Salman Khan and Nayanthara Begin Shooting For Vamshi Paidipally's High-Octane Actioner; Aiming For Eid 2027 Release

BY SACNILK

There is a lot of conversation happening in the trade circles regarding Salman Khan's ambitious project, Maatrubhumi. Originally announced as Battle of Galwan, the film has been one of the most talked-about movies in the superstar's upcoming lineup. However, according to a recent report by Bollywood Hungama, there is a strong possibility that the film's release might be pushed to 2027. While the makers were initially aiming for a release this year, certain technical and diplomatic hurdles seem to be slowing down the progress. The core reason behind this potential delay involves the subject matter of the film. Maatrubhumi is based on the 2020 border conflict between India and China. Given that diplomatic relations between the two countries have seen recent improvements, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) reportedly has some reservations regarding the specific mention of China and certain aspects of the content. In India, any film depicting the armed forces requires a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the MoD, and it appears the team is currently working through these discussions to ensure the film is presented appropriately. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A trade source mentioned that even if these issues are resolved quickly, finding a suitable release window in the current year is becoming a challenge. Most major holiday slots are already occupied by other big-budget films. Interestingly, the source highlighted Salman Khan's unique ethics when it comes to box office clashes. Unlike many others in the industry, Salman is known to be very fair and avoids clashing with other films unnecessarily. If he ever decides to take up a date already claimed by another producer, he makes it a point to inform them personally beforehand. This professional courtesy is one reason why the makers are being extra cautious with the scheduling. Industry insiders believe that if a 2026 release is still pursued, the Dussehra period around October 20 could be a viable option. It offers an extended five-day weekend, and with other major films like Ramayana potentially moving to late October, there could be a clear window. Currently, Rajkummar Rao's Raftaar and the Emraan Hashmi-Genelia Deshmukh starrer Gunmaaster G9 are eyeing the mid-October slot, but no official confirmation has locked them in yet. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) If the clearance issues persist, Maatrubhumi will officially move to 2027. This shift would actually result in a massive year for Salman Khan fans, as the superstar is already working on an untitled actioner directed by Vamshi Paidipally. That film, which features Nayanthara as the female lead, is also targeted for a 2027 release. Having two Salman Khan films in a single calendar year is a rare event and would certainly create a massive buzz at the box office. For now, Maatrubhumi remains a highly anticipated project because it brings Salman Khan into a gritty, real-life inspired military drama. Directed by Karan Butani and produced under the Salman Khan Films (SKF) banner, the movie is expected to showcase the actor in a very different light compared to his usual commercial entertainers. While the wait might get a little longer, the scale and the sensitivity of the subject suggest that the makers are taking the right steps to ensure the film reaches the audience in its best possible form.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 10 - Alia Bhatt and Sharvari-starrer Alpha has completed its first week at the Indian box office with a modest 47.50 crore net. The film did decently considering the immense negativity, but it failed to live up to the high expectations YRF Spy Universe has set over the years with blockbuster starts. The Yash Raj Films spy thriller witnessed a decent opening weekend. Still, it could not maintain the momentum during the weekdays, resulting in the lowest first-week total (not surprisingly) among all films in the YRF Spy Universe. Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha opened with 9.25 crore net on its first day and showed growth over the weekend. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) However, collections dropped considerably from Monday onwards, with the discounted ticket offer providing only a limited boost. It is going to be tough for Alpha to score going forward due to the new releases and strong holdovers occupying maximum screens, leaving little room for actioner to cover the lost ground. As said, among all seven released films in the YRF Spy Universe, Alpha has registered the lowest first-week collection by a considerable margin. Shah Rukh Khan-led Pathaan continues to hold the record with a phenomenal 350+ crore net in its opening week, while the rest of the films also opened huge. The failure of Alpha could be the final nail in the coffin for the YRF Spy Universe, which has been losing its mojo for the last couple of films. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) YRF Spy Universe First Week India Net Box Office (Hindi) S. No. Movie Year 1st Week India Net 1 Pathaan 2023 ₹351.00 Cr 2 War 2019 ₹228.50 Cr 3 Tiger Zinda Hai 2017 ₹206.00 Cr 4 Tiger 3 2023 ₹183.00 Cr 5 Ek Tha Tiger 2012 ₹154.20 Cr 6 War 2 2025 ₹150.40 Cr 7 Alpha 2026 ₹47.50 Cr Note: Including extended week (Tiger 3 - 5 days)

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 4 - The makers of superstar Salman Khan's upcoming film Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace have issued an official clarification after reports surfaced claiming that the film was facing delays due to issues with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Several media reports earlier suggested that the film's certification process had been put on hold, leading to speculation about a possible indefinite postponement of its release. The reports quickly gained traction online, with many assuming that the film had encountered obstacles at the censorship stage. Responding to the rumours, Salman Khan Films released a statement dismissing the claims as inaccurate and misleading. According to the production house, the film has not yet been submitted to the CBFC for certification, making reports about the certificate being withheld "entirely baseless." (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Official Statement! pic.twitter.com/ewj5EoENGk— Salman Khan Films (@SKFilmsOfficial) July 4, 2026 Maatrubhumi has already attracted significant attention due to its subject matter. The film is inspired by the 2020 Galwan Valley clash and was previously titled Battle of Galwan before undergoing a title change. Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film stars Salman Khan in the lead role alongside Chitrangada Singh. The project is considered one of Salman Khan's most ambitious films in recent years, with fans eagerly awaiting updates regarding its release. While the clarification from the makers settles the CBFC-related rumours for now, the official release date of the film is yet to be announced.

BY SACNILK

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 SACNILK

Mumbai, June 17 - Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is reportedly in talks with filmmaker Farhan Akhtar for an ambitious two-part period action drama. The project is said to be envisioned on a grand scale and could potentially become one of the biggest collaborations in Hindi cinema in recent years. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to the report by Pinkvilla, the film is being designed as a large-scale period spectacle packed with action and high production value. Due to the expansive nature of the story, the makers are reportedly considering a two-part format to fully explore the narrative and its characters. It is said that the project is still in an early stage with no paperwork in place. Salman Khan and Farhan Akhtar have reportedly been meeting frequently over the last few weeks, and the actor has shown keen interest in the subject. Both sides are excited about the possibility of coming together for the first time. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Farhan Akhtar, known for directing stylish films and backing major projects through Excel Entertainment, is reportedly involved in shaping the vision of the film. However, details regarding the title, supporting cast, shooting schedule, and release timeline are still under wraps. Meanwhile, Salman is currently shooting for Vamsi Paidipally's family action drama film. He also has Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, which is expected to release sometime later this year. By October/November, the Sultan star will start Raj&Dk's superhero movie, and after wrapping it up, he is expected to dive into Farhan's period actioner.

BY SACNILK

Raja Shivaji continues to maintain a steady presence in theaters as it moves through its fifth week of release. For a historical biopic that has already secured its position as a major commercial success, the fact that it is still drawing audiences after a month speaks to the long-term interest in the subject matter. The film offers a grounded portrayal of the iconic ruler, and the Marathi audience has consistently supported the project across both urban and rural centers. While the initial frenzy has naturally slowed down, the current numbers indicate a stable run during the weekends. The performance over the fifth weekend showed a healthy growth trend from Friday to Sunday. On Friday, or Day 29, the movie collected a gross of 0.32 Cr with an overall occupancy of 14 percent across 536 shows. Saturday saw a significant jump in audience turnout, with the gross reaching 0.58 Cr and occupancy rising to 20.4 percent. Sunday recorded the highest collection of the week at 0.68 Cr gross from 527 shows, with occupancy peaking at 24.8 percent. This brought the fifth weekend total gross to approximately 1.58 Cr, which is a respectable figure for a film at this stage of its theatrical life. Ticketing activity on digital platforms remains active, with BookMyShow recording 7.54K tickets on Friday, 11.91K on Saturday, and 10.48K on Sunday. This brings the cumulative tickets sold on the platform to over 25.91 Lakh. In national chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film managed to sell over 2,300 tickets during the weekend. These steady sales numbers across 90,279 lifetime shows indicate that the film is effectively utilizing its limited show count to maintain a consistent revenue stream. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The cumulative collections highlight how well the film has performed across different markets. Marathi remains the leading contributor with a total gross of 82.66 Cr and a net of 70.02 Cr. The Hindi version has also found its own audience, contributing 29.71 Cr gross and 25.15 Cr net. Having already established itself as the highest-grossing Marathi film some time ago, these additional collections further strengthen its record-breaking status. The overseas market has contributed 4.27 Cr gross, which, when added to the domestic total, brings the worldwide gross collection to a significant milestone. Raja Shivaji - 5th Weekend India Gross CollectionDAYINDIA GROSS COLLECTIONDay 29 (5th Friday)₹ 0.32 CrDay 30 (5th Saturday)₹ 0.58 CrDay 31 (5th Sunday)₹ 0.68 CrTotal 5th Weekend₹ 1.58 Cr Language-wise Breakdown (Cumulative): Marathi Net: 70.02 Cr (Gross: 82.66 Cr) Hindi Net: 25.15 Cr (Gross: 29.71 Cr) Overall Collection Totals: Total India Net Collection: 95.17 Cr Total India Gross Collection: 112.38 Cr Total Worldwide Gross Collection: 116.65 Cr

BY SACNILK

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 SACNILK

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 SACNILK

Mumbai, May 22 - The decade-long record of director Nagraj Manjule's social romantic tragedy Sairat has finally been broken as Riteish Deshmukh's historical epic Raja Shivaji has become the highest-grossing Marathi film of all time, taking just 22 days to achieve the historic feat. Produced by Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company, Raja Shivaji minted around 109.35 crores worldwide in three weeks (21 days), and it has surpassed the total gross of Sairat (110 crores) at the time of writing this piece to become the number 1 Marathi grosser ever. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Raja Shivaji, however, received support from its Hindi dubbed version, unlike Sairat, which was purely a Marathi-language release. Directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh, the blockbuster has grossed approximately 29 crores from the Hindi version and over 76 crores gross from the original Marathi version in 21 days, while the overseas contribution stands at an estimated 4.20 crores so far. Released on May 1 on the occasion of Maharashtra Day, Raja Shivaji opened to record-breaking numbers with approximately 13.85 crores worldwide on its first day. The film remained exceptionally strong throughout the opening weekend, collecting around 41.65 crores worldwide in its first three days, setting a new benchmark for Marathi cinema. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The historical action drama, based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, showed a solid hold during the weekdays of its initial week. However, mixed word of mouth impacted the film's long-term theatrical run, with collections beginning to slow down after the second weekend. The 150 crores worldwide milestone, which looked possible after the huge opening weekend, now appears out of reach. Despite the slowdown, Raja Shivaji is still expected to finish its theatrical run close to the 125 crores mark, which would be a solid result for a regional-language title. The film has performed excellently in Maharashtra, where the subject and emotional connect with audiences helped it emerge as one of the biggest Marathi blockbusters ever produced. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Highest-Grossing Marathi Films S. No. Movie Worldwide Gross 1 Raja Shivaji (2026) ₹ 110+ Cr* (22D) 2 Sairat (2016) ₹ 110 Cr 3 Baipan Bhari Deva (2023) ₹ 90.50 Cr 4 Ved (2022) ₹ 73 Cr 5 Natsamrat (2016) ₹ 46 Cr*

BY SACNILK

Raja Shivaji has maintained a steady presence at the box office as it enters its third week of release. While the initial momentum has naturally slowed down, the film is now approaching a significant historical milestone in Marathi cinema. On its 18th day, which was the third Monday, the movie collected a net of 1.15 crore across India. This represents a 66.7 percent drop from the previous day's collection of 3.45 crore, a trend that is expected for a weekday following a weekend. The language-wise breakdown for Day 18 shows that the Marathi version remains the primary driver of revenue, contributing 1.00 crore from 1,401 shows with an overall occupancy of 17 percent. The Hindi version added 0.15 crore from 764 shows, operating at an 8 percent occupancy level. These numbers bring the total India net collection to 85.70 crore, with the Marathi version accounting for 62.00 crore and the Hindi version contributing 23.70 crore so far. The total India gross has now reached 101.42 crore. Regional occupancy data for the Marathi version highlights strong interest in key cities like Pune and Mumbai. In Pune, the film saw an overall occupancy of 19.8 percent across 270 shows, with night screenings peaking at 23 percent. Mumbai followed with 337 shows and an overall occupancy of 15.3 percent. On the Hindi front, the film saw a 7.8 percent occupancy in both Ahmedabad and Surat, while the National Capital Region recorded 6 percent occupancy across 45 shows. This suggests that while the Marathi version holds strong in its home state, the Hindi version is finding its audience primarily in specific urban pockets. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's performance in national chains on Monday saw a total of approximately 3,540 tickets sold. Breaking this down, PVR contributed 1,310 tickets, INOX followed with 1,240, and Cinepolis added around 990 tickets. On the BookMyShow platform, the movie sold 38.92 thousand tickets on its third Monday, bringing the total ticket sales on the site to over 23.32 lakh. These figures indicate that the movie still has a functional level of demand despite the length of its theatrical run. Looking at the broader financial picture, the film added 0.10 crore from overseas markets on Day 18, taking the total overseas gross to 4.00 crore. This brings the total worldwide gross collection to 105.42 crore. In North America, however, the film has struggled to find significant footing, closing its recent gross at 202 thousand dollars, which is categorized as a flop in that specific territory. Domestically, the film had a strong start with a Week 1 collection of 52.65 crore, followed by 24.30 crore in its second week. The most important story for Raja Shivaji right now is its pursuit of the all-time Marathi box office record. The film is currently just 5 crore away from surpassing Sairat to become the number one Marathi movie of all time. If it continues at this pace, it is projected to reach a worldwide total of 110 crore by the end of its third week. Achieving this would cement its legacy as a historic success and a new benchmark for Marathi cinema on the global stage.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 18 - The Indian box office has been killing this week, thanks to Tamil star Suriya's Karuppu, which was all in its glory during its opening weekend. The action drama emerged as the undisputed winner during the May 15-17 weekend by a huge margin, followed by an impressive debut of the Malayalam film, Athiradi, while holdovers continue to earn steadily. Karuppu Continues Rampage At The Box Office (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by RJ Balaji, Karuppu dominated the weekend with a massive around 79 crores gross in its 3-day weekend, comfortably outperforming every other release in the market, and emerging as Suriya's biggest opener to date. The film benefited from strong pre-release buzz, excellent word-of-mouth, and packed shows across Tamil Nadu and overseas territories. Karuppu has already emerged as the highest-grossing Tamil movie of 2026 at the domestic as well as worldwide box office. The movie has had its struggles before release, but once it hit the big screens, the film responded with packed houses, and continues to do so on its first Monday. Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Scores A Mixed Weekend (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) This week's Bollywood release, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Wamiqa Gabbi, Rakul Preet Singh and Sara Ali Khan, had an average weekend. The sequel to 2019's hit failed to create pre-release buzz, which reflected in the poor opening of 4.80 crores gross. It was looking difficult for the film after such a start, but it did show some sign of rebound by jumping over Saturday and Sunday; however, the overall collection remained on the lower side, 21 crore gross collection. It needs to be seen how the movie fares during weekdays, which is crucial, considering the big budget. Athiradi Posts Strong Numbers Malayalam entertainer Athiradi, starring Tovino Thomas and Basil Joseph, secured the second position with 17.35 crore gross Friday to Sunday. At the same time, it minted 24.40 crores gross in the 4-day extended weekend (including paid previews). The film witnessed healthy occupancy in Kerala and also did decently in the rest of India market amid intense competition. Raja Shivaji Maintains Superb Hold (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Riteish Deshmukh's historical epic Raja Shivaji continued its solid theatrical run by collecting 9+ crore gross over the weekend. Despite entering the later stages of its run, the Marathi blockbuster is still drawing solid footfalls in Maharashtra circuits. With this, it has topped 100 crores gross and has become only the second Marathi film of all time to do so. Krishnavataram and Michael Stay Steady Devotional drama Krishnavataram had a strong hold this weekend, 8 crore gross. Meanwhile, Michael added another 5.25 crore gross, managing to retain a decent presence despite competition from bigger releases. The combined gross of these five movies during the weekend was 125+ crores gross at the Indian box office, which is a solid result, with Karuppu delivering the lion's share by emerging as a certified blockbuster. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 5 Box Office Weekend Grossers (May 15-17) S. No. Movie 1st Language Weekend Collection Total India Gross 1 Karuppu Tamil ₹ 78.75 Cr ₹ 78.75 Cr 2 Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Hindi ₹ 21.00 Cr ₹ 21.00 Cr 3 Athiradi Malayalam ₹ 17.35 Cr ₹ 24.40 Cr 4 Raja Shivaji Marathi ₹ 9.00 Cr ₹ 100.10 Cr 5 Krishnavataram Hindi ₹ 8.00 Cr ₹ 24.00 Cr Note: Gross collection*

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 17 - Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company's historical action drama Raja Shivaji has officially crossed the coveted 100 crore gross mark at the domestic box office, emerging as one of the biggest blockbusters in the history of Marathi cinema. Directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh, Raja Shivaji, based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has been rewriting records since its release on May 1. The film opened to a record-breaking first weekend of 40.35 crore gross, the biggest opening weekend ever for a Marathi film. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The momentum continued through the weekdays as the film ended its first week with a phenomenal 62.40 crore gross collection, setting another all-time Marathi cinema record. Despite the expected drop in the second week, Raja Shivaji remained strong and collected 28.70 crore gross. The film continued its solid theatrical run in the third weekend as well, despite the new releases fueling the competition, adding another 9 crore gross collection and taking the total past the historic 100 crore milestone, becoming only the second Marathi film to do so. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The movie has enjoyed phenomenal support in Maharashtra while also posting solid numbers in the Hindi version. Strong word-of-mouth, repeat audience footfalls, and the grand scale presentation have helped the film sustain superbly over multiple weeks. The movie features an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Genelia Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Fardeen Khan, and a cameo of Salman Khan. Riteish Deshmukh's portrayal of Shivaji Maharaj has received widespread appreciation from audiences and critics alike.