AI generated summary, newsroom reviewed
As promised—and anticipated—Nani delivered a record-breaking box office splash with his latest Telugu actioner, The Paradise. Aided by massive pre-sales and select paid previews, the film posted the star’s career-best opening day following its global release on Thursday.
According to trade tracker Sacnilk, the action drama minted an estimated ₹76 crore worldwide gross on Day 1. The figure marks a massive leap from Nani’s previous career high, HIT: The Third Case (around ₹38 crore worldwide), nearly doubling his former personal record set by Dasara (₹36.25 crore).
Screened across 9,732 shows on Thursday, The Paradise locked in an all-India net of ₹34.65 crore, pushing its total domestic gross—inclusive of previews—to ₹54.90 crore. Internationally, the actioner brought in an estimated ₹22 crore gross, solidifying its status as a global breakout.
According to the trade tracker, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana spearheaded the charge, driving ₹31.50 crore of the Day 1 gross. Karnataka and the Rest of India (ROI) circuits provided strong backup with ₹4.00 crore and ₹3.30 crore respectively, while Tamil Nadu (₹1.75 Cr) and Kerala (₹0.40 Cr) delivered modest opening numbers.
Unsurprisingly, the core Telugu market led the charge, driving ₹31.30 crore net across 6,203 shows at an impressive 62.9% overall occupancy. The Hindi dub posted a modest ₹2.25 crore net from 2,632 shows (24.0% occupancy), while Tamil contributions stood at ₹1.10 crore net across 897 shows (30.0% occupancy).
However, despite the historic opening, The Paradise has met with mixed-to-negative critical response and polarised word-of-mouth. The early friction could hamper momentum over the weekend, making the film's Monday hold critical in determining its ultimate theatrical trajectory.
Speaking at a press meet ahead of the release, Nani described The Paradise as the most demanding production of his 18-year career, both physically and emotionally.
"The Paradise is the most tiring film of my career, both physically and mentally. If there has been a film for which I have worked very hard in these 18 years of my film career, it is The Paradise."