Welcome To The Jungle Day 12: Rs. 3.00 Cr Net Drives 13.2% Growth on Discount Tuesday; Surpasses Jolly LLB 3 and Now Chasing OMG 2 Record

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.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Welcome To The Jungle, the third chapter in a franchise known for its mass appeal, is currently highlighting the fact that big-budget comedies still hold a special place for the family audience. The film has clearly managed to find its stride as it enters the second week of its theatrical run. It is impressive to see how the movie is holding its own in the middle of a very busy 2026 season, proving that there is still plenty of room for lighthearted entertainment. This steady performance points to a healthy level of interest from viewers who are looking for a shared cinematic experience. The film saw a positive shift on its second Tuesday, collecting a net of 3.00 Cr. This represents a 13.2 percent growth from Monday net of 2.65 Cr. Much like other films currently in theaters, the Discount Tuesday offers played a pivotal role in boosting footfalls. After twelve days of its theatrical run, the total India net collection stands at 120.55 Cr, while the India gross has reached 143.35 Cr. This performance has been supported by a consistent show count, with 6,138 shows running across the country on Tuesday. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A closer look at regional occupancy reveals that the film remains a favorite in major urban centers. The National Capital Region (NCR) led the way with 24.3 percent occupancy, while Pune and Mumbai followed closely with 21.0 percent and 20.8 percent respectively. Other key markets like Lucknow and Bengaluru also showed steady engagement with 15.0 percent and 17.3 percent occupancy. The real story, however, lies in the impact of the Discount Tuesday offers within national chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis. While Monday saw a modest of over 8,000 tickets sold with a gross of 21 Lakhs and 2 percent occupancy, Tuesday witnessed a massive surge. The film sold roughly 25,000 tickets on Tuesday, nearly tripling its Monday footfalls in these chains, resulting in a gross of about 43 Lakhs and an average occupancy of 6.4 percent. This clear spike demonstrates how much the reduced pricing helped pull audiences back into theaters after the typical Monday dip. On the digital booking front, BookMyShow recorded 54.12K tickets sold on Tuesday, an improvement over Monday 46.01K tickets. However, in the list of top 2nd Tuesday ticket sales for recent blockbusters, Welcome 3 missed the top 10 spot by a margin of about 10,000 tickets, trailing behind Sitaare Zameen Par which held the tenth position with 64K tickets. Regardless, the total tickets sold on the platform for this film have now crossed the massive 21.62 Lakh mark. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the international performance, early estimates suggest the film added 0.50 Cr on Day 12, taking its total overseas gross to 30.95 Cr. It has officially crossed the 3 Million Dollar mark and is now trending toward a 4 Million Dollar finish. According to data from Venky BoxOffice, the North America totals reached 1.11 Million Dollars, following a 17K Dollar Monday. This overseas stability pushes the estimated worldwide gross collection to 174.30 Cr. The film has shown a steady performance after its initial slow start. Having already crossed the 3 Million Dollar mark, current trends suggest it is heading toward a lifetime finish of approximately 4 Million Dollars overseas. When we analyze this against Akshay's last five releases, a 4 Million Dollar finish would put Welcome 3 on par with the international run of Kesari 2. It has already comfortably moved ahead of Jolly LLB 3's 3.2 Million Dollar total, though it still trails the stronger overseas numbers of BhoothBangla at 5.5 Million Dollars and the 7 Million Dollar benchmark set by Housefull 5. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) By reaching 174.30 Cr, Welcome 3 has officially surpassed the lifetime collections of Jolly LLB 3, which stood at 171 Cr. This move elevates the film to the 4th spot among the actor's highest-grossing releases in the post-pandemic era. It now sits behind the top three performers: Sooryavanshi at 293 Cr, Housefull 5 at 288 Cr, and OMG 2 at 221 Cr. While the next target is technically OMG 2, the gap of nearly 47 Cr is substantial, and reaching it will depend entirely on how the film survives the upcoming screen crunch. The real challenge for Welcome 3 starts now. While it has its own dedicated audience, the arrival of Alpha and the upcoming release of Dhamaal 4 on July 10 will create a severe screen crunch. This looming threat means that exhibitors will have to make tough choices regarding show timings. For a movie that is already twelve days into its run, maintaining momentum during such a transition is difficult. However, its ability to grow on a weekday suggests that if it can hold onto its core screens.

BY SACNILK TEAM

Alpha has been the subject of intense discussion since its release, carrying the weight of massive expectations as a major 2026 tentpole. The film arrived with significant buzz, fueled by its franchise power and high-scale production, though the initial audience reaction has been a bit of a mixed bag. While some are praising the technical finesse, others remain skeptical about the narrative depth, leading to a polarizing word of mouth that is now playing out in the daily box office trends. After a noticeable crash on its first Monday, which is often a testing point for any big release, the film has managed a surprising recovery on Day 5. Alpha collected a net of ₹4.25 Cr this Tuesday, marking a 10.4% growth compared to Monday net of ₹3.85 Cr. This uptick is largely attributed to the Discount Tuesday phenomenon, where lower ticket prices across major chains helped pull in the crowds that stayed away during the Monday slump. It is a logical trend in the current market where price sensitivity often dictates weekday footfalls. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the domestic performance, the film has now reached a total India net collection of ₹42.10 Cr. When we factor in taxes, the India gross stands at ₹50.23 Cr. These numbers have been achieved across 36,025 shows in total, with 7,173 shows running on Day 5 alone. The ticket booking platform BookMyShow reflects this Tuesday surge clearly, with 82.92K tickets sold on Tuesday compared to 73.52K on Monday. This brings the total tickets sold on the platform to approximately 764.97K so far. A closer look at the national chains including PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis provides more context. For the day, these major chains sold roughly 46,000 tickets, resulting in a gross of approximately ₹71 Lakhs. The average occupancy across these platforms stood at about 7.6% from nearly 2,890 shows. Regionally, the National Capital Region (NCR) continues to be the strongest performer with a healthy 30.3% occupancy, while Mumbai and Pune followed with 18.8% and 18.0% respectively. Markets like Ahmedabad and Surat are trailing slightly lower, highlighting a clear urban-skew in the film's appeal. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the international front, based on early estimates, Alpha added ₹1.50 Cr on its fifth day, pushing the total overseas gross to ₹19.80 Cr. In North America specifically, the film benefited from the Tuesday discounts, earning $95K (approx ₹79 Lakhs) by 7pm PST from 394 locations. This follows a Monday gross of $55K (approx ₹46 Lakhs), bringing the total North American tally to $630K (approx ₹5.26 Cr). Combining these figures, the worldwide gross collection is estimated to be around ₹70.03 Cr at this stage. The road ahead for Alpha is undeniably challenging. While the Tuesday growth provides a temporary breather, the film needs to maintain this momentum to recover its heavy costs. The competition is stiff, with holdover releases like Welcome to the Jungle and Main Vaapas Aunga still occupying significant screen space. The real test arrives on July 10 with the release of Dhamaal 4. This new entry will trigger a severe screen crunch, making the task of allotting shows a tedious one for exhibitors. Without a completely one-sided positive word of mouth, Alpha might find its breathing window further squeezed, making the upcoming second weekend a do-or-die situation for its lifetime box office prospects.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, July 8 - Arjun Sarja's action entertainer Blast is turning out to be a major success for Netflix, after a blockbuster box office run. The film made an impressive debut on Netflix and has continued the momentum in the last week to emerge as the most viewed Tamil movie of the year in the first two weekends. The film opened to 4.4 million views in the first weekend, and followed it up with another 3.1 million views in the second full week, registering 7.50 million views in 10 days, making it the third most-watched Kollywood film on Netflix (2024 onwards) during the same period, behind only Maharaja (9.3 million views) and Idli Kadai (8.1 million views). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) It was the number 1 film worldwide on Netflix during the week of June 29 - July 5 in the non-English category. It has been trending in the top 10 in 14 countries, including number 1 in India, Maldives, and Bangladesh. The impressive digital performance highlights the film's strong audience reception following its successful theatrical run. The film premiered on Netflix on June 25 after a successful run in cinemas, where it grossed over 75+ crore worldwide. Driven by positive word of mouth, Blast has continued its momentum on OTT, attracting viewers across multiple languages and consistently featuring among Netflix's most-watched Indian titles. Directed by Subash K. Raj and also starring Abhirami and Preity Mukhundhan, the film follows a family whose peaceful life is threatened by a corporate syndicate with diabolical plans. It is produced by AGS Entertainment with music by Ravi Basrur.