BY CHRISTA LINCY

Bhooth Bangla is maintaining a steady pace as it completes its sixth week in theaters. On its 40th day, the film added 0.65 Cr net to its kitty across India, marking a 30 percent growth from the previous day’s 0.50 Cr. Even with new competition like Drishyam 3 taking up significant screen space, the movie is finding enough oxygen to keep its theatrical run alive during the weekdays. With this latest addition to the kitty, the total India net collection now stands at a solid 175.50 Cr. When we look at the gross numbers, the film has crossed the 200 Crore mark domestically, sitting at 207.95 Cr. The global story is equally impressive for a mid-budget horror-comedy; with an overseas contribution of 53.75 Cr, the worldwide gross has now touched 261.70 Cr. Navigating through 40 days of theatrical run is no small feat, and the film has managed to sustain itself across a total of 228,679 shows since its release. To give you some context on where this performance ranks in the history of Bollywood, Bhooth Bangla has officially cracked the Top 10 list for the highest Day 40 collections. While it sits at the tenth spot with its 0.65 Cr, trailing just slightly behind Drishyam 2, which earned 0.70 Cr on the same day, finding its name alongside biggies like Dhurandhar and its sequel is a massive win for the makers. It shows that the film has successfully transitioned from a hit to a genuine long-term player in the market. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Bollywood Day 40 Highest Collection MovieRANKMOVIE NAMEDAY 40 NET (HINDI)1Dhurandhar₹ 2.60 Cr2Pathaan₹ 2.55 Cr3Chhaava₹ 1.40 Cr4URI The Surgical Strike₹ 1.38 Cr5Stree 2₹ 1.35 Cr6Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge₹ 1.00 Cr7Pushpa: The Rule - Part 2₹ 0.75 Cr8Jawan₹ 0.74 Cr9Drishyam 2₹ 0.70 Cr10Bhooth Bangla₹ 0.65 Cr Looking at the occupancy levels, the National Capital Region (NCR) continues to be the primary engine for the film. With 200 shows still running in the region, it recorded an overall occupancy of 28.5 percent. The night shows in NCR were particularly busy, hitting a peak of 39 percent. Other cities like Ahmedabad and Lucknow also showed decent footfalls with occupancies of 15.3 percent and 16.8 percent respectively. This indicates that while the show count has naturally decreased to 1,597 shows nationwide, the seats are still being filled at a healthy rate. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In terms of early trends from the big national multiplex chains, the film added around 3 Lakhs to its gross through advance sales for Day 40. PVR led the way with 1.15 Lakhs, followed closely by INOX at 1.02 Lakhs, and Cinepolis contributing 83.36K. These numbers might seem small compared to the opening weekend, but for a film in its sixth week, these are vital signs that the audience hasn't completely moved on yet. The digital footprint on BookMyShow remains quite active as well. On this sixth Tuesday, the platform recorded 16.08K ticket sales for the film. This brings the cumulative ticket sales on the platform to a staggering 32.86 Lakhs. It is clear that the word-of-mouth has carried this film far beyond its initial buzz. While newer biggies are grabbing the lion's share of the screens, Bhooth Bangla is content with its slice of the pie, continuing to add to its lifetime total with surprising consistency.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

It is not often that we see a single film dominate the charts in two different versions at the same time, but Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar is doing exactly that on Netflix. During the latest tracking window from May 18 to May 24, 2026, the film has pulled off a rare double-charting feat in India. The newly released uncut version, titled Dhurandhar (Raw & Undekha), has grabbed the Number 2 spot, while the original version of the film has climbed back up to occupy the Number 4 position. This simultaneous dominance is a fascinating case of defying viewership cannibalisation. Usually, when a new or extended version of a film is released, it tends to pull the audience away from the older version. However, in this instance, it seems to have triggered a massive rewatch cycle. Fans are actively streaming both versions side-by-side to compare the scenes and catch the differences, which is an exceptionally rare anomaly for Indian cinema on a global streaming platform. If you look at the domestic performance, the original Dhurandhar has managed to stay in the Top 10 for a staggering 17 weeks. Here is the complete Top 10 breakdown for the Indian market: (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 10 Movies on Netflix India (May 18-24, 2026)RANKINGMOVIE NAMEWEEKS IN TOP 1001Kartavya202Dhurandhar (Raw & Undekha)103Swapped404Dhurandhar1705Bharathanatyam 2 Mohiniyattam306Blue Beetle207Youth608Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom209Raakaasa410Made in Korea5 The success is not just limited to the domestic market. On the global stage, the sequel, Dhurandhar The Revenge (Raw & Undekha), has secured the 5th spot in the Non-English movies category. The numbers are quite impressive, with 1.3 million views recorded just this week and a staggering 49 million hours viewed. The film has a massive runtime of 3 hours and 52 minutes, which makes those high watch hours even more significant. By the end of its second weekend, the total views for this specific uncut version have reached 3.1 million worldwide. 01. Kartavya (4,200,000 Views | 7,700,000 Hours) 02. Bride of the Year (2,500,000 Views | 4,100,000 Hours) 03. Coco Before Chanel (1,700,000 Views | 3,200,000 Hours) 04. The Bus: A French Football Mutiny (1,500,000 Views | 2,000,000 Hours) 05. Dhurandhar The Revenge (Raw & Undekha) (1,300,000 Views | 4,900,000 Hours) 06. Number One (1,100,000 Views | 19,00,000 Hours) 07. My Dearest Assassin (1,100,000 Views | 23,00,000 Hours) 08. Je m’appelle Agneta (9,00,000 Views | 18,00,000 Hours) 09. Village of the Dead (8,00,000 Views | 12,00,000 Hours) 10. Hidden Enemy (7,00,000 Views | 13,00,000 Hours) (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A major factor behind this viral momentum is the inclusion of nearly 4 minutes of entirely unseen footage in the international uncut version of the sequel, Dhurandhar The Revenge (Raw & Undekha). This has sparked a significant wave across social media platforms like Instagram, with fans encouraging others to experience the unfiltered narrative. On the global stage, this specific version has secured the Number 1 spot in 7 countries—including Bangladesh, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan—while maintaining a Top 10 presence in 13 countries. With a massive runtime of 3 hours and 52 minutes, the film recorded 1.3 million views and an impressive 49 million viewing hours this week, solidifying its position at Number 5 on the global non-English movie chart. Meanwhile, in India, the film’s popularity has trickled back to the original part, causing both versions of the franchise to trend in the Top 5 simultaneously. Logically, this trend suggests that audiences are increasingly interested in extended director’s cuts that offer a deeper dive into the story. For a film like Dhurandhar, which follows a high-stakes mission into a criminal underworld, those extra minutes of raw footage have clearly added enough value to bring viewers back for a second or even third viewing. Seeing the original version stay in the Top 10 for 17 weeks while the new version climbs the charts is a testament to the enduring popularity of this franchise.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Karuppu is maintaining a steady grip at the box office as it completes its second Tuesday in theaters. After a strong opening week, the film is now navigating the usual weekday trend with a logical dip in numbers. Based on early estimates, the movie earned a net collection of 4.45 Cr in India on its 12th day. When we look at the trajectory, this represents a 24.6 percent drop from the previous day, which saw a collection of 5.90 Cr. It is a standard pattern for a big-budget film in its second week, and the steady count of 4,470 shows indicates that the film continues to hold a significant presence across screens. A significant milestone to note is that the film officially crossed the 150 Crore net mark in India on its 11th day itself. Reaching this level within just 11 days of release is a clear indicator of its strong box office pull and puts it in an elite bracket of performers. As of the end of Day 12, the total India net has climbed to 159.20 Cr, while the gross collections stand at 184.26 Cr. Looking back at the Day 11 trend, the film saw a typical post-weekend drop of 60 percent, but the steady performance on Tuesday suggests a consistent interest from the audience during the weekdays. Karuppu has managed to break into the top three for the highest second Tuesday net collections in the Tamil language. By earning 3.65 Cr from the Tamil version alone on its 12th day, it has outperformed hits like Amaran and Vikram. Highest 2nd Tuesday Tamil/Kollywood Net CollectionRANKMOVIE NAME2ND TUESDAY NET (TAMIL)1The Greatest of All Time₹ 6.45 Cr2Sarkar₹ 4.00 Cr3Karuppu₹ 3.65 Cr4Amaran₹ 3.60 Cr5Vikram₹ 3.51 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at how the film is performing across different regions, the home territory of Tamil Nadu continues to be the primary driver of growth. Here is the state-wise gross collection report for Day 12: Tamil Nadu: 3.70 Cr APTG: 0.80 Cr Karnataka: 0.30 Cr Kerala: 0.21 Cr Rest of India: 0.08 Cr Total Day 12 Gross: 5.09 Cr When we dive into city-level data, Chennai remains the powerhouse for the film with a 36 percent overall occupancy. The night shows in Chennai saw a peak of 41 percent, showing that the urban audience is still turning up in good numbers. Other regions like Coimbatore and Madurai are also showing healthy trends with 29.8 percent and 22 percent occupancy respectively. Bengaluru is seeing a more modest performance at 11.5 percent, which is typical for a Tamil film in its second week in that market. In terms of ticket sales in national chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film is holding its own even with new competition like Drishyam 3. For Day 12, the national chains contributed around 18.7 Lakhs to the advance gross. Specifically, PVR brought in 12.5 Lakhs, INOX contributed 4.9 Lakhs, and Cinepolis added 1.3 Lakhs. These figures show that while the volume is lower than the opening weekend, the interest remains sustained in multiplexes. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The ticket sales on BookMyShow also tell an interesting story, with Karuppu selling 79.16K tickets on its second Tuesday. If we look at how other major blockbusters have performed, Jailer sold 108K tickets on its second Tuesday. While Karuppu is trailing that specific record, selling nearly 80K tickets on a weekday is a very healthy sign. Total tickets sold on the platform have now reached a significant 38.42 Lakhs. On the global front, Suriya is witnessing a career-best performance in several markets, with early estimates suggesting the film added another 1.00 Cr on Day 12. In the UK and Ireland, the film has smashed records by crossing 400K Pounds [approximately 4.35 Cr] in just 11 days, marking it as a mega blockbuster in that region. Over in North America, according to data from Venky Box Office, the film earned 40K Dollars [around 33.5 Lakhs] on Monday, taking its total there to 1.29 Million Dollars [roughly 10.80 Cr]. Through the second weekend, the total overseas gross stands at 7.05 Million Dollars [67.1 Cr]. In total, the worldwide gross for Karuppu has now reached 253.26 Cr. With a total show count of 64,922 across its 12-day run, the film has managed to balance domestic strength with an impressive overseas footprint. The logical trend suggests it will continue to add to its tally before the next set of big releases arrives.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Raja Shivaji has officially etched its name in the history books of Marathi cinema. On its fourth Friday, the film has achieved a monumental milestone by surpassing the lifetime collections of Sairat, effectively becoming the number one Marathi movie of all time. This historical epic is not just holding its ground but is continuing to rake in significant moolah even after a month in theatres, driven by a powerful narrative and strong emotional connect with the audience. The fourth weekend performance highlights the film's incredible resilience. After starting the weekend on Friday (Day 22) with 0.60 crore, the movie witnessed a massive 91.7 percent surge on Saturday (Day 23) to collect 1.15 crore. The momentum continued on Sunday (Day 24) with a collection of 1.30 crore, representing a 13 percent growth from the previous day. This brings the total India net collections to a staggering 92.07 crore, while the India gross stands at 108.78 crore. Including the overseas kitty of 4.22 crore, the worldwide gross has reached the 113.00 crore mark. Raja Shivaji 4th Weekend India Net CollectionDAYCOLLECTION (NET)SHOWS4th Friday (Day 22)₹ 0.60 Cr9094th Saturday (Day 23)₹ 1.22 Cr9424th Sunday (Day 24)₹ 1.30 Cr950Weekend Total₹ 3.12 Cr2,801 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The ticket sales data further reflects this dominance. Over the fourth weekend alone, Raja Shivaji sold approximately 80,000 tickets on the BookMyShow platform, pushing its total sales on the app past the 2.5 million mark—a historic feat for a regional film. National chains have also been a major contributor to this success. On Friday, the three major chains (PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis) sold roughly 2,240 tickets. This number surged to 4,670 tickets on Saturday and peaked at 6,750 tickets on Sunday, showcasing a clear weekend uptick despite the film being in its fourth week. Regionally, the Marathi heartland continues to lead the charge. On Sunday, Mumbai recorded an overall occupancy of 46.5 percent across 125 shows, while Pune saw a brilliant 62 percent occupancy across 111 shows. The Marathi version alone contributed 1.10 crore on Day 24 with a 39 percent occupancy rate, while the Hindi version added 0.20 crore. To date, the Marathi version has collected 67.42 crore net, while the Hindi version has added a healthy 24.65 crore to the overall total across a cumulative 85,426 shows worldwide. Looking at the cumulative language-wise breakdown, the Marathi version has clearly been the primary driver of this success, contributing ₹67.42 crore in net collections (₹79.64 crore gross) from 38,130 shows with a solid average occupancy of 33.8 percent. On the other hand, the Hindi version has played a significant supporting role, adding ₹24.65 crore to the net total (₹29.14 crore gross) across a wider spread of 47,296 shows, maintaining an average occupancy of 13.4 percent throughout its run. While the film is slowly nearing the end of its theatrical run, its performance in urban pockets like Surat and Ahmedabad—where it saw 21 percent and 25 percent occupancy respectively—indicates that the appeal transcends beyond just Maharashtra. By becoming the highest-grossing Marathi film in history, Raja Shivaji has set a new benchmark for regional cinema, proving that high-quality storytelling combined with a grand scale can result in massive theatrical success. The trade is now watching to see if it can push past the 100 crore net mark before its digital premiere.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The Marathi film industry is absolutely rocking in 2026. After the massive success of Krantijyoti Vidyalay Marathi Madhyam and the historical juggernaut Raja Shivaji, we now have a third winner in the same month. Deool Band 2 has officially taken off to a fantastic start at the box office, proving that when the content connects with the roots, the audience shows up in droves. This back-to-back success of Raja Shivaji and Deool Band 2 is a heartening sight for the local trade, adding significant moolah to the industry's kitty. The journey started with a strong pre-sales milestone, where the film crossed 25,000 advance ticket sales on BookMyShow. This translated into an excellent Day 1, which was a Thursday, collecting 2.45 crore and registering as the 2nd biggest opening for a Marathi film. The growth since then has been remarkable. While Friday remained steady, the devotional-drama saw a massive surge over the weekend. Sunday alone raked in 5.90 crore, representing a 21.6 percent jump from Saturday’s already high collection of 4.85 crore. The momentum in national chains (PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis) has been equally impressive. On Day 2 (Friday), the national chains contributed around 6,000 tickets (2.2K in PVR, 2.5K in INOX, and 1.3K in Cinepolis). However, the weekend velocity shifted gears completely. By Saturday, the sales jumped to a rounded 23,200 tickets (7.2K in PVR, 10.5K in INOX, and 5.5K in Cinepolis). On Sunday, the numbers surged to 38,300 tickets (12.6K in PVR, 17.1K in INOX, and 8.6K in Cinepolis). This rapid sell-out was also seen in chains like MovieMax, where 400 tickets were snapped up within just 4 hours of opening. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Deool Band 2 - Daily India Net Collection BreakdownDAYINDIA NETSHOWSOCCUPANCYDay 1 (Thu)₹ 2.45 Cr1,17541.0%Day 2 (Fri)₹ 2.55 Cr1,23636.0%Day 3 (Sat)₹ 4.85 Cr1,51558.0%Day 4 (Sun)₹ 5.90 Cr1,75065.0%TOTAL₹ 15.75 Cr5,676 51.85% Occupancy levels in the Marathi heartland have been stellar. On Sunday, Pune recorded a massive 79.8 percent occupancy across 366 shows, while Mumbai saw 71.8 percent occupancy with 540 shows. Even the morning shows on Sunday in Pune started at 73 percent, eventually hitting 87 percent by the evening. To put this success in perspective, let's look at where Deool Band 2 stands in the all-time list of opening weekend collections for Marathi cinema. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Raja Shivaji (2026): ₹ 23 Cr Deool Band 2 (2026): ₹ 13 Cr (Extended Weekend) Ved (2022): ₹ 10 Cr Dharmaveer (2022): ₹ 9 Cr Navra Maza Navsacha 2 (2024): ₹ 8 Cr With a total India gross of 18.59 crore and a worldwide collection matching the same, Deool Band 2 has proven its efficiency. By the end of its fourth day, the film has cemented its place as one of the fastest earners in the regional circuit. Given that it is still booking over 5,000 tickets in rolling 24-hour windows on BookMyShow, the weekday hold is expected to be solid. If the current trend continues, the movie is well on its way to becoming an all-time blockbuster for the Marathi film industry.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 26 - Director Aditya Dhar's spy action thriller Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge have changed the game for Indian cinema in this genre. Grounded espionage and raw action are the core of the blockbuster franchise. Ranveer Singh's gritty performance as deep-cover agent Jaskirat Singh Rangi set a new gold standard for realistic Indian spy thrillers. If you love complex, chapter-based plots, tense standoffs, and nation-first narratives, these five Indian spy masterpieces will keep you on the edge of your seat. While Dhurandhar has definitely set the bar super high, these five films have been the gold standard in this genre. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Baby (2015) Where to Watch - JioHotstar, YouTube (rent) Directed by Neeraj Pandey, Baby is about an elite, unnamed Indian counter-intelligence team that sets out on a ticking-clock mission to track down a terrorist group and eliminate dangerous sleeper cells. Starring Akshay Kumar as lead agent Ajay Singh Rajput, alongside Rana Daggubati and Taapsee Pannu, the film opts for hyper-realistic action, gritty international locations, and a raw, professional look at the gruelling reality of spy work. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Madras Cafe (2013) Where to Watch - Prime Video, YouTube (rent), Apple TV This political thriller is directed by Shoojit Sircar and features John Abraham as the lead agent and Nargis Fakhri as an international journalist. In the movie, an Indian army special forces officer is recruited by the intelligence wing to infiltrate a war-torn island and break up a powerful rebel force. It feels almost like a documentary, exploring the dark, heavy realities of real-world spy craft. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) D-Day (2013) Where to Watch - Prime Video, MX Player, YouTube Directed by Nikkhil Advani, the film focuses on a highly secret, four-member R&AW team that infiltrates Pakistan to capture and bring back "Goldman," India's most wanted criminal mastermind. The film boasts a powerhouse cast including Arjun Rampal (who also stars in Dhurandhar), Rishi Kapoor, Irfan Khan, and Huma Qureshi. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Vishwaroopam (2013) Where to Watch - JioHotstar A seemingly effeminate Kathak dance teacher in New York is hunted by the FBI, only to reveal he is a highly lethal, top-tier Indian intelligence agent tracking a global terror network. Written, directed, and led by cinema legend Kamal Haasan, the movie also stars Rahul Bose and Pooja Kumar. It mirrors Dhurandhar's massive global scope, explosive hand-to-hand combat choreography, and clever use of shifting secret identities to outsmart dangerous adversaries. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Raazi (2018) Where to Watch - Prime Video, Netflix, Apple TV On the eve of the 1971 Indo-Pak war, a young, untrained Kashmiri girl is married into a high-ranking Pakistani military family to serve as a deep-cover spy. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, this critically acclaimed film stars Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal in lead roles. The film explores the heavy emotional weight of patriotism and the terrifying fear of operating behind enemy lines.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The digital reception for the glimpse of Dragon has reached a significant milestone within just one week of its release. Based on the latest YouTube data, the first look has officially surpassed 105 million views across all languages. This achievement places the film in a very exclusive category, making it only the third movie glimpse in the history of Indian cinema to cross the 100 million views mark. A major driver behind this record-breaking trajectory was the video's performance in its initial 24 hours. During its first day, the glimpse recorded 64 million views, setting an all-time record for a first-day debut. The reach in the Hindi-speaking belt has been particularly noteworthy, with the Hindi version alone contributing over 25 million views and nearly 300k likes. This level of engagement suggests a strong pan-India interest that extends well beyond the primary regional markets. Dragon currently sits at the third spot on the all-time list, trailing just behind Peddi and Toxic. With the way views are still coming in, the glimpse is expected to cross the 110 million mark set by Toxic very soon. Once it does, it will officially claim the second position on the historical leaderboard. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 3 Most-Viewed Movie Glimpses in Indian CinemaRANKMOVIE TITLELEAD ACTORTOTAL VIEWS#1PeddiAllu Arjun / Nani175 Million+#2ToxicYash110 Million+#3DragonJr. NTR105 Million+ Director Prashanth Neel has been developing this project quietly for years, setting the story in the late 1960s. The plot follows an assassin named Luger, played by Jr. NTR, who operates in the border regions between India, Bhutan, and China. This cross-border conspiracy storyline, paired with Ravi Basrur’s heavy industrial music, has clearly hit the right note with fans looking for a gritty periodic action-thriller. While the film was fast-tracked ahead of other anticipated projects, the extensive pre-production required for its 1960s setting appears to be showing in the visual quality of the glimpse. As the video continues to trend, it solidifies its place among the elite trio of Indian films that have managed to break the 100 million views barrier. The focus now shifts to whether the film can maintain this momentum as it moves toward further promotional releases.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

It has been over a decade since Homi Adajania's Cocktail arrived in theaters, yet the film remains a definitive benchmark for the urban romantic-comedy genre in India. While many films from that era have faded, Cocktail is still a staple on playlists and streaming platforms. With the spiritual sequel, Cocktail 2, scheduled for release on June 19, 2026, the big question is whether this fresh trio can capture the same lightning in a bottle that the original did back in 2012. Back in 2012, the film was produced on a modest 35 Crore budget and turned into a significant commercial success. Its journey began with a 10.95 Crore opening Friday, followed by a steady first week that closed at 53.18 Crore. By the time it exited theaters, the domestic net stood at 71.24 Crore while the worldwide gross reached 121.78 Crore. For that period, these numbers were a strong indicator that audiences were looking for more grounded and contemporary narratives. A huge part of that cult status came from the music. Pritam's soundtrack wasn’t just a collection of songs; it was the heartbeat of the film. From the friendship anthems like Tumhi Ho Bandhu and Daaru Desi to the emotional depth of Yaariyan and Jugni, the album dominated every chart. Even today, tracks like Angreji Beat remain club staples. The album peaked at rank 18 on iTunes India and remains one of the top three Bollywood albums of 2012. For many fans, the music was the primary reason for the film's long-term longevity. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Beyond the music, the film was a career-defining moment for Deepika Padukone. By choosing to play the impulsive and fiercely independent Veronica instead of the traditional Meera, she subverted the classic bad girl trope. Instead of being the villain, Veronica was humanized—showing that a woman could be westernized and flawed yet deeply empathetic and loyal. The chemistry between Saif Ali Khan, Deepika, and debutante Diana Penty created a messy, realistic love triangle that felt authentic to the youth of that decade. Now, fast forward to 2026, and Homi Adajania is back in the director's chair for Cocktail 2. This time, the film features a fresh cast led by Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna. Produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films in collaboration with Luv Ranjan, the project has already wrapped its filming in locations like Sicily and Delhi. Dimple Kapadia returns to the franchise, joined by Sanjay Dutt, Rohit Saraf, and a supporting appearance by Varun Dhawan. However, the sequel faces a high bar. The initial music reception has been divided. While Pritam returns as the composer, the first single Mashooqa faced plagiarism allegations, with listeners comparing its melody to a 1993 Italian track. While the visuals and the sizzling chemistry between Shahid and Kriti have been praised, critical listeners feel the new tracks have a tough task matching the masterpiece of 2012. The sequel needs to do more than just look glamorous; it has to capture the same raw emotional honesty that made the first film a classic. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) With Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon leading the cast, along with a wider release than the original, the sequel is expected to see a double-digit opening day. If the film receives positive word-of-mouth, it has the potential to reach the 150 Crore mark worldwide. To secure a spot in the top 10 list of romantic comedies since 2012, its first major goal will be to overtake the 109 Crore gross of Pati Patni Aur Woh. You can find the current rankings and where the original film stands in the list below. Top 10 Highest Grossing Rom-Coms Since 2012 (Worldwide)MOVIE NAMEWORLDWIDE GROSSYeh Jawaani Hai Deewani₹ 318.00 CrTanu Weds Manu Returns₹ 258.00 CrTu Jhoothi Main Makkaar₹ 223.00 Cr2 States₹ 173.10 CrTeri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya₹ 139.00 CrLuka Chuppi₹ 128.00 CrCocktail (2012)₹ 121.78 CrHumpty Sharma Ki Dulhania₹ 119.60 CrZara Hatke Zara Bachke₹ 116.00 CrPati Patni Aur Woh₹ 109.00 Cr

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 26 - The mega blockbuster success of Aditya Dhar's spy thriller franchise Dhurandhar and its sequel Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has changed how audiences may view Indian spy cinema going forward. Starring Ranveer Singh, the film follows his character Jaskirat Singh Rangi, a deep-cover Indian agent living a dangerous double life inside enemy territory. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Ever since Dhurandhar films have been released, the franchise's gritty story has sparked an intense debate among moviegoers. R. Madhvan, who has played a major role in the two-part film series, famously said during the trailer launch event of the first film last year that Dhurandhar will vanish the spy genre in Indian cinema. This has sparked a debate as many compare Dhurandhar's style to the famous Yash Raj Films Spy Universe, which includes hits like Pathaan, Tiger, and War. While YRF films have proven their box office dominance over the year, Dhurandhar's success might have put the studio under pressure regarding its future films. Here are five points which makes 3000+ crore blockbuster to YRF Spy movies. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Realism vs. Fantasy While both franchises centred around terrorism, the YRF Spy Universe functions as a larger-than-life, masala entertainer, and popcorn-friendly world where you leave your brain at home. On the other hand, Dhurandhar is highly grounded, which explores actual intelligence tactics, politics, and historical underpinnings, starring from 1999 Kandahar hijacking to the Karachi underworld. Grit over Glamour YRF movies are famous for flashy international locations, stylish outfits, and massive dance numbers. Dhurandhar features heavy hyper-violence, profanity, and a dark, moody visual style. It completely skips typical Bollywood song-and-dance tropes to keep the tension alive while using iconic songs as background music in sync with scenes. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Character Portrayal In the YRF universe, spies act like unstoppable superheroes who can dodge bullets effortlessly and jump from one plane to another. In Dhurandhar, Ranveer Singh's character (Jaskirat Singh Rangi) is quiet, lethal, and deeply vulnerable. The movie showcases the immense emotional and mental toll of deep-cover spy craft rather than treating it like a fun adventure. Geopolitical Stakes YRF films often take a softer, completely fictionalised stance on international conflicts to appeal to a global audience. Dhurandhar does not try to please both sides. It presents an unvarnished, sharp-edged depiction of real-life rivalries and national security struggles while giving proper importance to each character without caring about the runtime.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Tamil Nadu's theatrical landscape just witnessed a major policy shift that is being hailed as a life-saving move for the film industry. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, known to his fans as Thalapathy, has officially issued a government order (GO) permitting all cinema halls across the state to screen five shows daily. This landmark decision marks a significant departure from the decades-old regulations that limited daily screenings to four shows. What has changed with the new order? The directive, issued on May 25, 2026, officially amends the Tamil Nadu Cinema Theatres (Regulation) Rules, 1957. Under the previous rules, specifically Condition 14-A, theaters were restricted to four shows a day. A fifth special show was only allowed on specific festive occasions and required separate approval from District Collectors or, in the case of Chennai, the Commissioner of Police. With this new amendment, all newly released films are now permitted to have five daily shows for the first seven days of their release. Most importantly, the government has removed the requirement for theater owners to obtain separate special permission or wait for a specific G.O. to be issued for these shows. This flexibility also extends to all weekends, public holidays, and local festival days throughout the year. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A Direct Result of Industry Outreach This pro-cinema move follows a key meeting on May 16, 2026, where industry representatives met CM Vijay to present a charter of demands aimed at reviving the theatrical business. Just days later, industry veteran Kamal Haasan also met the Chief Minister, presenting a memorandum that highlighted the need for more daily screenings and a government-backed anti-piracy wing. By fast-tracking this specific demand, the CM has sent a clear signal that his administration is committed to the growth of Kollywood. Industry stakeholders have been quick to welcome the news. Exhibitors have noted that this change will help curb the demand that often leads to unauthorized early morning shows and will significantly boost the opening-week collections of big-ticket films. For theater owners, who have been battling the rapid shift toward OTT platforms, the ability to run an extra show without administrative hurdles provides much-needed operational relief. Analytical trends suggest that for a standard multiplex or single screen, adding a fifth show can increase daily revenue capacity by nearly 20 to 25 percent during peak demand periods. This move is expected to have a cascading effect on the box office records of upcoming releases, as the increased show count naturally expands the ceiling for Day 1 and opening weekend numbers. As Tamil cinema enters this more flexible era of exhibition, the focus now shifts to how the industry will utilize this extra capacity to battle piracy and bring audiences back to the big screen.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

As Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart moves through its nineteenth day, the daily collections are starting to level off. The film earned around 0.75 Crore net on its third Monday across 1,587 shows, marking around 63 per cent drop from the 2.05 Crore it collected on Sunday. While this decline is standard for a weekday, it brings the total India net collection to 29.82 Crore and the gross to 35.18 Crore. When we look at the financial health of the project, the situation is quite challenging. With a reported production cost of 60 Crore, the movie is currently underperforming and struggling to reach even the halfway mark for cost recovery. However, in a year that has seen mixed results for many Hindi releases, Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart still manages to secure a spot in the top 10 highest-grossing Hindi films of 2026 so far, currently sitting at rank number 9 in terms of total gross volume. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the film is still working toward recovering its production costs, its current collection volume places it among the highest-grossing Hindi releases of the year so far. It currently stands as the ninth highest-grossing Hindi film of 2026. Here is how the top ten list looks so far: Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge: ₹1,800+ Cr Border 2: ₹450.19 Cr Bhooth Bangla: ₹260.97 Cr(As of day 39) O Romeo: ₹110.81 Cr Mardaani 3: ₹76.27 Cr The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond: ₹62.39 Cr Pati Patni Aur Woh Do: ₹50.52 Cr(As of day 11) Ikkis: ₹41.65 Cr Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart: ₹35.18 Cr(As of day 19) Chand Mera Dil: ₹18.02 Cr(As of day 4) Looking at the broader scale of the release, the film has completed a total of 34,359 shows across the country since its opening day. What stands out in the data is that the entire worldwide gross of 35+ Crore has been generated solely within the domestic market. This underlines the film's heavy reliance on the local audience as it continues its struggle toward a stable financial finish. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Breaking down the performance in the major national multiplex chains for the day, we see a very limited flow of revenue. Across PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film collected about 7.1 Lakhs gross from roughly 3.2K tickets sold. Looking at individual chains, INOX led with 2.8 Lakhs, followed by PVR with 2.5 Lakhs, and Cinepolis with 1.8 Lakhs. The average occupancy across these specific venues stayed low at 2.38 per cent across 775 shows. Despite the slowing pace, the film still saw 22.64K tickets booked on BookMyShow this Monday, bringing the total ticket count across its entire run to approximately 765K. Geographically, Mumbai remains the most active region with 20.0 per cent occupancy for its 92 shows. Ahmedabad and the National Capital Region followed with 12.0 per cent and 11.8 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile, Surat saw much lower engagement with only 4.3 per cent occupancy. In terms of total language-wise contribution, the Hindi version is carrying the bulk of the weight with a net of 27.10 Crore. The Telugu and Tamil versions have added 2.30 Crore and 0.42 Crore, respectively, to the domestic total. As the film concludes its third week, the primary focus will be to see how much further it can push its totals before its eventual digital transition, as the theatrical window starts to narrow significantly.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Raja Shivaji is currently moving through its fourth week, and the Monday numbers provide a clear picture of how the film is settling into its long-term run. The historical drama has already carved out a significant space at the box office, particularly in the Marathi-speaking regions, and it is now focused on reaching its next major cumulative milestones. The film collected a net of 0.45 Crore on Day 25 across 838 shows. This Day 25 performance represents a 65 per cent drop from the previous day’s net collection of 1.30 Crore. This is a very standard and expected trend for a working Monday after a fourth weekend. These latest figures bring the total India net collections to 92.45 Crore and the domestic gross to 109.38 Crore. In the international market, the film has an overseas gross of 4.22 Crore, which pushes the total worldwide gross collection to approx. 113.50 Crore so far. Looking at the ticket sales momentum, the film recorded approximately 15.51K bookings on BookMyShow this Monday. This brings the total ticket count on the platform to over 25.21 Lakhs across its 25-day theatrical run. Maintaining this level of ticket demand nearly a month into its release is a strong indicator of the film's consistent appeal, especially among family audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In the major national multiplex chains, Raja Shivaji saw a steady flow of audience. Between PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, a total of approximately 2.2K tickets were sold, bringing in a gross of 3.9 Lakhs for the day. If we look at the chain-wise breakdown, INOX led the contribution with 2.1 Lakhs, followed by Cinepolis with 1.2 Lakhs, and PVR at 0.6 Lakhs. INOX recorded the highest occupancy among these chains at 9.38 percent across 80+ shows. The regional performance remains heavily driven by the Marathi version, which contributed 0.47 Crore to the day's net. The overall occupancy for Marathi screenings was 21.0 percent. Pune remains a major stronghold with 28.5 percent occupancy across 100 shows, with evening screenings peaking at 38.0 percent. Mumbai also showed healthy engagement with 21.8 percent occupancy for its 107 shows. On the other hand, the Hindi version added 0.07 Crore net with an overall occupancy of 8.0 percent across 272 shows. In cities like Ahmedabad and Surat, the occupancy hovered around 7.3 percent, while the National Capital Region (NCR) saw slightly higher engagement at 8.3 percent. Looking at the total language-wise split, the Marathi version has collected 67.75 Crore net while the Hindi version stands at 24.70 Crore. This two-language release approach helped the film comfortably pass the 100 Crore worldwide gross mark. As the film completes its fourth week, the steady occupancy in its primary markets indicates it will keep adding to its total before the next set of theatrical releases arrive.