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Exclusive: Mohanlal in Balakrishna’s Kurukshetra With Vivek Athreya

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Balakrishna, currently working on NBK 111 with Gopichand Malineni, is set to collaborate with Vivek Athreya for Kurukshetra, with Mohanlal in a key role.

Gangster Drama With Malayalam Superstar

The film is reportedly a gangster drama with Balakrishna in the lead and the tentative title Kurukshetra. Mohanlal is in talks to play a crucial role. This collaboration is expected to add a fresh dynamic to the film.

Mythri Movie Makers Bankrolls the Project

Pre-production and casting are currently underway. The shoot is expected to begin in the second half of the year after Balakrishna completes his current film. Mythri Movie Makers will bankroll the project, with Jakes Bejoy likely to compose the music.

This marks another promising collaboration for Balakrishna, who continues to line up projects with top directors.

Mrunal Thakur To Feature In Peddi Special Song With Ram Charan

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There is strong buzz around a special song in Ram Charan and Buchi Babu’s Peddi. With the release date approaching, the team is preparing to shoot it on a grand scale. Reports suggest Mrunal Thakur will feature alongside Ram Charan in the song.

Choreographers are currently working on multiple versions of the song featuring Ram Charan, Mrunal Thakur, and Janhvi Kapoor. One version is expected to be finalized within a week.

Mrunal Thakur’s Upcoming Projects

Mrunal Thakur will next appear in Dacoit, co-starring Adivi Sesh, releasing on April 10. She is also rumored to be part of Allu Arjun and Atlee’s AA22, though there is no official confirmation yet.

There is still uncertainty around the April 30, 2026 release. However, such updates boost confidence among fans and trade circles awaiting a big hit after Sankranthi 2026.

Harish Shankar Loses Balakrishna Project After Ustaad Bhagat Singh Failure

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Director Harish Shankar faced a major setback with Mr. Bachchan and pinned his hopes on Ustaad Bhagat Singh, starring Pawan Kalyan. However, the film is heading towards failure, and he has now lost Balakrishna’s project.

Balakrishna’s Decision After Ustaad Bhagat Singh Result

Nandamuri Balakrishna is expected to collaborate with Vivek Athreya under the Mythri Movie Makers banner after completing his film with Gopichand Malineni. As that project may take time, he recently held discussions with Harish Shankar for a quick film, targeting a Sankranthi 2027 release.

Now, reports suggest Balakrishna has decided to drop the project with Harish Shankar after Ustaad Bhagat Singh’s result. This marks another setback for the director, who has been facing difficulties after multiple project delays.

What’s Next for Harish Shankar

With the project shelved, Harish Shankar’s immediate future looks uncertain. Despite past hits like Gabbar Singh and Mirapakay, his recent films have underperformed. He may now focus on securing a new project to rebuild his position.

Balakrishna’s next film will be with Vivek Athreya, with an official announcement expected soon. The actor continues his busy schedule with multiple projects lined up, maintaining his position as one of Tollywood’s most bankable stars.

Ustaad Bhagat Singh vs Theri: Plot Similarities Explained

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From the beginning, Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh was rumored to be a remake of the 2016 Tamil film Theri, starring Thalapathy Vijay. Director Harish Shankar clarified in interviews that it is an original story. However, the core plot of Theri appears to be used in Ustaad Bhagat Singh.

During the pre-release promotions, Harish Shankar stated he wrote the story and dialogues himself and credited himself for “Story, Screenplay, and Direction” to emphasize its originality.

Similarities Between Theri and Ustaad Bhagat Singh

Theri follows a clash between an honest police officer and a corrupt politician. The politician’s son commits a brutal crime, leading to a direct confrontation with the hero. In response, the villain attacks the hero’s family and kills his wife and mother, believing the hero is dead.

But the hero survives and promises his wife to live a violence-free life for the sake of his daughter’s safety. He comes back to clash with the Villain after a crucial incident again.

In Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh, the outlook is completely different. However, in the flashback, the film has the point of a Police officer vs a minister/politician. The hospital scene is almost the same, with dialogues also being very similar, when the Hero meets the victim of rape.

The Flashback Connection

The hero’s mother and wife getting killed is present in UBS as well. The only difference is that the Villain does not attempt to kill the hero. Instead, he says that the hero should live by crying over his lost wife and a happy life because of him.

Ustaad Bhagat Singh follows a tribal boy who becomes an honest officer. While it adds new elements, the core hero vs villain conflict and flashback scenes feel very similar to Theri.

Did Production Delays Change the Story?

Reports suggest Ustaad Bhagat Singh began as a remake of Theri with modifications for Pawan Kalyan’s image. Later, delays due to his political commitments and other films led to further changes in the script.

Despite Harish Shankar’s claims of originality, the similarities sparked fresh debates among fans and critics about whether Ustaad Bhagat Singh is truly original or a cleverly disguised remake of Theri.

Dhurandhar 2 Set to Cross ₹100 Cr Net in Telugu States

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Dhurandhar 2 is creating history at the box office. The film is now on track to achieve a major milestone in the Telugu states.

Record-Breaking Collections in 3 Days

Dhurandhar 2 has collected ₹28 Cr net in the Telugu states in just 3 days. This includes Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Marathwada. The overwhelming response to the spy thriller has set the stage for an extraordinary full run, with trade analysts now projecting the film to cross ₹100 Cr net in the region.

If Dhurandhar 2 crosses ₹100 Cr in Telugu states, it will set a new record. It will become the first Bollywood film to achieve this milestone. This is particularly remarkable considering the first installment broke Netflix records with 15.8 million views globally, establishing the franchise as a pan-India phenomenon.

Sunday Set to Be Biggest Day Yet

Sunday is expected to be the film’s biggest day so far. Strong word-of-mouth is driving footfalls. The film’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down.

The sequel’s performance is significant. It shows growing acceptance of Hindi films in regional markets. Dhurandhar 2’s box office trajectory had already sparked comparisons with the ₹1300 Cr+ collection of the first film, and the Telugu states’ contribution could play a crucial role in determining whether the sequel matches or surpasses its predecessor.

With several more days of strong collections ahead, Dhurandhar 2 is positioned to rewrite multiple box office records in the coming week.

Dhurandhar 1 Vs Dhurandhar 2: Key Differences & Comparison

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Dhurandhar 2 (Dhurandhar: The Revenge) released on March 19. It set several box office records with strong collections. Critics and audiences have started comparing the first part with the sequel. Here’s a detailed comparison between Dhurandhar 1 and Dhurandhar 2.

Story of Dhurandhar Part 1

Dhurandhar Part 1 follows Hamza Ali Mazari, who arrives in Lyari, Karachi. He joins a crime syndicate and becomes a key henchman for Rahman Dakait. The film reveals that Hamza is actually Jaskirat Singh Rangi, an undercover Indian intelligence agent on a mission to dismantle the criminal and terror network. The film ends with Hamza killing Rahman Dakait while making it look like an attack by someone else.

Story of Dhurandhar Part 2

Dhurandhar: The Revenge delves into the past of Jaskirat Rangi, who was set to join the Indian Army but was forced into a violent path due to the injustice his family faced. He becomes a R&AW agent under Ajay Sanyal, director of the Intelligence Bureau. After successfully killing Rahman Dakait, Jaskirat takes his place and sets out to finish all terrorists responsible for attacks like the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

Key Differences Between the Two Parts

The first part focuses more on Hamza’s infiltration and his rise within the Karachi underworld. Dhurandhar 2, on the other hand, focuses on his emotional backstory, the execution of his plans after Dakait’s death, and his ultimate revenge mission against Major Iqbal.

Violence is more excessive in the second part, but the narrative justifies it through Jaskirat Rangi’s backstory and the stakes involved.

Political References

The first part is subtle in its political commentary, hardly mentioning real names but hinting strongly. The second part blends real incidents into the narrative, including the 2014 election and Narendra Modi’s win as a narrative anchor. There’s also a dedicated sequence on the 2016 demonetization, shown as a masterstroke to stop fake currency.

The Antagonists

Dhurandhar had Rahman Dakait as the main villain, portrayed as flamboyant and dominant. His character arc shows his evolution from survival in a criminal system to becoming power-hungry and involved in terrorist activities. Rahman Dakait is ruthless and lets nothing stand in the way of his ego.

Major Iqbal in the second part is introduced as equally evil and ruthless, with burning hatred for Indians. He also has a family angle where his abusive father fuels his violent nature. While Iqbal is shown as a meticulous planner and ruthless hunter, he lacks the dominant impact of Rahman Dakait.

Emotional Impact

Dhurandhar 2 is emotionally stronger. The backstory of Jaskirat Rangi, his love track with Yalina, his friendship with Alam Bhai, and the way he’s caught between his past and future at the climax work powerfully. The revenge-seeking scenes with Major Iqbal and his gang add to the emotional weight.

Music Comparison

The songs in Dhurandhar Part 1 — both original and reused tracks — were sensational. The title track and the “Fa9la” or “Fasla” song used during Rahman Dakait’s entry to Balochistan became massive hits.

Compared to that, Dhurandhar: The Revenge hasn’t reached the same craze levels, but songs like “Aari Aari,” “Main Aur Tu,” the emotional version of “Gehra Hua,” and “Phir Se Naina Bhare” carry the emotional core of Jaskirat Rangi’s character effectively.

Climax

Part 1’s climax ends on a high note with Hamza/Jaskirat killing Rahman Dakait tactically, making it look like deceit according to the story’s needs.

Part 2’s climax goes full throttle with high-octane action and emotions. It’s the final chapter in the lead’s mission, where he must kill Major Iqbal at any cost. The personal stakes of Hamza/Jaskirat add emotional depth to the ending.

Which One is Better?

The sequel is more intense and action-heavy, while the original is more balanced. The sequel has superior emotional depth and provides many high moments. Which film is better is subjective. Both have received equal love from audiences. As far as box office collections are concerned, Dhurandhar: The Revenge is all set to cross its predecessor.

Vishwambhara Faces Big Test After Raja Saab and Ustaad Bhagat Singh Failures

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The Raja Saab and Ustaad Bhagat Singh were two major Telugu releases in 2026. Both ended up as big failures. One thing common to both films is that they were delayed, and now the same problem has arisen for Megastar Chiranjeevi‘s Vishwambhara.

When you make audiences wait longer, the pressure increases multiple times.

The Danger of Prolonged Production

The biggest lesson the industry needs to learn is: do not keep a movie on hold for years. That itself kills the excitement among fans and audiences. When a film stays in production for too long, it needs strong promotional content. If the promotions fail, audience interest drops quickly.

We have already seen this with this year’s releases, such as The Raja Saab and Ustaad Bhagat Singh. Both films have been in production for years and failed to impress with their promotional content.

Promotional Content Becomes Critical

This also raises a big challenge for Vishwambhara. Even though the film completed shooting long ago and is taking time for post-production, the makers have still not announced the release date.

The makers must announce the release date with strong promotional content. Any delay or weak promotion can hurt the film’s business. USA advance bookings for The Raja Saab served as an early warning that audiences weren’t excited, and Vishwambhara must avoid the same pitfall.

Ustaad Bhagat Singh Day 3 Box Office: Flat Despite Ramzan

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Ustaad Bhagat Singh remained flat on Day 3 despite the Ramzan holiday. It earned around ₹11 Cr worldwide, similar to Day 2.

Day 3 Collections Fail to Recover

After a below-par ₹50 Cr opening day, the film saw a massive crash on Day 2 with approximately ₹11–12 Cr worldwide. This drop was expected as Day 2 fell on a working Friday and pre-Ramzan day.

Exhibitors expected a jump due to the Ramzan holiday. However, the film showed no growth. Collections remained almost the same as Day 2, which is disappointing for a film of this scale.

3-Day Worldwide Gross

With this, the film has collected around ₹73 Cr gross worldwide in 3 days:

  • Day 1: ₹50 Cr
  • Day 2: ₹12 Cr
  • Day 3: ₹11 Cr

Total: ₹73 Cr gross

Sunday Crucial for ₹100 Cr Target

Today (Sunday) is practically the last best day for the film at the box office. If it fails to show growth even today, then crossing ₹100 Cr gross will become very difficult.

The breakeven gross for Ustaad Bhagat Singh is ₹200 Cr. There is almost no chance for the film to become a hit, and exhibitors are now hoping for at least some recovery.

Dhurandhar 2 Impact

Meanwhile, Dhurandhar 2 Telugu version released yesterday and has impacted Ustaad Bhagat Singh in a big way. In a shocking trend, Dhurandhar 2 collected more than Ustaad Bhagat Singh in the Telugu states yesterday.

Competition is increasing, and momentum is missing. The film now faces an uphill battle to recover its investment.

Toxic Postponement Proves Right as Dhurandhar 2 Dominates

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Dhurandhar: The Revenge, sequel to the December 2025 blockbuster, was set to clash with Yash’s Toxic on March 19. But due to the Middle-East tensions, Toxic was postponed, and the decision now appears to be a strategic masterstroke for the film.

Dhurandhar 2’s Box Office Dominance

Dhurandhar: The Revenge is dominating the box office. The makers of Toxic made the right decision by postponing the March 19 release. The sequel has been setting historic opening records and establishing unprecedented dominance at the box office — no film could have survived alongside Dhurandhar 2 in this environment.

Ranveer Singh’s action spectacle has captured the box office with an iron grip, proving that the March 19th slot belonged to Dhurandhar 2 alone. Any competing release would have faced screen-sharing issues. It would also struggle to grab audience attention.

Toxic Needs More Buzz for June Release

So far, Toxic has not generated strong buzz. March 19th was definitely not an ideal release date for the film, considering its pan-India release ambitions and massive budget. The postponement gives Yash and his team valuable time to build momentum.

Now, the Toxic movie gets a solo release on June 4th, but the makers need to increase the promotional buzz significantly. The extra time allows stronger marketing campaigns. It also helps build the anticipation a pan-India film needs.

The decision to avoid the Dhurandhar 2 clash has given Toxic breathing room — now it’s up to the team to capitalize on it.

Ustaad Bhagat Singh Day 4 Advance Sales Drop to ₹4.4 Cr

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It looks like there will be no betterment in the collections of Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh, as the advance sales continue to shrink with each passing day. The trade expected the film to perform better today, because of the Ramzan holiday, but it did not happen.

Declining Advance Sales Trend

The numbers paint a concerning picture for the action drama. All India advance sales show a consistent downward trend:

Day 2: ₹5.8 Cr

Day 3: ₹5.1 Cr

Day 4: ₹4.4 Cr

The Day 2 dip is expected due to the pre-Ramzan day and Friday. However, it is shocking and a major concern for the film that Day 3 (Ramzan day) and Day 4 (post-Ramzan Sunday) are also seeing a dip.

What This Means for Box Office Recovery

With such poor advance sales for Day 4, Ustaad Bhagat Singh’s Box Office journey is not heading towards a positive result. The film, directed by Harish Shankar, was expected to capitalize on the holiday period, but the bookings suggest audience interest is waning faster than anticipated.

The action thriller featuring Pawan Kalyan opened with strong fan support, but sustaining momentum has proven challenging. Trade analysts now predict that recovery of the film’s investment will depend heavily on word-of-mouth and positive reception of the film's content.

Unless there’s a dramatic turnaround in walk-in audiences, the declining advance sales indicate that Ustaad Bhagat Singh may struggle to reach break-even at the domestic box office.