BY Christa Lincy
📰 News
They Call Him OG Opens to Massive Collections: Pawan Kalyan vs Emraan Hashmi Sets Pan-India Buzz
They Call Him OG, the highly anticipated gangster action film, stormed into theatres worldwide on 25 September 2025 and has already made waves with record-breaking collections. Directed by Sujeeth and produced by DVV Danayya under DVV Entertainment, the film stars Pawan Kalyan in the lead role of Ojas Gambheera “OG,” a fearsome gangster who resurfaces in 1993 Mumbai after a decade-long disappearance to settle old scores. The movie has a stellar cast, including Priyanka Mohan as Dr Kanmani, Prakash Raj, Arjun Das, Sriya Reddy, Shaam, Harish Uthaman, Rahul Ravindran, and Jackie Shroff in a cameo. With Thaman S handling the music and Ravi K. Chandran alongside Manoj Paramahamsa behind the camera, OG is mounted on a grand scale, running for about 154 minutes and certified A by the CBFC for its high-octane violence.
##One of the film’s biggest talking points is the Telugu cinema debut of Bollywood star Emraan Hashmi. Known for his intense performances in Hindi films, Hashmi steps into uncharted territory with OG, playing the antagonist Omi Bhau. His role is positioned as the perfect counterweight to Pawan Kalyan’s OG, setting up a high-voltage hero-versus-villain dynamic that has already become the centrepiece of fan discussions. Industry analysts note that Hashmi's entry into Telugu films is significant not just because of his star value in Bollywood, but also because it signals the increasing pan-Indian appeal of Telugu cinema. By pitting him against a massive star like Pawan Kalyan, the makers have ensured nationwide interest in the film, with Hindi belt audiences equally curious about the clash. His portrayal of Omi Bhau has been described in media reports as menacing, stylish, and crucial in raising the stakes of the narrative. This crossover has also been highlighted in promotional campaigns, further boosting the film’s reach across North and South India.
##The box office response has validated the hype. Early trade reports suggest that the film collected around 100 crores gross in India and 150 crores worldwide. Advance bookings were extraordinary, with nearly 98 crore gross worldwide for the opening day. Overseas, particularly in North America, the film set new benchmarks by becoming the highest-grossing Telugu film of 2025 from its premiere shows alone and securing the 4th biggest Telugu premiere day ever in the US market, ahead of recent blockbusters like Devara: Part 1 and Salaar: Part 1.
##The combination of Pawan Kalyan’s stardom and Emraan Hashmi’s fresh presence has been a huge driver of buzz. For Telugu audiences, the excitement of seeing a Bollywood actor in such a powerful antagonist’s role adds novelty, while Hindi-speaking viewers are keen to see Hashmi in a new cinematic landscape. The film’s producers have reportedly spent lavishly to stage confrontations between the two stars, ensuring that their rivalry becomes the selling point of OG. Industry observers also see this as part of a larger trend of Telugu filmmakers roping in popular Bollywood actors to appeal to a pan-Indian audience, much like how Prithviraj Sukumaran in Salaar and Sanjay Dutt in KGF 2 boosted those films’ reach.
##With a confirmed sequel (They Call Him OG 2) already in the works and references in the film hinting at a shared universe with Sujeeth’s earlier film Saaho, the future of the franchise looks bright. For Emraan Hashmi, this debut not only widens his fan base into the South but also opens doors for more pan-Indian projects. For Pawan Kalyan, it reinforces his box office dominance, showing that even amid his political commitments, his star power continues to draw record crowds.
##In short, They Call Him OG is not just a big win for Pawan Kalyan’s career but also a landmark moment for Emraan Hashmi, whose Telugu debut has added a new dimension to his career and brought a fresh spark to Telugu cinema. With box office numbers climbing rapidly, the film is expected to be one of the year’s biggest successes, and the Pawan-Emraan face-off is likely to be remembered as one of the most talked-about on-screen rivalries in recent Telugu film history.
Tollywood
