BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, June 24 - The horror blockbuster Obsession is finally reportedly gearing up for its digital release after enjoying an impressive theatrical run. The movie was originally expected to arrive online earlier this month, but the studio decided to delay its OTT and PVOD debut because of the film's extraordinary box-office performance. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to the latest industry reports, Obsession is now expected to release digitally on premium video-on-demand (PVOD) platforms on June 30. However, the studio has not yet officially confirmed the release date or announced the platforms where the film will be available. The delay is said to be directly linked to the movie's continued success in theatres. Instead of following the usual short theatrical-to-digital window often seen with horror releases, the makers reportedly chose to extend the cinema run to maximise theatrical earnings as audience demand remained strong. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) It is also still unclear whether the movie will be available in India on the same date. While the June 30 launch is being widely reported for international markets, no Indian streaming service has officially confirmed its availability so far. Fans in India may therefore have to wait for a separate announcement regarding the film’s local digital release. Meanwhile, the film has done massive business at the box office. In India, the film has earned over 90 crore gross and is moving closer to the Rs 100 crore mark, an impressive achievement for a horror title. Worldwide, the film has crossed an estimated $330 million, emerging as one of the most profitable films of all-time, after reportedly costing just $750K to make.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, June 24 - Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar returns to the iconic Welcome franchise with Welcome To The Jungle after headlining the original film back in 2007. Carrying the legacy of the popular comedy franchise, the film has already created good buzz among audiences thanks to its ensemble cast, large-scale production, and nostalgic appeal. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Ahmed Khan, the film brings together a massive lineup featuring Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Arshad Warsi, Jackie Shroff, Rajpal Yadav, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, and several other familiar faces. The combination of comedy veterans and franchise value has become one of the biggest talking points surrounding the film ahead of its release. For Akshay Kumar, Welcome To The Jungle marks another film in his most successful space — commercial comedy entertainers. Over the years, the actor has delivered several successful comedy films, and fans are excited to see him revisit the genre that established him as one of Bollywood's most bankable stars. The trailer and promotional content have further increased audience curiosity, especially among family viewers. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the excitement in the trade is palpable, the advance booking suggests a decent start, rather than a big opening. The trade is projecting the film to take the opening of 20+ crores net, but the initial response in the pre-sales doesn't give the impression of being a front-loaded opener. Instead, the movie is looking to open in the 15 crore net range. There are paid previews, so things can change pretty quickly if the reception is positive, just like it happened with Akshay Kumar's last film, Bhooth Bangal. The Priyadarshan's directoial scored 3.75 crores net in previews and 12.25 crore net on its pure opening day. Welcome 3 is heading towards a similar opening, since the genre has a mass appeal, which often reflects in strong spot bookings. The big advantage for the movie is that the franchise has strong value, plus the star cast is also huge. So, if the word of mouth is positive, even a 20 crore opening can't be ruled out, but it will still need decent pre-sales to achieve the target. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the nostalgia factor is working in its favour, viewers will expect the film to recreate the charm of the earlier instalments, particularly the first film, which went on to become a cult classic due to its fresh humour and the iconic cast. If the content connects with audiences, Welcome To The Jungle could emerge as one of Akshay Kumar's biggest comedy successes in recent years and continue his success streak.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, June 24 - Samantha Ruth Prabhu's latest Telugu action comedy drama Maa Inti Bangaaram is continuing its impressive run at the global box office. Directed by B. V. Nandini Reddy, the film has crossed the 50 crore mark worldwide within just five days of release. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Maa Inti Bangaaram collected around 4+ crore gross on Day 5 at the domestic box office, helping the film push its domestic gross to 35.50 crore gross. Overseas, MIB has scored an estimated 16 crores, pushing worldwide gross to around 51.50 crore in 5 days. The movie had already built strong momentum over its opening weekend, thanks to positive audience response and solid overseas performance. The film opened with a worldwide gross of around 13 crore on its first day and maintained steady growth through the weekend. By Day 3, the Samantha-led entertainer had already crossed 40 crore globally, emerging as one of the strongest openings for a female-led Telugu film. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film has performed particularly well in North America, where advance sales and weekend occupancy remained strong. So far, it has sold over 1 lakh tickets there, which is a huge number for a female-led title. Online discussions among Telugu cinema audiences have also praised Samantha's screen presence and the film’s family-action blend. With weekday collections holding reasonably steady, trade now expects Maa Inti Bangaaram to continue its successful theatrical run through the coming weekend. The film has already become Samantha's highest-grossing solo-led release and marks another commercial milestone in her career.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, June 24 - Excel Entertainment has locked the theatrical release date of the much-anticipated Mirzapur: The Movie. The makers unveiled a striking new poster confirming that the big-screen adaptation of the hugely popular crime action thriller show will hit cinemas worldwide on September 4, 2026, with teaser slated for June 25. Backed by Amazon MGM Studios and produced by Excel Entertainment, the film marks the big-screen expansion of one of India's most popular crime franchises. The poster features a gritty desert backdrop with armed convoys racing through the dunes, clearly signalling that the movie aims to scale up the violence, drama, and cinematic spectacle associated with the Mirzapur universe. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Gurmmeet Singh, Mirzapur features a massive ensemble cast, including Pankaj Tripathi as Kaleen Bhaiya, Ali Fazal as Guddu Pandit, Divyendu Sharma as Munna Tripathi, along with Jitendra Kumar, Ravi Kishan, Rasika Dugal, Abhishek Banerjee, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Harshita Gaur, Sushant Singh, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Sonal Chuahan, Sheeba Chadha, and Rajesh Tailang, in key roles. After dominating the OTT space for years, the franchise is now gearing up to make a strong impact on the big screen. With the release date finally announced, anticipation is expected to build steadily as fans await further updates, including teaser and trailer announcements in the coming months. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Mirzapur: Franchise Track Record & Impact 1. Season 1 (2018): Cult Classic (Ranked among IMDb's Top 250 global shows; defined the Indian OTT crime genre) 2. Season 2 (2020): Record Breaker (Became the most-watched Amazon Original in India within 7 days of launch) 3. Season 3 (2024): Global Dominance (Maintained #1 trending status in 15+ countries during its premiere week) 4. The Movie (2025/26): Theatrical Transition (First major Indian OTT series to be adapted into a full-scale theatrical film) Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, June 24 - In a major development, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has reportedly approached superstar Salman Khan to headline his long-awaited epic Karna. Excel Entertainment is backing the ambitious two-part film, once again making it one of the industry's most talked-about projects. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to industry buzz, Salman Khan has responded positively to the narration, with discussions between the actor and the makers now progressing toward an advanced stage. While no formal agreement has been signed yet, reports suggest that the collaboration is being seriously explored behind the scenes. However, the project is still in the negotiation phase, with no official commitment having been made so far. As is often the case with large-scale productions of this magnitude, the film could still change before reaching the floors. If the deal materialises, Karna is expected to begin production in mid-2027. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film is envisioned as a grand cinematic retelling of the legendary Mahabharata warrior Karna, a character known for his courage, loyalty, and tragic destiny. The project has been in development for several years and was previously linked with other leading actors, including Tamil star Suriya, before facing delays. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has long expressed his ambition to bring Karna's story to the big screen on an epic scale, with reports suggesting that the screenplay and music work are already in progress. For Salman Khan, the film could mark a significant shift into the epic space, offering audiences a chance to see the superstar in one of Indian mythology’s most layered and emotionally powerful roles.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, June 24 - Tamil cinema fans are in for a double treat as two major Kollywood projects have grabbed headlines with fresh updates. While excitement continues to build around superstar Rajinikanth's upcoming films, actor Karthi's highly anticipated spy thriller sequel Sardar 2 has officially locked its theatrical release date. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to the latest official update, the makers of Sardar 2 have locked September 10, 2026, as the release date for the highly-awaited actioner. The action-packed sequel, directed by P. S. Mithran, is expected to be one of the biggest Tamil releases of 2026. The sequel stars Karthi reprising his dual roles from the 2022 blockbuster Sardar, while S. J. Suryah joins the franchise in a powerful antagonist role. The cast also includes Malavika Mohanan, Ashika Ranganath, and Rajisha Vijayan. The sequel is expected to expand the universe established in the original film and deliver a more ambitious cinematic experience. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) #Sardar2 ARRIVES…Worldwide in theatres on September 10! @Psmithran @iam_SJSuryah @lakku76 @venkatavmedia @B4UMotionPics @ivyofficial2023 @MalavikaM_ @AshikaRanganath @rajishavijayan @iYogiBabu @SamCSmusic @george_dop @editorvijay @dhilipaction @PoornimaRamasw1… pic.twitter.com/Ld5uWJFXNw— Karthi (@Karthi_Offl) June 24, 2026 Meanwhile, Rajinikanth's next project after Jailer 2 — tentatively referred to as Thalaivar 173 — has officially entered the spotlight after the makers locked its official title. Titled Dharman, the film features superstar Rajinikanth as a deadly doctor. The movie is directed by Ashwath Marimuthu, best known for Dragon and Oh My Kadavule. The superstar is already gearing up for multiple high-profile releases, including Jailer 2, which is slated to hit theatres later this year. Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, the sequel marks another major collaboration with Rajinikanth after the blockbuster success of Jailer. The actor also has a multistarrer with Kamal Haasan, which is expected to start rolling soon. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) தர்மமே வெல்லும்!#Dharman #Thalaivar173 #SuperstarRajinikanth #KamalHaasan @rajinikanth @ikamalhaasan #Mahendran @Dir_Ashwath @anirudhofficial @anbariv @iYogiBabu @SimranbaggaOffc #RaashiKhanna @nikethbommi #KarthikRajkumar @PradeepERagav @kabilanchelliah @ShruthiManjari… pic.twitter.com/UWjXErKdIE— Raaj Kamal Films International (@RKFI) June 24, 2026