Uday Chauhan

BY JITU JANGIR

The Undertaker has revealed that Vince McMahon once admitted he was wrong about a major creative decision involving the first-ever Punjabi Prison Match. The Punjabi Prison Match made its WWE debut at The Great American Bash 2006, where The Undertaker was originally scheduled to face The Great Khali. However, Big Show replaced Khali in the match after an angle involving the two giants led to WWE changing the bout. Undertaker ultimately defeated Big Show after escaping the massive bamboo structure. Twenty years after the match, The Undertaker recalled the creative disagreement he had with McMahon while discussing the bout on his Six Feet Under podcast. According to the WWE Hall of Famer, McMahon had a specific idea for how Undertaker would escape the structure, while he believed there was a much better option. “It was originally supposed to be with Khali. Khali had something going on and they had to put Big Show in the match,” Undertaker explained. He then detailed the disagreement over the finish. “Vince had this idea about, he wanted us to go through the gate or something while we were fighting, and that's how I would get out of the cage,” Undertaker said. The Deadman had another idea in mind. Rather than escaping through one of the doors, he wanted to create a spectacular visual by jumping from the inner structure to the outer cage. “I had the idea that I wanted to jump from the inner cage to the outer cage and get out that way. I thought, man, that'll be such a cool visual. I said, ‘They won't expect it. It'll look amazing.’” However, McMahon ultimately rejected Undertaker's idea and insisted that the match be performed according to his original plan. Undertaker admitted that he eventually stopped arguing with McMahon, although he made his feelings about the decision very clear. “I don't want to hear anything else about it. This is the way we're gonna do it,” McMahon told him, according to Undertaker. “Fine. It's gonna suck, and when it sucks, it's gonna be on you,” Undertaker recalled telling McMahon. After the match took place, Undertaker felt the finish had failed to deliver the impact he had envisioned. He said the moment was essentially “whomp, whomp, whomp, whomp,” describing how flat he believed the spot had come across. But Undertaker didn't need to remind McMahon that he had disagreed with the decision. According to Undertaker, McMahon eventually acknowledged it himself. “I go back and I just looked at him. I didn't have to say a word,” Undertaker recalled. “He knew and he goes, almost under his breath, he goes, ‘Eh, yeah, I think you were right on that cage spot.’” Undertaker said McMahon immediately walked away after making the admission. For the WWE legend, the moment was particularly significant because of how rarely McMahon acknowledged being wrong. “But that was such a victory for me to actually have him admit that he was wrong on something. Didn't happen very often,” Undertaker said. The Undertaker also explained that the story was not an isolated example of creative disagreements between the two. Despite working together for roughly three decades, he said their visions for WWE's product and business were sometimes “polar opposites.” The Punjabi Prison Match itself became one of WWE's most unusual match concepts. The original structure featured two bamboo enclosures, with competitors required to escape both structures to win. The Undertaker ultimately became the first winner of the stipulation at The Great American Bash 2006. The match was later used twice more in WWE, with Batista facing The Great Khali in 2007 and Randy Orton facing Jinder Mahal in 2017. However, for Undertaker, the lasting memory of the original Punjabi Prison Match appears to be less about the unusual stipulation itself and more about the rare occasion when he finally heard Vince McMahon admit that his creative idea had been the better one.

BY JITU JANGIR

This week's episode of Friday Night SmackDown will take place on Friday, August 14, 2026, live from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. WWE has stacked the show with three championship matches, putting the United States Championship, Women's United States Championship, and WWE Tag Team Championship on the line. The show is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM ET in the United States on USA Network, while international viewers in most regions can watch SmackDown live on Netflix. WWE's official schedule confirms the Boston date and 8:00 PM ET start time. Baron Corbin (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes — WWE United States Championship Baron Corbin will make his second defense of the WWE United States Championship when he puts the title on the line against Carmelo Hayes in Boston. Corbin captured the championship from Trick Williams at SummerSlam and then retained it against Williams on the August 7 episode of SmackDown. After Corbin's latest victory, WWE moved quickly to announce Hayes as his next challenger. The matchup also carries an interesting hometown dynamic, as Hayes is from the Boston area and will have the crowd firmly behind him. Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jacy Jayne — WWE Women's United States Championship Tiffany Stratton will defend the WWE Women's United States Championship against Jacy Jayne after the two became increasingly involved in a dispute surrounding the Women's Tag Team Championship. On the August 7 episode of SmackDown, Fatal Influence interrupted Chelsea Green's celebration and Jayne made it clear that she wanted Stratton's title. Stratton subsequently offered Jayne a championship opportunity, turning the confrontation into an official title match for Boston. R-Truth & Damian Priest (c) vs. War Raiders vs. The MFT — WWE Tag Team Championship Triple Threat R-Truth and Damian Priest will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship in a three-way battle against the War Raiders and The MFT. The match continues a storyline that began when Priest and Truth accepted a challenge from the War Raiders. The two teams previously competed in a champion-versus-champion situation involving the WWE and AAA Tag Team Championships, and the rivalry has now developed into a three-team title fight. The addition of The MFT makes this particularly dangerous for the champions because Truth and Priest do not have to be pinned for their reign to end. War Raiders bring a major size and power advantage, while The MFT adds another unpredictable element to the contest. Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton Face Off — Predicted Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are both advertised for the Boston show, and another confrontation between the former friends looks highly likely. Orton shocked Rhodes at SummerSlam by interfering in his Undisputed WWE Championship match against CM Punk, costing Rhodes the opportunity to regain the championship. On the August 7 SmackDown, Rhodes confronted Orton, while Orton made it clear that his actions were deliberate and that he intends to prevent Rhodes from becoming champion again. WWE's official SmackDown highlights also featured the escalating Rhodes-Orton storyline. With both men advertised for Boston, WWE has an obvious opportunity to continue building the rivalry. A physical confrontation, a challenge for a future singles match, or an extended promo segment would all make sense. Given the history between the two former allies, this feud has the potential to become one of SmackDown's central stories following SummerSlam. CM Punk and Kevin Owens Continue Their Rivalry — Predicted CM Punk and Kevin Owens are also expected to remain at the center of SmackDown following their explosive confrontation in Philadelphia. Owens returned at SummerSlam and became the No. 1 contender to Punk's Undisputed WWE Championship. On the following SmackDown, the two exchanged heated words and nearly came to blows before officials intervened. Owens has already made it clear that he wants his championship opportunity, and the match has since been scheduled for the August 21 episode of SmackDown in Toronto. That makes Boston an important stop on the road to their championship match. WWE could use the episode for another face-to-face confrontation, a contract-signing segment, or a situation where one man attempts to gain a psychological advantage over the other. Since the actual title match is scheduled for the following week's SmackDown, the Boston show should be used to raise the stakes rather than give away the final physical confrontation too early. How To Watch WWE SmackDown, August 14, 2026 Fans in the United States can watch WWE SmackDown live on USA Network at 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT / 5:00 PM PT on Friday, August 14. WWE's official viewing guide confirms that SmackDown remains on USA Network in the United States, while Netflix carries the weekly show live in most international markets. For viewers in India, SmackDown will begin at 5:30 AM IST on Saturday, August 15, with the show available on Netflix. The international broadcast schedule lists the August 14 Boston episode at 12:00 AM GMT, 2:00 AM CET, 5:30 AM IST and 10:00 AM AEST. UK viewers can watch at 1:00 AM BST on Saturday, while viewers in Central Europe can tune in at 2:00 AM CEST. Australian viewers will get the show at approximately 10:00 AM AEST on Saturday. In most of these international markets, SmackDown is available live through Netflix.

BY JITU JANGIR

Charlotte Flair has reflected on her recent run in WWE, revealing that she considers 2026 the most versatile year of her career despite feeling that some people had written her off. Flair discussed her evolution as a performer during a recent interview on Busted Open, explaining that she has learned to show different sides of her personality rather than relying solely on the larger-than-life character that fans have traditionally associated with “The Queen.” “I truly believe this was like the best year of my career and I’ve never been more versatile,” Flair said. “So I’m like, if I can do that in a year that everyone had kind of, I felt, written me off. Imagine what I can do in five years.” One of the biggest changes has been Flair's willingness to embrace comedy, vulnerability and less serious moments on WWE programming. She has recently been able to show a different side of herself while working alongside Alexa Bliss, something she believes has helped audiences connect with her in a new way. Flair acknowledged that she understands why fans have traditionally expected her to be positioned as a singles star competing for championships. However, she believes her current experience has allowed her to demonstrate that there is more to her character than being a perennial title contender. “I think being in this tag, whether it’s slow or not for some of my fans, I think there is a bigger picture and that I’m going to keep working towards,” Flair said. The former Women's Champion also believes she has discovered that she does not always need to be presented as the dominant main-event character to remain compelling. “I think it’s just showing that vulnerability and showing that, like, hey, I don’t need to have a main [event]... I’m interesting,” she explained. That realization represents an important change for Flair, who spent much of her WWE career being presented as one of the company's most protected and decorated stars. Flair also discussed how she has gradually learned to balance her extravagant “Queen” presentation with a more relatable version of herself. Rather than abandoning the robes, feathers and glamour associated with her character, she has looked for ways to incorporate more of her real personality into the presentation. “I’ve spent the last year trying to figure out how to bring how you would see me on the street or like at a random day in Orlando and then bedazzle that,” Flair said. And despite everything she has already accomplished, Flair clearly believes there is considerably more to come. “I’m like, if I can do that in a year that everyone had kind of, I felt, written me off. Imagine what I can do in five years,” she said.

BY JITU JANGIR

Charlotte Flair has revealed the one match she believes changed the trajectory of her WWE career. Flair, who has gone on to become one of WWE’s most decorated women’s wrestlers, pointed to her 2014 NXT TakeOver match against Natalya as the performance that finally made fans take her seriously as a wrestler. “If that match hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be here today,” Flair said. The match, which took place at NXT TakeOver in 2014, saw Flair defend the NXT Women’s Championship against Natalya. Looking back, Flair believes the significance of the bout went far beyond the championship itself. “Were they going with me? But I don’t know if it was more like, okay, she’s easily the brand for whatever we need Flare’s kid. We’re bringing in Ric. We’re bringing in Bret,” Flair explained. “But like in that moment, if you go back and watch that match, no one like gave a shit about my dad and Bret. And it was like so raw, so authentic.” Flair also highlighted how unusual the match was for WWE television at the time, noting that it was the longest match the company had produced or televised up to that point. “I go back and watch that match and I still think like out of a lot of my matches to this day, that one still is timeless and a classic,” she said. Most importantly, Flair believes the performance proved that she could stand on her own rather than simply being viewed as Ric Flair’s daughter. “But had that match not happened, I don’t think people would have taken me serious,” Flair said. “I don’t think it would have given it launched everything. Like you know when you have defining moments, I’d say that was a defining moment.” Flair also named her WrestleMania 32 match and her bout against Asuka as other important moments in her career, but the Natalya match remains particularly significant to her. Despite everything she has accomplished since then, Flair does not believe her best match has happened yet. “Someone asked me, ‘What do you think is your greatest match of all time?’ And I’m like, ‘It hasn’t happened yet,’” Flair said.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Batwara 1947 is scheduled to arrive in theaters on August 14, 2026, ending a professional hiatus between Sunny Deol and Rajkumar Santoshi that dates back to the mid-nineties. While the duo was once the most formidable force in Hindi cinema with classics like Ghayal and Damini, the journey of this specific project has been a difficult one, spanning roughly 16 years of development hell and industry skepticism. The 16-year timeline began around 2010 when the duo first attempted to pitch Batwara 1947 to major studios. At that time, both the actor and the director were navigating a difficult phase in their careers, marked by several box-office disappointments. This led to a harsh industry perception where the pairing was labeled as not saleable. Financiers were hesitant to back a veteran team that had not delivered a major commercial success in years, and the project was effectively shelved as no big banner was willing to take the risk. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A significant hurdle was the nature of the script itself. While producers were pressuring Sunny Deol to stick to loud, mass-market action films, Batwara 1947 was envisioned as a realistic period drama based on a celebrated play about the emotional trauma of the Partition. Studios viewed a serious, art-house leaning narrative as a massive financial risk, especially when the lead star was struggling with his theatrical pull. For over a decade, the project remained stagnant because the market demanded a version of Sunny Deol that didn't align with the director's grounded vision. The actor's filmography during this 16-year period reflected this struggle. Projects like Singh Saab the Great and his own directorial effort Ghayal Once Again underperformed at the box office. Later films like Poster Boys and Blank were also commercially disappointing, further fueling the narrative that his era as a bankable lead was fading. Without a major hit to his name, the ambitious Batwara 1947 appeared to be a lost cause, existing only in trade discussions rather than active production. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The trajectory shifted entirely with the massive success of Gadar 2, which proved there was still a huge, loyal audience for the veteran actor. This turnaround was further solidified earlier this year with the release of Border 2, which also performed exceptionally well at the box office. These consecutive hits restored his position as a bankable superstar, providing the necessary commercial momentum to revive Batwara 1947 after years of stagnation. Recognizing this renewed market demand, Aamir Khan stepped in under his banner to finance the project, finally allowing the director the creative independence to pursue a realistic and serious tone without the pressure of typical commercial tropes. Batwara 1947 faces a direct clash with Amaran 2, which is currently leading the race in terms of advance bookings. While the competitor has secured a stronger start with initial ticket sales, the Sunny Deol starrer is positioned as a grounded, realistic drama that might take a bit longer to find its full momentum. Since the film avoids the loud tropes of a typical commercial entertainer, it will be solely dependent on positive word of mouth to prove its worth and draw in the larger family audience over the holiday weekend. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) With Aamir Khan backing the project, the production scale was elevated without compromising the artistic integrity of the story. This allowed for a realistic recreation of the 1947 landscape and a cast that prioritized performance over mass appeal, including the return of Preity Zinta. The film is now a reality because a historic box-office turnaround revived a script that had been rejected for over a decade.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The Telugu horror-comedy Korean Kanakaraju is currently navigating its crucial first-week testing phase at the box office. Starring Varun Tej in the lead and directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, the film generated pre-release interest due to its quirky title and the lead actor's shift into a more comedic space. On its first Tuesday, the movie earned 1.82 crore rupees in India gross collections. This represents a 23.8 percent drop from yesterday performance, as net collections settled at 1.60 crore rupees. While mid-week dips are expected for this genre, the film is maintaining its theatrical presence across 1,758 shows in India. In India, the cumulative gross has touched 19.42 crore rupees, corresponding to a net collection of 16.90 crore rupees. The international market has also contributed steadily, with 30 lakh rupees added on Tuesday, bringing the total overseas gross to 4.60 crore rupees. Consequently, the worldwide gross collection for Korean Kanakaraju now stands at 24.02 crore rupees, a total accumulated through 8,729 shows globally so far. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Diving into the regional breakdown, the Telugu 2D version saw an overall occupancy of 22.42 percent on Tuesday. Interest picked up as the day progressed, starting with 15.42 percent in the morning and peaking during the night shows at 25.83 percent. Afternoon and evening sessions recorded 24.92 percent and 19.58 percent respectively. In terms of major regions, Vizag-Visakhapatnam stood out with a strong 31.3 percent occupancy across 103 shows. Hyderabad followed with a steady 21 percent occupancy over 347 shows, while Bengaluru recorded 17 percent occupancy for 157 shows. The state-wise data highlights that the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana contributed 1.62 crore rupees to the daily gross. Other regions like Karnataka added 15 lakh rupees, while the rest of India and Tamil Nadu brought in smaller contributions of 3 lakh and 2 lakh rupees respectively. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Performance in the major national multiplex chains, including PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, remained on the quieter side. Combined, these three chains sold approximately 2,500 tickets, resulting in a daily gross of roughly 5 lakh rupees at an average occupancy of 3.69 percent. Individually, PVR led with about 1,100 tickets sold and a gross of 2.45 lakh rupees. INOX followed with approximately 800 tickets, and Cinepolis saw roughly 550 tickets booked. These urban centers accounted for 350 shows on Tuesday. On the digital ticketing front, BookMyShow continues to reflect steady volume. In the last 24 hours alone, nearly 26,000 tickets were sold on the platform, bringing the total tickets sold through the app to approximately 4.85 lakh. This signifies that a healthy portion of the urban audience is still actively planning their visits through advance bookings. In the overseas market, specifically North America, the film is seeing a stable run for a regional release. According to data shared by Venky Box Office, Korean Kanakaraju grossed 21,000 dollars on Monday. This brings its total collection in the North American region to 346,000 dollars.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Vijay Sethupathi is teaming up with director Balaji Tharaneetharan for their third film together, titled Baththa. This official announcement confirms the reunion of the pair responsible for Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom and Seethakaathi. Since the news broke today, the project has been widely discussed across social media, as it brings back a partnership known for a very specific style of storytelling in Tamil cinema. This collaboration is particularly significant because it brings back the team responsible for the cult classic Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom and the experimental Seethakaathi. Given their history of working on unique scripts, the expectation is that Baththa will follow a similar path of creative storytelling. Adding to the film's appeal is the presence of Lijomol Jose as the female lead, an actor known for her powerful performances in critically acclaimed projects. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The project is presented by filmmaker Atlee and produced by Priya Atlee. Notably, this film marks the entry of prominent Bollywood production houses like Star Studio and Cine1 Studios into the Tamil industry. This collaboration showcases a strategic effort to bring a larger production scale to Tamil cinema by bridging regional and national production units. On the technical side, the film features a fresh and talented crew. The music is being composed by Sai Abhyankkar, while the cinematography is handled by Selva Kumar SK. R Kalaivanan has been brought on board as the editor to round out the core team. These names suggest a focus on technical excellence to match the creative depth usually found in a Balaji Tharaneetharan directorial. With a worldwide release already scheduled for October 1, the team is moving swiftly to bring this story to the audience. Baththa looks like a promising addition to Vijay Sethupathi's diverse filmography, especially since it reunites him with a director who understands his range so well. As we head toward the October release, the anticipation remains centered on how this duo will manage to surprise the viewers for the third time.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The highly anticipated Onam box office showdown has taken an unexpected turn with the latest update regarding Dulquer Salmaan's milestone project, I'm Game. Originally scheduled for a grand worldwide theatrical release on August 20, 2026, the film has now been postponed. According to recent reports from industry insiders, the delay is due to the incompletion of post-production work. While fans were eagerly counting down the days to see the superstar in his 40th film, it appears the makers are prioritizing the final quality of this high-budget mega-project over meeting the initial deadline. The scale of I'm Game justifies the extra time being taken in the editing room. Produced under Dulquer's own banner, Wayfarer Films, the production has spanned over 100 diverse locations to capture the international flavor of the story. Directed by Nahas Hidhayath, who recently delivered the massive hit RDX, the film is expected to be a high-octane action thriller. To ensure the action sequences are world-class, the team brought in the acclaimed stunt duo Anbariv, known for their work in major blockbusters like KGF and Vikram. This combination of a hit-making director and elite stunt coordinators has made the film one of the most talked-about projects in the Malayalam industry. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In this film, Dulquer Salmaan steps into a role that is being described as sleek, modern, and entirely fearless. He portrays a charismatic gambler who famously lives by the philosophy of trusting luck more than life itself. However, the plot suggests that his high-stakes lifestyle is thrown into absolute chaos by a series of unexpected events. This shift drags his character away from the luxury of the casino and into the middle of ruthless international gang wars and a desperate struggle for survival. The first-look posters, which show the actor surrounded by cash and casino chips, have already set a stylish tone for what is being called a landmark performance in his career. The supporting cast is equally powerhouse, featuring a blend of talent from across industries. The film stars Antony Varghese, popularly known as Pepe, along with Mysskin, Kathir, Samyuktha Viswanathan, and Kayadu Lohar. This ensemble suggests that the narrative will have multiple layers and intense character dynamics. On the musical front, the film has already started making waves. The romantic track Mazhavillaye, composed by Jakes Bejoy and sung by Armaan Malik, recently dropped and instantly crossed the 2 million views mark. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Before the postponement was announced, I'm Game was set for a massive Onam box office clash. It was positioned to go head-to-head with other heavyweights like Prithviraj's Khalifa and Nivin Pauly's Bethlehem Kudumba Unit. This three-way battle between the top stars of Mollywood was the highlight of the festive season's calendar. With Dulquer's film now moving out of the August 20 slot, the box office dynamics for Onam 2026 will shift significantly.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

As Jana Nayagan enters its third week, the box office numbers have finally dipped below the 1 crore mark, signaling that the theatrical run is now moving into its final stretch. On its twentieth day, the film grossed 0.74 crore rupees in India, which is a 13.3 percent drop from the previous day's collection of roughly 0.85 crore rupees. While these daily figures are now relatively modest, the fact that the movie has traveled this far is a direct result of the immense fandom surrounding Vijay. Despite the significant challenge of a digital leak that usually cripples a film's longevity, the sheer star power of the lead actor has pushed the domestic gross to 225.63 crore rupees and the net total to 193.70 crore rupees so far. It is a clear case of fan loyalty sustaining a film's presence in theaters even when the momentum naturally begins to fade. The film performance on a global scale remains equally impressive. By adding a steady overseas gross of 93.20 crore rupees to its domestic earnings, Jana Nayagan has pushed its worldwide total gross to 318.83 crore rupees. This surge has allowed the film to surpass the lifetime collections of Karuppu, officially entering the list of the top ten highest-grossing Tamil movies of all time. This achievement is particularly notable for the lead actor, who now has three films in this prestigious all-time top ten list: Leo, GOAT, and now Jana Nayagan. He now shares this elite record with the legendary Rajinikanth, who also has three films—Coolie, Jailer, and 2.0—in the same bracket. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the ticketing data from BookMyShow, the film has shown incredible volume throughout its run. Starting with massive pre-sales of 1.18 million tickets, the momentum has carried through to its third week. The platform recorded 8,780 tickets on Monday and 6,820 tickets on Tuesday, bringing the total cumulative ticket sales on BookMyShow to a staggering 4,362,460. The performance at national chains including PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis remained stable for a twentieth day. Combined, these major chains sold approximately 3,000 tickets today, resulting in a gross collection of nearly 4 lakh rupees. Specifically, PVR led the group with roughly 1,800 tickets sold and a gross of around 2.3 lakh rupees at 13.34 percent occupancy. INOX followed with about 1,000 tickets and a gross of 1.2 lakh rupees at 14.11 percent occupancy, while Cinepolis contributed approximately 200 tickets. These figures, while small compared to the opening week, demonstrate that the film is still finding an audience in premium urban multiplexes. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In terms of regional performance on Day 20, the Tamil version maintained an overall occupancy of 15.46 percent. The interest was distributed fairly evenly throughout the day, starting with 11.08 percent in the morning and peaking at 15.46 percent in the afternoon, followed by 14.15 percent during the night shows. Chennai remains the strongest fortress for the film, recording 22.3 percent occupancy across 183 shows. Other major regions also contributed steadily, with Bengaluru seeing 19.3 percent occupancy for 42 shows, while Coimbatore and Madurai recorded 12.5 percent and 12 percent occupancy respectively. In Hindi-speaking markets, the film held 748 shows with an occupancy of 9 percent. The state-wise gross reports for Tuesday show that Tamil Nadu remains the primary driver, contributing 0.60 crore rupees to the daily gross. Karnataka followed with 0.03 crore rupees, while Kerala added 0.01 crore rupees and the rest of India accounted for 0.10 crore rupees. When analyzing the language-wise net totals, the Tamil version has amassed 167.78 crore rupees so far, bringing it within striking distance of the Tamil net collection of Amaran, which stands at 167.90 crore rupees. While Jana Nayagan surpassed Tamil net milestone , the story is very different when we look at the overall India gross. Jana Nayagan currently stands at 225.63 crore rupees, leaving a massive gap of roughly 28 crore rupees to reach the 253.67 crore rupees India gross benchmark set by Amaran. Since daily collections have now slid to 0.74 crore rupees on Day 20, the trajectory needed to bridge such a wide margin is simply not there. As the film enters its late theatrical phase, it is set to settle as the tenth highest-grossing Tamil film of all time, a position that remains a monumental feat for a third-week runner.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, August 12 - Tamil superstar Suriya's Vishwanath And Sons has reportedly registered strong pre-release business ahead of its theatrical release, with the film reportedly fetching 200+ crore across theatrical and non-theatrical avenues. The strong valuation comes on the back of Suriya's improved market following the success of Karuppu, while the upcoming film is expected to target a wider family audience with its emotional drama. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The 200+ crore pre-release business is divided across multiple territories and rights. Tamil Nadu rights have reportedly been sold for 45 crore, while the Telugu states have fetched around 20 crore. Karnataka stands at 5 crore, with the rest of India contributing another 5 crore. The overseas theatrical business is valued at around 15 crore, taking the total theatrical business to 90 crore. The biggest contribution comes from the non-theatrical rights, at 125 crore across OTT, satellite, and music. Despite the impressive 215 crore pre-release valuation, the film still has a significant theatrical target to achieve. Vishwanath And Sons needs to gross around 175 crore worldwide for the theatrical side to emerge as a clean hit. This means the film will need a strong run across India, particularly in Tamil Nadu and the Telugu states, while also maintaining a healthy overseas performance. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The target looks achievable on paper given Suriya's improved current market standing and the holiday advantage around the film's release. However, the real test will be the audience response, as the movie is expected to rely more heavily on family audiences and word of mouth than the action-driven appeal of Karuppu. If the film connects strongly with its target audience, the 175 crore worldwide mark could be within reach. The movie is scheduled to release on August 14.

BY JITU JANGIR

Oba Femi has quickly established himself as one of WWE’s most heavily pushed young stars, and Booker T believes the former NXT Champion is ready to continue climbing the ladder. Femi's career reached its peak in 2026. After breaking through to WWE's main roster, he answered Brock Lesnar's challenge for WrestleMania 42 and defeated “The Beast” in his WrestleMania debut. The two were later paired again at SummerSlam, where Femi defeated Lesnar inside Hell in a Cell. Lesnar's loss at SummerSlam was followed by his retirement announcement, making Femi the last opponent of the former WWE and UFC champion's in-ring career. Speaking about Femi on Hall of Fame, Booker T said he has been watching the Nigerian-born wrestler's development closely and believes he has handled the enormous responsibility of moving from NXT into WWE's main-event picture extremely well. “He’s in a great position and he’s handling it very, very well, man,” Booker said. “He’s matured like so quickly in this business.” Booker said Femi's development has been particularly impressive considering how quickly he has progressed from NXT to the main roster. “I’m not talking about as a man or anything like that, but as a performer, as a professional wrestler coming from, you know, the program into NXT to now the main roster and being the guy, you can’t imagine how huge of a responsibility that really, really, truly is,” Booker said. The WWE Hall of Famer also revealed that he has supported Femi since his NXT days and has regularly encouraged him about his abilities. “I’ve always been like one of if not his biggest supporter,” Booker said. “Like down in NXT, I always used to pump him up and tell him, you know, how good he is and how he’s doing everything right in the ring as well as out of the ring.” Booker believes Femi is now entering a completely different stage of his career. “And right now he’s taken that brass ring, man, and he’s put it on,” Booker said. “And I don’t expect for him to try to give it up anytime soon to anybody.” Femi first defeated Lesnar at WrestleMania 42 after answering Lesnar's open challenge. The victory immediately established Femi as a major player, but his second victory over Lesnar at SummerSlam gave the storyline a different significance, as it was the final match of Lesnar's career. Booker has also previously spoken highly of Femi's potential. His latest comments, however, go beyond simply praising the young wrestler's ability. Booker believes Femi has reached the point where he can carry the expectations that come with being positioned as one of WWE's next major stars. That responsibility is already becoming evident. Femi went from being one of NXT's standout performers to defeating one of the most accomplished wrestlers in WWE history twice in a matter of months. Booker also pointed to Femi's attitude and development outside the ring as reasons for his confidence in the young star. “I’m watching him and I’m watching his every movement,” Booker said. “Every time I see him too, you know, we always dab it up. And I was, I’ve always been like one of if not his biggest supporter.” For Booker, Femi's rise is not simply about his size or physical presence. He believes the young star has developed quickly enough to take advantage of the opportunity WWE has given him. “And right now he’s taken that brass ring, man, and he’s put it on,” Booker reiterated. For Booker T, however, Femi is already showing the qualities needed to become one of WWE's defining stars of the next generation.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 12 - Kannada superstar Yash's Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups is gaining strong momentum in the Hindi market following the release of its much-awaited trailer. The Geetu Mohandas directorial has received an overwhelmingly positive response for its stylish presentation, action-packed raw visuals and Yash's larger-than-life screen presence. With the film now heading for a worldwide theatrical release on August 26, early trade expectations are that Toxic could make a solid start in Hindi. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to the latest trade report, Toxic is currently expected to open in the 20 crore net range in Hindi. While that would already be a healthy start for a dubbed South Indian film, there is optimism within trade that the Yash starrer has the potential to go considerably higher if the trailer buzz converts into strong bookings and audience turnout. The biggest advantage for Toxic is the lack of major competition from direct Hindi releases, while holdovers will also have almost faded by the time of its release on August 26. This gives the film a relatively open field in the Hindi belt, allowing it to command a strong number of screens and premium show timings. Yash also continues to enjoy considerable goodwill in the North Indian market after the blockbuster success of the KGF franchise, giving Toxic a ready-made audience base. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) More importantly, the film appears to have the ingredients required for a big-screen event. The gangster backdrop, action, scale, star cast and highly stylised world showcased in a gritty and bold tone in the trailer are all aligned with the kind of mass entertainment that can work strongly in the Hindi-speaking markets. The trailer has also helped position Toxic as a theatrical spectacle rather than simply another dubbed South Indian release. The 20 crore net opening should therefore be viewed as a starting point rather than a ceiling. If the positive trailer response sustains through the promotional campaign, Toxic could potentially surprise on the upside. With no major Hindi film directly competing for its audience on August 26, Yash has a clear opportunity to turn the film into one of the biggest Hindi openings for a South Indian star.