The Indian box office witnessed an electrifying Thursday, fueled by the release of Vijay Deverakonda’s ‘Kingdom’, the continued dominance of ‘Saiyaara’, and the unexpected surge in ‘Mahavatar Narasimha’. With genres spanning from mythological epics and animated spectacles to romantic dramas and superhero flicks, the diversity in cinematic offerings this week is nothing short of spectacular.
‘Kingdom’ Delivers a Royal Opening
South Indian heartthrob Vijay Deverakonda stormed back into theaters with ‘Kingdom’ (Hindi title: Samrajya), which opened to a phenomenal ₹15.75 crore on Thursday. This action-packed political drama has already eclipsed the first-day collections of other major South Indian releases such as:
‘Kubera’ (Dhanush) – ₹14.75 crore
‘Thug Life’ (Kamal Haasan) – ₹15.5 crore
With a strong opening and immense fan buzz across Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi-speaking belts, ‘Kingdom’ is poised for a massive weekend. Early occupancy trends suggest that multiplexes and single screens in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Mumbai are reporting houseful shows for the upcoming Friday and Saturday.
Key Highlights:
Opening Day: ₹15.75 crore
Genre: Political Action Drama
Director: Karthik Reddy
Expected weekend trend: Upward surge likely due to word-of-mouth
‘Saiyaara’ Still Rules Hearts and the Box Office
Romantic musical ‘Saiyaara’, helmed by Mohit Suri and starring debutant sensation Ahan Pandey alongside Anit Padda, continues to pull massive crowds. Though Thursday’s collection saw a slight dip to ₹6.5 crore (from Wednesday’s ₹7.5 crore), the film’s total earnings now stand at a jaw-dropping ₹280.5 crore in just 14 days.
With its soulful soundtrack, emotionally-charged narrative, and vibrant performances, ‘Saiyaara’ is a crowd favorite among youth and family audiences alike. Industry insiders are confident that it will soon breach the ₹300 crore milestone, placing it among 2025’s top 3 Bollywood grossers.
Box Office Breakdown:
Thursday: ₹6.5 crore
Wednesday: ₹7.5 crore
14-day Total: ₹280.5 crore
Target: ₹300 crore by weekend
‘Hari Har Veer Mallu’ Faces a Major Drop
After opening at a solid ₹34.75 crore, Pawan Kalyan’s mythological period film ‘Hari Har Veer Mallu’ is struggling to maintain momentum. On Thursday, the film barely managed ₹35 lakh, a steep fall from its initial days. Wednesday’s figure was a modest ₹1.3 crore.
Despite a powerful narrative and striking visuals, the film’s disjointed screenplay and lackluster second half appear to have hampered its long-term potential. Trade analysts speculate that unless a strong resurgence happens over the weekend, the film may close around the ₹90 crore mark.
Current Status:
Day 1: ₹34.75 crore
Thursday: ₹35 lakh
Total till now: ₹80.75 crore
Expected lifetime: ₹85–90 crore
‘Mahavatar Narasimha’: The Animated Epic That’s Surprising Everyone
Ashwin Kumar’s mythological animation film ‘Mahavatar Narasimha’ started quietly with just ₹1.75 crore on day one. However, thanks to its stunning visual effects, compelling mythological storytelling, and wide appeal among school-going children and family audiences, it has shown remarkable day-on-day growth.
On both Wednesday and Thursday, the film clocked a steady ₹7.7 crore, bringing its total to ₹44.25 crore in just 6 days. With weekend bookings climbing, the film may soon cross the ₹60 crore milestone, a rare feat for an Indian animated film.
Performance Snapshot:
Opening Day: ₹1.75 crore
Wednesday & Thursday: ₹7.7 crore each
6-day Total: ₹44.25 crore
Audience Feedback: Positive among families and children
‘The Fantastic 4: First Steps’ Begins to Fade
Despite the initial hype around Marvel’s rebooted ‘The Fantastic 4: First Steps’, the superhero flick is now on a downward trend. Thursday’s collection dropped to ₹46 lakh, down from its opening day haul of ₹5.5 crore.
The film has earned a total of ₹26.35 crore in 7 days, a decent number for an international release in India but below Marvel’s usual standards. Critics have panned its underwhelming storyline and rushed character arcs, which may explain the fading interest.
Marvel at the Box Office:
Opening Day: ₹5.5 crore
Thursday: ₹46 lakh
7-day Total: ₹26.35 crore
Verdict: Lukewarm response in India
Thursday Box Office Summary: Winners and Losers
| Film | Thursday Collection | Total Collection | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saiyaara | ₹6.5 crore | ₹280.5 crore | Slight decline |
| Kingdom | ₹15.75 crore | ₹15.75 crore | Strong opening |
| Hari Har Veer Mallu | ₹35 lakh | ₹80.75 crore | Rapid decline |
| Mahavatar Narasimha | ₹7.7 crore | ₹44.25 crore | Upward trend |
| The Fantastic 4: First Steps | ₹46 lakh | ₹26.35 crore | Slipping slowly |
Outlook for the Weekend: What to Expect Next
As we head into the weekend, here’s what we can expect:
‘Kingdom’ is likely to dominate multiplexes and Tier-1 cities, especially in the South.
‘Saiyaara’ may hit ₹300 crore by Sunday, making it one of Bollywood’s most profitable ventures this year.
‘Mahavatar Narasimha’ could surpass the ₹60 crore mark if the family footfall remains consistent.
‘Hari Har Veer Mallu’ may continue to fall unless weekend viewers surprise the trade.
‘Fantastic 4’ appears to be in its final legs at the Indian box office.
Conclusion: A Dynamic Day for Indian Cinema
This Thursday marked a vibrant cinematic moment across India’s theaters. From big-budget South Indian entries to mythological animations and heartfelt love sagas, the sheer variety on offer has drawn in audiences from every corner. With ‘Kingdom’ roaring out of the gate, ‘Saiyaara’ nearing an elite box office club, and ‘Mahavatar Narasimha’ proving that animation has a thriving space, the Indian box office continues to remain unpredictable, exhilarating, and ever-evolving.
Stay tuned for more updates as the weekend unfolds and these numbers climb even higher.
