50 Million Views and Counting! Dhurandhar Franchise Dominates 2026 OTT Charts; Did it Just Shatter RRR's All-Time Record?

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The streaming numbers for the first half of 2026 are officially in. This year has seen some massive records being shattered, specifically by franchise hits that have managed to translate their big-screen hype into record-breaking viewership velocity on platforms like Netflix and JioHotstar. The standout performer of the year is undoubtedly Dhurandhar on Netflix. Within a 10-week sprint, the film racked up 31.1 million views, setting a new benchmark for Indian cinema in the digital space. This viewership velocity has officially surpassed the numbers generated by RRR (Hindi) within the same 10-week opening window. The franchise's strength is further highlighted by its sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which secured the second spot with 18.9 million views on JioHotstar. Together, the two films have accumulated a combined 50 million views, showcasing the incredible pull of the franchise across different streaming platforms. Another interesting case study in the 2026 OTT charts is Prabhas's The Raja Saab. The film unfortunately underperformed during its January theatrical release, but its transition to the digital space on February 6 told a completely different story. Upon its premiere on JioHotstar, the movie immediately climbed to the #1 trending position and has since gathered 10.3 million views. This highlights a growing trend where films that struggle to find a massive footing in theaters are being rediscovered and embraced by home audiences, effectively recovering their reach through streaming platforms. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the overall distribution of the top 10 most-watched films, Netflix continues to be the dominant player, hosting eight out of the top ten titles. Films like the investigative thriller Accused and the cross-cultural drama Made In Korea have performed exceptionally well, securing 16.6 million and 13.5 million views respectively. Other notable entries include Rani Mukerji's Mardaani 3 and the Akshay Kumar starrer Bhooth Bangla, both of which maintained steady viewership figures above the 10 million mark. The list is rounded off by Tere Ishk Mein, which remains a popular choice for romantic drama enthusiasts with 9.7 million views. Most Watched Indian OTT Films in 2026RANKMOVIE TITLEPLATFORMVIEWERSHIP (MILLIONS)1DhurandharNetflix31.1M2Dhurandhar: The RevengeJioHotstar18.9M3AccusedNetflix16.6M4Made In KoreaNetflix13.5M5Bhooth BanglaNetflix11.9M6HaqNetflix11.3M7Mardaani 3Netflix10.7M8KartavyaNetflix10.3M9The Raja SaabJioHotstar10.3M10Tere Ishk MeinNetflix9.7M

BY CHRISTA LINCY

As we get closer to the big release of Love Oh Love on July 10, the lead actor Pavish Narayan has managed to spark a major conversation across social media. While the film was already being tracked for its quirky urban premise, Pavish has now added a layer of emotional connect with the audience by talking about his personal inspirations. Being the nephew of the National Award-winning star Dhanush, Pavish is naturally under the spotlight, but it is his recent tribute to Thalapathy Vijay that has really gone viral among Kollywood fan circles. In a recent promotional interaction, Pavish opened up about the work ethic he hopes to emulate as he starts his journey in cinema. He specifically pointed toward the legendary simplicity of Thalapathy Vijay as a guiding light. Pavish mentioned that despite being one of the biggest box-office icons in India, Vijay remains incredibly grounded on a film set. He shared a specific observation that even today, a star of Vijay’s stature is often seen carrying his own umbrella on sets. For a debutant actor, this level of humility is a massive inspiration, and these statements have clearly struck a chord with the massive Thalapathy fandom, giving the film a significant promotional boost just days before it hits the screens. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) For those of you catching up on the project, Love Oh Love is a romantic comedy directed by debutant Magesh Rajendran. It centers on the life of Raghuvaran, a corporate employee played by Pavish, who finds himself in a financial and legal mess. The story highlights the pitfalls of modern dating, where the pressure to maintain a lavish lifestyle for a materialistic partner leads to maxed-out credit cards and a lost job. Most of the narrative unfolds inside a police station as the protagonist recounts his disastrous four-month dating history, a setup that promises plenty of situational comedy. The film also features an interesting blend of fresh and veteran talent. While Naga Durga makes her Tamil debut after a successful stint as a YouTube star in the Telugu market, the supporting cast is filled with heavyweights. Having legendary directors like K.S. Ravikumar and Selvaraghavan acting in pivotal roles gives the film a lot of weight. Selvaraghavan’s portrayal of a police officer is especially being looked forward to, given his intense screen presence. The presence of Vanitha Vijayakumar and Adithya Kathir further ensures that the comedic elements are well-supported. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The Central Board of Film Certification has cleared the film with a U/A certificate, making it an accessible entertainer for the 13-plus age group and family audiences alike. The production team, led by G. Dhananjheyan and Dinesh Raj, is currently in the middle of an aggressive multi-city mall tour across regions like Coimbatore, Madurai, and Trichy. Between the relatable credit-card crisis storyline and the viral goodwill generated by Pavish's comments on Thalapathy Vijay, Love Oh Love is heading into its July 10 release with a very healthy level of curiosity and buzz.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Gatta Kusthi 2 has officially etched its name in the history of Tamil cinema as a major success for Vishnu Vishal. The sports-comedy sequel has achieved a massive milestone by becoming the highest-grossing film of the actor's career. By reaching a worldwide gross of ₹25.64, it has surpassed the lifetime collections of his previous best, the psychological thriller Raatchasan, which had collected approximately 20 Cr. This is a significant feat, proving that the actor has found a solid footing with his character-driven sports dramas. Analyzing the Day 5 gross performance, Gatta Kusthi 2 pulled in ₹2.51 Cr across the country. This indicates a steady hold with a roughly 7 percent dip from Monday gross of ₹2.70 Cr. While we saw several Hindi titles benefiting from Discount Tuesday to register growth, this sports-comedy followed a standard weekday trajectory while maintaining a very respectable grip. After its first five days, the total India gross has now reached ₹21.14 Cr, while the net collection sits at ₹18.40 Cr. The film continues to run on a wide scale with 2,201 shows and an overall occupancy of 22.0 percent. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The state-wise breakdown provides a clearer picture of where the film is drawing its strength. Tamil Nadu remains the primary engine, contributing a gross of 2.25 Cr on Tuesday compared to 2.40 Cr on Monday. In Karnataka, the gross collection stood at 14 Lakhs on Day 5, a marginal dip from the 15 Lakhs recorded on Day 4. Similarly, Kerala saw a collection of 10 Lakhs on Tuesday against 12 Lakhs on Monday. In the Telugu states (AP/TG), the film held steady at 1 Lakh, while the rest of India contributed another 1 Lakh. In total, the Day 5 India gross reached 2.51 Cr compared to Monday gross of 2.70 Cr. Regional occupancy reports highlight a very healthy trend in urban centers, especially in Chennai where the film recorded a 28.3 percent occupancy from 401 shows. Coimbatore followed with 18.5 percent occupancy across 163 shows, while Bengaluru saw 15.5 percent occupancy from 184 shows. Interestingly, the performance in national chains was quite impressive. PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis collectively sold roughly over 8,400 tickets on Tuesday, resulting in a gross of approximately over 10 Lakhs. The average occupancy in these chains was nearly 9.5 percent, which is significantly higher than many other concurrent releases, showing that the movie is attracting premium theater audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The digital footprint of the film is equally robust. On the booking platform BookMyShow, Gatta Kusthi 2 sold 31.05K tickets in the last 24 hours alone. This brings the total tickets sold on the platform to approximately 434.53K since its release. This level of sustained interest on a weekday indicates that the positive word of mouth is successfully translating into footfalls, allowing the film to hold its ground even as new competition prepares to enter the market. On the international front, based on early estimates, the film added 50 Lakhs on its fifth day. This pushes the total overseas gross to 4.50 Cr. When combined with the domestic performance, the worldwide gross collection is estimated to be around ₹25.64, at this stage. With the Raatchasan record now in the rearview mirror, Vishnu Vishal has set a new benchmark for his future projects. If the film continues this steady trend through the second weekend, it could very well aim for even higher lifetime targets before the theatrical window starts to narrow.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, July 8 - Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Part 1 continues to dominate headlines even months ahead of its theatrical release. Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, the epic has easily been the most anticipated Indian movie in the making, not just among fans but also in the trade, for its enormous box-office potential. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) As the release date gets nearer, the film distribution race is heating up. Yesterday, Variety India reported that Karan Johar's Dharma Productions has acquired the all-India distribution rights to Ramayana Part 1 in a massive 250-crore deal. While the deal is huge, it started a conversation on social media about whether the rights were really sold for 250 crores, a significant but half of what the makers reportedly quoted, as earlier reports stated a staggering 500 crore demand. Now, according to the latest report by Bollywood Hungama, Dharma Productions has reportedly secured the theatrical distribution rights for 350 crore, making it the biggest distribution deal in Bollywood history. While the official announcement hasn't been made yet, the 350 crore deal looks more believable given the massive box office potential and the distribution demand of the makers. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dharma Productions is reportedly preparing an extensive nationwide release strategy for the epic. The project, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and backed by Namit Malhotra, stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Ravie Dubey as Laxman, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman, among many others in prominent roles. Mounted on a massive budget and envisioned as a two-part cinematic saga, Ramayana is among the most anticipated Indian films in recent years. Produced by Prime Focus Studios and Monster Mind Creations, the first instalment is scheduled for a grand worldwide theatrical release during the 2026 Diwali festive season, while Ramayana Part 2 will release on Diwali 2027.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The Dhamaal franchise has built a legendary reputation for delivering high-octane laughter, and the upcoming fourth installment is currently one of the most anticipated releases of 2026. After several shifts in the release schedule to find the perfect window, the makers have finally settled on a release date of July 10. The anticipation is visible on platforms like BookMyShow, where over 125K people have already marked their interest in the film, making it one of the most tracked Indian movies of the year on IMDb. Looking at the initial advance booking reports, the film is starting to gain momentum across the country. For the first day, Dhamaal 4 has recorded an all-India gross of 33.79 Lac. When we include block seats, this figure jumps to a much more substantial 1.61 Cr. So far, the film has sold roughly 13,475 tickets for its opening day across 3,698 shows. While the real occupancy currently sits at 1 percent, these are early numbers and the pace is expected to pick up significantly as the release day approaches. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Maharashtra is currently leading the charts among states, with a gross of 8.48 Lac and a total including block seats of 36.12 Lac from 912 shows. Delhi follows closely with a gross of 6.72 Lac, reaching 36.46 Lac with block seats. In terms of major regions, the National Capital Region (NCR) and Mumbai are the primary drivers, contributing 6.72 Lac and 6.57 Lac respectively to the opening day tally. Other markets like Gujarat and Rajasthan are also contributing, with Gujarat showing a gross with block seats of 19.59 Lac from 700 shows and Rajasthan recording 11.1 Lac with block seats. The pressure on this fourth installment is high because the franchise has a perfect track record at the box office. The original Dhamaal was a Hit with an India net collection of 33.06 Cr and a worldwide gross of 51.30 Cr. Double Dhamaal followed that success with 44.10 Cr net and 71.00 Cr worldwide gross, also earning a Hit verdict. The stakes were raised significantly with Total Dhamaal, which collected a massive 155.67 Cr net in India and a worldwide gross of 232.18 Cr, making it a Superhit. With all three previous films being successful, the industry is watching closely to see if Dhamaal 4 can maintain this 100 percent success rate. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The plot this time around follows the classic boys on a wild quest for the Treasure of Life, but with a few supernatural twists involving pirates and ghosts. Ajay Devgn returns as a quirky IRS officer, leading the veteran ensemble of Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Jaaved Jaaferi, and Sanjay Mishra. Interestingly, the film is moving away from the franchise tradition of having no female leads. After Madhuri Dixit joined the third part, Dhamaal 4 features a larger female cast including Sanjeeda Shaikh, Esha Gupta, and Anjali Anand. Ravi Kishan also joins the chaos as a quirky pirate. The technical aspects of the film are also set for a smooth release. The Censor Board has granted a U/A 13+ certificate with a runtime of 2 hours and 23 minutes. While no scenes were cut, minor modifications were made to certain hand gestures and vocabulary to keep it family-friendly. On the music front, the soundtrack is already generating buzz. Songs like Chatni, which is a recreation of the popular track originally by Mamta Sharma, and Guru Randhawa's energetic track Qeher are trending heavily, adding to the overall excitement for the film's theatrical debut on July 10.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, July 8 - The makers of Rajkummar Rao-fronted highly anticipated biopic on former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly have officially unveiled the film's title, first-look poster, and release date. Titled Dada - The Sourav Ganguly Story, the sports drama is set for a worldwide theatrical release on May 14, 2027. The announcement was made on July 8, coinciding with Ganguly's birthday, giving fans their first glimpse of Rajkummar Rao's transformation into one of Indian cricket's greatest icons. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The first-look poster recreates one of the most unforgettable moments in Indian cricket history—Sourav Ganguly waving his jersey from the iconic Lord's balcony after India's dramatic NatWest Trophy triumph in 2002. Rajkummar Rao is seen sporting Ganguly's signature hairstyle and physique, while the tagline, "He Didn't Just Play The Game, He Changed It," highlights the legendary captain's impact on Indian cricket. The poster has already received an overwhelmingly positive response across social media. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane, Dada will chronicle Ganguly's inspiring journey from a young cricketer in Kolkata to becoming one of India's most influential captains. The film is expected to delve into his leadership during a transformative phase in Indian cricket, his fearless approach on the field, and the legacy he built for future generations. Rajkummar Rao reportedly underwent extensive cricket training and spent considerable time studying Ganguly's batting style, mannerisms, and personality to portray the role authentically. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Happy Birthday Dada!@SGanguly99 #RajkummarRao #VikramadityaMotwane#Dada #DadaTheSouravGangulyStory #DadaFirstLook pic.twitter.com/5eCWDvkKFA— Luv Films (@LuvFilmsLLP) July 8, 2026 Backed by Luv Films, the biopic has been mounted on a grand scale, with filming taking place at several iconic cricket venues, including Eden Gardens. The project has been one of the most eagerly awaited sports dramas in Hindi cinema ever since Ganguly confirmed Rajkummar Rao would play him on screen. With its title now officially revealed and the release date locked, Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story has become one of the biggest Bollywood releases to look forward to in 2027. Cricket fans and moviegoers alike will be eager to see Rajkummar Rao bring the remarkable story of one of India's most celebrated captains to life when the film arrives in cinemas on May 14, 2027.