BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 26 - Alpha is one of the most-awaited Bollywood films, as it marks the first female-led instalment in Yash Raj Films' ambitious Spy Universe. Starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari in the lead, the action thriller has been generating anticipation ever since its announcement. Now, fresh reports about Alia's character and the film being different from other spy movies have further increased the excitement surrounding the film. According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, Alia Bhatt will reportedly play a deadly assassin in Alpha, and not a conventional spy like the earlier protagonists in the YRF Spy Universe. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The report states that her character has an edgy backstory and is someone who was "raised and built to kill" from a young age. YRF is said to be exploring a much darker, more emotionally layered origin story for the film, giving the franchise a fresh direction after the success of movies like Pathaan, War, and Tiger. The makers are reportedly betting big on the film's unique characterisation and intense action setup. Alia's role is expected to feature brutal combat sequences, hand-to-hand action, and a gritty screen presence unlike anything she has attempted before. The reports have already led to comparisons with Marvel's Black Widow among fans on social media, with many excited to see Alia in a fierce action avatar. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Sharvari is also said to have a powerful role alongside her, making the film a full-fledged female-driven action spectacle. Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha also stars Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor in pivotal roles. The film is currently slated for a theatrical release on July 10, 2026, and is expected to be one of the biggest event films from Yash Raj Films of the year.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The reunion of Akshay Kumar and director Priyadarshan has clearly struck a chord with the audience, as Bhooth Bangla continues its steady march through its sixth week. Horror-comedies often rely on strong word-of-mouth to survive the initial weeks, and this film has managed to do just that, maintaining a consistent presence in theaters even as new releases arrive. Entering Day 39, the film is showing the kind of endurance that is becoming increasingly rare in today's fast-paced box office cycle. According to early estimates, Bhooth Bangla collected a net of 0.50 Crore on its sixth Monday. This reflects a logical 63.0 percent drop from the previous day's collection of 1.35 Crore, which is standard for a weekday following a weekend boost. This latest addition brings the total India net collection to 174.85 Crore. On the gross front, the domestic total has now reached 207.22 Crore. When we factor in the overseas gross of 53.75 Crore, the worldwide total stands at a solid 260.97 Crore. The film has achieved these numbers through an extensive run of over 227,000 shows since its release. Ticket sales on BookMyShow remain quite healthy for a film in its 39th day, rounded with 11.59K tickets booked on the platform this Monday. This brings the total ticket count across its entire run to approximately 32.7 Lakhs. The steady demand even after more than a month in theaters suggests that the film has successfully tapped into the family audience segment that enjoys the classic Priyadarshan brand of humor mixed with supernatural elements. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In the major national multiplex chains, the film maintained a steady flow of audience. Between PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, a total of 2.1K tickets were sold, bringing in a gross of 4.5 Lakhs for the day. Looking at the chain-wise breakdown, PVR led with 2.2 Lakhs, while INOX and Cinepolis contributed 1.3 Lakhs and 1.0 Lakhs respectively. This cumulative performance across 550 shows resulted in an average occupancy of 2.10 percent for these chains. Regionally, the Hindi-speaking heartland continues to provide the most support. On Day 39, the National Capital Region (NCR) led the way with a 14.0 percent occupancy across 192 shows, showing particular strength during the night screenings which saw 17.0 percent of seats filled. Lucknow also showed decent engagement with an 11.5 percent overall occupancy, while Ahmedabad recorded 9.8 percent across its 81 shows. The consistent performance in these major cities has been the backbone of the film's long-term success. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the film misses out on a top 10 spot for all-time Day 39 collections, it has still managed to secure a position on the historical list for this stage of the theatrical run. The very top of this leaderboard is led by films that showed exceptional longevity, such as Stree 2 with 5.00 Crore, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge with 3.25 Crore, and Jawan with 2.09 Crore. To even enter the top 10, a film needs to surpass the 1.10 Crore mark set by Kalki 2898 AD. By collecting 0.50 Crore on its sixth Monday, Bhooth Bangla currently ranks 18th, matching the daily pace seen by other significant hits like Raid 2 and Gadar 2. This ranking places it among a select group of Hindi releases that have remained active enough to register on the charts after five weeks in theaters. As the film nears the end of its sixth week, the focus is now on how much further it can push its total before concluding its theatrical run. With a worldwide gross exceeding 260 Crore, Bhooth Bangla has already established itself as a significant hit. The combination of a beloved actor-director duo and a popular genre has proven to be a winning formula, allowing the film to maintain a steady, albeit smaller, stream of revenue deep into its second month of release.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The second Monday is usually when we see how much staying power a film really has, and for Karuppu, the Day 11 numbers are looking quite steady. Based on early estimates, the film has now crossed the 150 Crore net mark in India. It is an important milestone that shows the movie is holding onto its audience well even after the initial rush of the first week. If we look at the raw data, the film collected a net of 5.90 Crore on Day 11 across 4,457 shows. While this represents a 60.0 percent drop compared to the previous day's net collection of 14.75 Crore, it is a very logical and expected trend for a working Monday following a massive second weekend. This takes the total India net collection to 154.75 Crore. On the gross front, the domestic total has reached 179.15 Crore, while the overseas market contributed another 1.00 Crore on Monday, pushing the total overseas gross to 68.00 Crore. When you combine these figures, Karuppu stands at a worldwide gross of 247.15 Crore. One of the most impressive aspects of this run is the ticket sales momentum. On its second Monday, Karuppu recorded approximately 100.84K ticket bookings on BookMyShow. To put this into perspective, we can compare it with previous blockbusters to understand the magnitude of this trend. While Jailer held a record with 126K sales on its second Monday, Karuppu’s performance of roughly 101K puts it right in the league of massive hits like The GOAT. Staying in the six-figure range for weekday ticket sales is a clear indicator of strong word-of-mouth and repeat audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Breaking down the performance in national chains for the day, we see a steady flow of revenue. In the major multiplexes, the film collected about 32.8 Lakhs gross from approximately 22.4K tickets sold. If we look at the individual chain performance, PVR led the way with 23.2 Lakhs, followed by INOX with 7.7 Lakhs, and Cinepolis with 1.9 Lakhs. The total contribution from these three major chains aligns perfectly with the overall reported 32.8 Lakhs. Even with competition from Drishyam 3, which is also vying for screen time, Karuppu maintained a superior occupancy rate of around 14.5 percent in these chains compared to its competitor's 9.1 percent. Language-wise, the Tamil version continues to be the primary engine of growth. On Day 11, the Tamil 2D version recorded an overall occupancy of 26.6 percent. Chennai remains the stronghold with 46.0 percent occupancy across 562 shows, showing particular strength in the evening and night shows which hovered around 54 to 56 percent. Coimbatore also put up a strong fight with nearly 40 percent occupancy. The Telugu version is holding its own in pockets like Vizag-Visakhapatnam, which saw a healthy 21.5 percent occupancy, outperforming even Hyderabad which sat at 16.0 percent for its 290 shows. Bengaluru, a crucial melting pot for both languages, saw a combined effort with occupancy rates staying between 12 and 13 percent for both Tamil and Telugu screenings.This consistent performance has helped the film secure a top spot on the historical leaderboard for second Monday collections in Kollywood. Kollywood 2nd Monday Highest Collection (Tamil Net)MOVIE NAME2ND MONDAY NET (TAMIL)The Greatest of All Time₹ 5.80 CrKaruppu₹ 4.90 CrVikram₹ 4.17 CrAmaran₹ 4.15 CrPonniyin Selvan - Part 1₹ 4.00 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Also Check the cumulative state-wise gross breakdown as of the eleventh day: Tamil Nadu: 120.15 Crore Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (APTG): 26.15 Crore Karnataka: 18.58 Crore Kerala: 11.51 Crore Rest of India: 2.76 Crore Total India Gross: 179.15 Crore When we look at the historical leaderboard of Tamil cinema, reaching the 250 Crore mark is a benchmark reserved for the biggest blockbusters. Speed-wise, films like Coolie, 2.0, and Leo remain the pace-setters, having achieved this global feat in just 3 days. They are followed by heavyweights like Jailer and The Greatest of All Time, which took 4 days, while Ponniyin Selvan - Part 1 crossed the line in 5 days. Karuppu is now on the verge of entering this prestigious circle. Based on early estimates, the film is expected to hit the milestone by its 12th day, placing it right alongside the steady performance of Amaran, which also reached the mark in 12 days. It is a significant achievement that highlights the film's sustained popularity across both domestic and international markets. Looking ahead, the film is on a clear trajectory to hit the 250 Crore worldwide gross mark by today. The overseas performance, which Venky Box Office reports at approximately 7.05 Million dollars or 67.1 Crore before adding Monday’s early estimates, has been a significant pillar for the film's success. As we head into the rest of the week, the stability of these numbers suggests that Karuppu is not just a opening-weekend wonder but a long-distance runner that is effectively capitalizing on its massive show count of over 60,000 screenings since its release.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 25 - The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has issued a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer Singh following his abrupt exit from the upcoming film Don 3. The decision came after filmmaker Farhan Akhtar and producer Ritesh Sidhwani approached FWICE over alleged financial and production losses caused by the actor's withdrawal from the project. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to reports, FWICE held multiple meetings and sent notices to Ranveer Singh asking him to present his side. FWICE officials later claimed that the actor responded by stating that the matter did not fall under the federation's jurisdiction. Following this, the body announced a "Non-Cooperation Directive," effectively asking industry workers and associations not to collaborate with him until the issue is resolved. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The controversy began after Ranveer exited Don 3 just weeks before shooting was scheduled to begin. Reports suggest that Excel Entertainment had already spent heavily on pre-production and promotional activities. Some reports claim the producers are seeking damages of around 40–45 crore. FWICE advisor Ashoke Pandit reportedly stated that sudden exits by actors impact not only producers but also thousands of film workers associated with productions. Meanwhile, neither Ranveer Singh nor his team has publicly issued a detailed statement on the ban so far. Meanwhile, the Dhurandhar star is scheduled to begin his next film, Pralay, around August this year. Directed by Jai Mehta and produced by Ranveer Singh's Maa Kasam Films with Hansal Mehta, the film is a Zombie thriller, which is a one-of-its-kind film for Ranveer. It needs to be seen how things fare following the actor's ban by film body.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, May 25 - Most movie love stories are simple. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, and they live happily ever after. Bollywood romantic comedies usually follow this sweet rule. But sometimes, a twist arrives, and that's where things get messed up, bringing heartbreak and pain of not getting the love character wanted. Maddock Films' upcoming romantic comedy Cocktail 2 is one of the most-anticipated films. Starring Shahid Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, and Kriti Sanon, it is reportedly a twisted love story unlike the first film, where two girls fought over one guy. The movie is scheduled to release on June 19 amid growing anticipation. Here are five twisted love triangle stories to watch before Cocktail 2. 1. Bareilly Ki Barfi: A Web of False Identities (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Where to Watch - ZEE5, Prime Video Starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Kriti Sanon, and Rajkumar Rao, the movie shows what happens when a small lie grows too big to control. A free-spirited girl named Bitti falls in love with a book. She wants to find the author because she thinks he understands her perfectly. The man who actually wrote the book is Chirag. He is too scared to admit it, so he makes his shy friend, Pritam, pretend to be the author. Bitti falls for the fake author, Chirag gets jealous of his own creation, and Pritam gets caught in the middle. It is a funny game of musical chairs where everyone is lying. 2. Tanu Weds Manu Returns: Loving a Ghost from the Past (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Where to Watch - Apple TV+ What happens when you fall out of love with your wife, only to fall in love with someone who looks exactly like her? This sequel follows Manu (R. Madhavan), whose marriage to the fiery Tanu (Kangana Ranaut) has completely fallen apart. While planning a divorce, Manu meets Datto, a young sports student who is a carbon copy of his wife. He decides to marry Datto to start over. However, the original Tanu returns right before the wedding to claim her husband back, creating a hilarious and chaotic showdown between the past and the present. 3. Dostana: The Fake Relationship Trap (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Where to Watch - Netflix, Prime Video Two straight men living in Miami find the ultimate dream apartment, but there is a major catch - the landlady only wants female or gay roommates to protect her niece, Neha (Priyanka Chopra). Desperate for a place to live, Sam (Abhishek Bachchan) and Kunal (John Abraham) pretend to be a gay couple. The plan backfires completely when both men fall deeply in love with Neha. They are forced to actively maintain their fake relationship while secretly sabotaging each other's attempts to win Neha’s heart, creating a hilarious cycle of lies and jealousy. 4. Hasee Toh Phasee: Swapping Sisters Before the Wedding (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Where to Watch - Netflix, Prime Video Nikhil (Siddharth Anand) is a struggling businessman who is just days away from marrying his demanding fiancée, Karishma (Adah Sharma). Everything changes when Karishma's eccentric, genius sister, Meeta (Parineeti Chopra), suddenly bursts back into the family home after years of being estranged. Nikhil is tasked with keeping an eye on Meeta to keep her out of trouble. Instead, as he spends time with her, he finds himself falling for her quirky charm. He faces the ultimate awkward dilemma of realising he is marrying the wrong sister right as the wedding countdown begins. 5. Cocktail: When Friendship and Love Collide (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Where to Watch - ZEE5 This movie looks at how a love triangle can ruin a perfect friendship. Veronica (Deepika Padukone) is a rich, wild party girl who takes in a shy, traditional girl named Meera (Diana Penty). They become best friends and share a beautiful apartment. Enter Gautam (Saif Ali Khan), a charming playboy who starts dating Veronica. The three live together like a happy family until Gautam realises he actually has deeper feelings for Meera. The movie tracks the painful choices they have to make when love threatens to tear best friends apart.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Kochi, May 25 - Superstar Mohanlal's Drishyam 3 is witnessing a fascinating box office trend as the crime suspense thriller continues its impressive theatrical run worldwide. Directed by Jeethu Joseph, the film had a huge extended 4-day weekend globally with around 140 crore gross (with estimated overseas), but its performance pattern is now drawing comparisons with Mohanlal's earlier blockbuster L2: Empuraan. While expectations were sky-high for Drishyam 3 to emerge as Malayalam cinema's second 300 crore grosser after Lokah Chapter 1, the latest trends suggest that the milestone may not be as straightforward despite the massive opening weekend numbers. The film has maintained a strong overall overseas total, but the momentum internationally has started showing signs of flattening after the massive initial rush. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Markets in the Gulf, North America, the UK, and Australia delivered excellent opening numbers, driven by franchise hype and huge anticipation surrounding Mohanlal's return as Georgekutty. However, the day-to-day trend overseas has remained relatively flat over the weekend with a drop on Sunday, indicating that sustaining the extraordinary pace required for a 300 crore worldwide finish could become challenging from this point onward. In contrast, the domestic box office trend has been far more encouraging. Drishyam 3 recorded healthy growth over the weekend in India after an expected drop on Friday, especially in Kerala, where the audience response remains solid. The thriller is also showing strong advance bookings for Monday, suggesting that the film may enjoy a stable weekday run in its home state despite mixed-to-polarising reactions from certain sections of viewers. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Interestingly, this contrasting domestic and overseas trend mirrors the pattern seen during Empuraan's theatrical run last year. It was the film which was seen as Mohanlal's biggest bet for a 300 crores grosser, especially after a weekend of around 175 crores. While the film still managed to gross over 265 crores worldwide, it failed to achieve one of the most desired box office numbers in Malayalam cinema over the last year, due to mixed word of mouth. A similar trend is visible in Drishyam 3's box office trajectory. While the film has still managed to ensure strong global opening weekend numbers despite divided word-of-mouth, Mohanlal's star power and the franchise value have, the coming weekdays will now be crucial in determining whether Drishyam 3 can regain momentum internationally while maintaining its strong hold domestically.