most anticipated Indian movies of the year, and the overseas pre-sales are proof of it. With huge hype around it, Coolie is showing great momentum in pre-sales and has already grossed around 25 crores for the opening day (including premiere), and there are still a week left for the release. ## In North America alone, the premiere pre-sales of Coolie have crossed a staggering $1.5 million with 7 days to go, and the film is now within striking distance of beating Rajinikanth's own Kabali, which holds the current record for the biggest Tamil premiere day in the region with $1.92 million. The film is also showing impressive trends in other key markets such as the UK, Malaysia, Australia, and the UAE. ## The overseas pre-sales of Coolie are on par with Thalapathy Vijay's Leo at the same time, and if the momentum continues, the Rajinikanth-starrer could emerge as the biggest Tamil opener outside India, beating Leo, which took the opening of around 66 crores gross. ## There is a fight for the screens going on as Coolie is competing with Yash Raj Films' War 2, which releases on the same day. Despite that, the Tamil blockbuster has taken a significant lead over the Bollywood tentpole in overseas pre-sales. ## The big question now is whether Coolie can match or exceed Leo's global opening of 143 crore. With the domestic clash with Yash Raj Films' hugely anticipated spy action thriller War 2 expected to impact collections in India, all eyes are on the overseas box office, where Rajinikanth’s magnetic pull could once again rewrite records. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, August 6 - Kaleem Productions and Hombale Films' Mahavatar Narsimha is all set to enter the 100 crores net club in Hindi by the end weekend. The animated epic devotional action drama is having a dream run at the domestic box office, exceeding expectations multifold. ## Directed by Ashwin Kumar, it is the first film in the planned animated seven-part Mahavatar Cinematic Universe, based on the ten avatars of Bhagavan Vishnu. The movie has already crossed 100 crores net in all versions, and is the only animated movie (excluding The Lion King and Mufasa: The Lion King) to do so in India. ## The Hindi version of Mahavatar Narsimha has performed exceptionally well so far, with approximately 83 crores net in 13 days so far (including second Wednesday). It will breach the 100 crores net mark in Hindi in the third weekend, and will become the only animated title (including both Lion King movies) ever to hit the milestone in a single language in India. ## Meanwhile, Mahavatar Narsimha is nearing 150 crores gross at the worldwide box office. With today's collection, it has grossed around 140 crores. At this point, 200 crores worldwide gross seems locked, but how far it can go remains to be seen. ## Stay tuned...