December 2, 2024
It’s Pushpa 2 time, and Brand Allu Arjun is poised to take the world by storm. With the release of Pushpa 2: The Rule just days away, all eyes are on the box office performance of this highly anticipated film directed by Sukumar. As one of the biggest sequels in Indian cinema, Pushpa 2 has the potential to outshine records set by Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan and Yash’s KGF: Chapter 2.
When Pushpa: The Rise hit theaters in 2021, it became a blockbuster sensation. The Hindi version alone earned over Rs 100 crore in the North belt, setting a new precedent for pan-India success in South Indian films.
With the release looming, India Today Digital spoke exclusively to trade experts for insights on advance bookings and box office predictions.
Advance bookings for Pushpa 2 opened over the weekend, raking in Rs 30.92 crore for Day 1, according to trade website Sacnilk. This promising trend suggests the film is set to break box office records.
At the time of writing, nearly 7 lakh tickets had been sold across multiple languages and formats. Trade analyst Ramesh Bala told India Today Digital, “The advance booking looks promising for the Telugu and Hindi versions. With three more days to go, the advance booking will soar. More screens will be opened, and expectations are naturally high because it’s a sequel. The final advance booking amount could be three to four times higher than what it is now.”
Ramesh Bala is confident that Pushpa 2 will gross between Rs 250-275 crore worldwide on its opening day. The film has a four-day opening weekend, and the booking trend looks promising.
Bala explains, “In Kerala, shows for Pushpa 2 have been scheduled as early as 4 am. Early reports suggest the film could earn Rs 7-10 crore in Kerala and Rs 10-15 crore in Tamil Nadu.”
In the Telugu states, Pushpa 2 is expected to cross Rs 100 crore. “In India, the film will rake in Rs 200 crore. Including overseas numbers, Pushpa 2 has the potential to open at Rs 250-275 crore gross on Day 1. After Day 1, word-of-mouth will play a crucial role. As a sequel with mass appeal, Pushpa 2 could have a phenomenal theatrical run,” Bala remarked.
Pushpa 2: The Rule is a magnum opus in every sense. Trade analysts Ramesh Bala and Taran Adarsh believe Pushpa 2 will surpass the records of Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan and Yash’s KGF: Chapter 2 in India.
Speaking to India Today Digital, Taran Adarsh said, “With his dubbed films, Allu Arjun has cultivated a strong fan base. Pushpa: The Rise benefitted from that. Allu Arjun is now a brand, and with the sequel, Pushpa 2 will set new benchmarks by surpassing RRR and KGF 2.”
Commenting on box office figures, Bala noted, “Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan earned Rs 65 crore nett (Rs 80 crore gross) in the North belt. Pushpa 2 will cross Jawan and KGF 2, but we’ll have to wait and see if it can beat RRR in the Telugu market. With ticket price hikes in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for the opening weekend, Pushpa 2 is set for an unprecedented opening.”
Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa 2 stars Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil in lead roles.
2024 will end with a bang as Pushpa Raj and Srivalli take over the theaters.
