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Mirzapur The Movie First Week: ₹175 Cr Blockbuster

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Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal‘s Mirzapur: The Movie has wrapped up a sensational first week at the box office, collecting ₹175 Cr gross across India. The action crime thriller, directed by Gurmeet Singh and written by Puneet Krishna, showed excellent weekday hold after a blockbuster opening weekend.

Released on 4 September 2026, Mirzapur: The Movie brought the popular Amazon Prime web series) to the big screen with a stellar ensemble cast including Divyenndu, Jitendra Kumar, Ravi Kishan, and Abhishek Banerjee.

Mirzapur First Week Box Office Breakdown

The film posted double-digit gross collections on all four weekdays following its sensational opening weekend, which is a very strong trend for a Bollywood release. This sustained momentum throughout the week indicates solid word of mouth and audience pull beyond the initial fan rush.

The ₹175 Cr all-India gross in seven days is a superb number — many Bollywood movies fail to reach this milestone even in 10 days, despite positive reviews. The consistent weekday collections show the film is drawing both the core web series fanbase and general audiences.

Second Weekend Crucial Amid New Competition

The film has emerged as a fantastic blockbuster, and its second weekend performance will be crucial in determining its final box office destination. Competition intensifies this week with Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar‘s Haiwaan arriving in theatres.

Additionally, Hanuman Ansh, which is having a sensational run at the box office, will continue to compete for screens and audience footfalls. How Mirzapur: The Movie holds against these new releases will shape its extended theatrical run and lifetime collections.

Bethlehem Kudumba Unit 3 Weeks: ₹287 Cr Worldwide

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Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju’s Bethlehem Kudumba Unit 3 weeks box office performance has been exceptional, posting around ₹287 Cr gross worldwide. The Malayalam film’s Kerala gross stands at ₹128 Cr, with the film showing an impressive hold even in its third week.

3 Weeks Box Office Breakdown

MetricCollection
Worldwide Gross (3 Weeks)₹287 Cr
Kerala Gross (3 Weeks)₹128 Cr
Week 3 Gross (7 Days)₹57 Cr+
Industry Hit Target – Kerala₹130 Cr
Industry Hit Target – Worldwide₹300 Cr

The numbers showcase a super consistent theatrical run, with minimal drops week-over-week. For a Malayalam film to maintain this momentum past the opening fortnight is a sign of strong content and positive audience reception.

Industry Hit Status Within Reach

Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is now sure to achieve industry hit tag in Kerala (₹130 Cr+) and worldwide (₹300 Cr+) as well. Mollywood is all set to witness a new industry hit next week, with the film requiring just ₹2 Cr more in Kerala and ₹13 Cr worldwide to reach these milestones.

This marks a significant milestone for the Malayalam film industry. The sustained performance across Kerala and overseas markets demonstrates the film’s wide appeal.

Outgrossing New Releases in Week 3

The most remarkable aspect of Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’s 3 weeks run is its third week performance. The film collected over ₹57 Cr gross in its 3rd week (7 days), which is higher than Dulquer Salmaan’s I’m Game 1st week (8 days) gross of ₹45 Cr+.

A film in its 3rd week outgrossing a new release’s entire 1st week is not a normal thing in any industry. This proves how solid a run Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju’s Bethlehem Kudumba Unit has had till now.

The film’s performance during the Onam 2026 box office period was particularly impressive, as it held its ground against fresh competition and continued to draw audiences.

Sandeep Reddy Vanga vs Sekhar Kammula: The Debate Explodes!

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Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga has sparked a fresh debate with his comments about fellow director Sekhar Kammula‘s heroes. Speaking at the pre-release event of Epic – First Semester on September 9, Vanga was asked by anchor Suma about a promotional comparison describing the film’s male lead as being like a hero from a Kammula film, while its female lead was compared to a Vanga-style hero. Vanga responded bluntly that he does not like Kammula’s heroes, adding that he prefers the heroines in the filmmaker’s movies.

Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Straightforward Take

Vanga reportedly reiterated that he was serious about his opinion and said he likes Kammula’s heroines more than his male protagonists. He also said the comparison in Epic made him curious about how the film would present such contrasting characters. The remark quickly went viral on social media, with some viewers treating it as Vanga simply expressing his personal cinematic preference, while others criticised him for commenting on Kammula’s work.

Epic – First Semester, starring Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya, is a youth entertainer directed by Aditya Haasan and produced by Sithara Entertainments. The film, which releases tomorrow (September 11), features music by Hesham Abdul Wahab and explores an unconventional love story set in the UK. Vijay Deverakonda and Vanga attended the event as special guests.

Two Very Different Ideas Of Heroism

The controversy has also revived discussion about the contrasting styles of the two filmmakers. Kammula is known for grounded, sensitive and emotionally vulnerable male characters, while Vanga’s protagonists are generally more intense, aggressive and morally complicated. Several social-media users argued that Kammula’s heroes have ranged from political leaders in Leader to college students in Happy Days and ordinary romantic leads in Godavari and Anand, while questioning the similarities between Vanga’s own male protagonists across Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh and Animal.

FilmmakerHero StyleNotable FilmsCharacter Traits
Sekhar KammulaSoft, sensitive, vulnerableAnand, Godavari, Happy Days, LeaderEmotionally expressive, accommodating, decent
Sandeep Reddy VangaIntense, aggressive, dominantArjun Reddy, Kabir Singh, AnimalMorally complex, volatile, unapologetic

For now, however, there is no indication of a personal feud between the two filmmakers. Kammula has not responded to Vanga’s comments, and the debate remains largely a fan-driven discussion about differing approaches to masculinity in Telugu cinema. Vanga is currently working on Spirit with Prabhas, scheduled for release on March 5, 2027.

Anand Deverakonda’s Epic Needs ₹10 Cr Share to Break Even

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Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya lead Epic – First Semester, a romantic drama directed by Aditya Haasan, who previously impressed audiences with the web series #90’s. The film is produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, with music by Hesham Abdul Wahab.

Epic is based on Aditya, a character from the #90’s universe, now portrayed by Anand Deverakonda. The film explores his experiences as a young man who travels abroad for education and navigates love, relationships, and the challenges of growing up away from home.

A Youthful Love Story With Adult Themes

Unlike the family-oriented #90’s series, Epic focuses primarily on romance while retaining natural humour and emotional elements. The film explores contemporary relationships with adult themes, which has made it one of the talking points among youth audiences. The trailer has generated considerable discussion online, particularly over its mature content and bold treatment of romance.

Shivaji and Vasuki play key roles in the film, reprising their characters from the web series. The on-screen chemistry between Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya, who previously collaborated in Baby, is expected to be a major attraction for the film.

Anand Deverakonda’s Epic Breakeven Target

According to trade reports, Epic – First Semester needs to earn over ₹10 crore in worldwide distributor share to reach the safe zone and achieve break-even status. The target is modest compared to bigger releases, reflecting the film’s positioning as a youth-centric romantic drama.

MetricTarget
Breakeven ShareOver ₹10 Crore
TerritoryWorldwide
CategoryDistributor Share

Paid Premieres Today Ahead of September 11 Release

The film is having paid premieres today (September 10) ahead of its full theatrical release on September 11. With the trailer already generating curiosity and discussion, the makers will be hoping that positive word of mouth after the premieres helps Epic cross its theatrical target and establish Anand Deverakonda as a bankable name in the youth genre.

Mandaadi Review: Good First Half, Weak Second Half

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Movie Name Mandaadi
Rating 2.5/5
Cast Soori, Suhas, Mahima Nambiar, Sathyaraj, Mithun Jai Sankar, Ravindra Vijay, Bala Saravanan, Stun Siva, Krish Hassan, B. Krithika Iyer, Achyuth Kumar, Ramachandran Durairaj, Aadukalam Murugadoss, Sachana Namidass, Phathmen, Rajesh Gopishetty
Director Mathimaran Pugazhendhi
Produced By RS Infotainment
Release Date 10th Sep, 2026

Directed by Mathimaran Pugazhendi, Mandaadi is a sports action drama centered on traditional sailing-boat races in the coastal regions of South Tamil Nadu. The film stars Soori in the lead role, with Mahima Nambiar as the female lead and Telugu actor Suhas in a negative role, marking his Tamil debut.

The promos and posters generated solid buzz. Does Mandaadi live up to expectations? Let’s dive into the review.

Story

Muthukaali (Soori) returns to his hometown, Kalingapatnam, to save a youngster who attacked the son of Sattapuli (Suhas), a local businessman feared by all. Kaali and Sattapuli were once close friends and skilled traditional boat sailors. The story explores their shared past, their present clash over the youngster’s fate, and how the local boating championship ties everything together.

Performances

Soori delivers a grounded, authentic performance that fits the character perfectly. Suhas is convincing in his Tamil debut, bringing menace to the antagonist role. Mahima Nambiar and Ravindra Vijay deliver solid performances, though Satyaraj remains underutilized despite his star power.

Analysis

Director Mathimaran Pugazhendi takes an interesting premise—rural boating championships—and builds a commercial narrative around it. The first half establishes the friction between the two leads without revealing too much too soon.

The opening moments are passable, but the drama gradually builds momentum. The boat competition sequence is handled with finesse, followed by a well-executed action block and a powerful confrontation between Soori and Suhas. This sets up the second half for an intense showdown.

Unfortunately, the second half doesn’t maintain the momentum. The flashback feels predictable and ineffective. The friendship between Soori and Suhas, Soori’s loyalty to Satyaraj, and his romance with Mahima Nambiar are handled superficially, resulting in weak emotional impact.

The flashback’s ending could have been far stronger. The climax brings back another boat competition, but it drags on and fails to match the impact of the first half’s race sequence. Fans of sports dramas with similar pacing issues might find parallels to recent films like Vishwanath & Sons, which also had a strong first half but stumbled in the second.

Positives

  • Soori and Suhas‘s performances
  • Engaging first half
  • Apt background score and visuals
  • Well-choreographed boat race sequences

Negatives

  • Predictable second half, especially the flashback
  • Emotional scenes lack depth
  • Stretched climax that doesn’t deliver
  • Underutilization of Satyaraj

Mandaadi Review and Verdict

Mandaadi is a decent rural sports drama that shows promise but doesn’t fully deliver. The first half builds intrigue effectively, with the tension peaking just before the interval. However, the second half stumbles due to a weak backstory and an underwhelming climax. Soori and Suhas elevate the material with their performances, but the screenplay needed tighter emotional beats and a more powerful resolution. Worth a watch for fans of the lead actors, but temper your expectations.

Kareena Kapoor Calls Out Bollywood’s Herd Mentality After Animal

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Kareena Kapoor Khan has called out Bollywood’s “herd mentality” in a recent townhall interaction, using Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal as a prime example. The actress questioned why filmmakers rush to replicate successful formulas instead of creating original content, sparking fresh debate about the industry’s creative direction.

Kareena Questions Industry’s Copycat Culture

Speaking at a Yuvaa townhall event, Kareena Kapoor specifically name-dropped Animal to illustrate her point about Bollywood’s tendency to follow trends. “Animal chal gayi toh chalo sab violence kar lete hai” (If Animal worked, let’s all make violent films), she remarked, highlighting how one film’s success often triggers a wave of similar content. The 45-year-old actress, currently promoting her investigative drama Daayra, argued that filmmakers should focus on understanding what truly resonates with audiences rather than simply copying surface elements like violence or genre.

Animal’s Legacy Continues To Divide Opinion

Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, which released in December 2023, became a massive commercial success while drawing sharp criticism for its portrayal of violence, toxic relationships and masculinity. The Ranbir Kapoor-starrer sparked heated debates among critics and audiences alike, with some praising its bold storytelling and others condemning its content. Nearly three years after its release, the film remains a reference point for discussions about Bollywood’s creative choices, with Kareena Kapoor’s latest comments reinforcing questions about whether commercial success should dictate artistic direction.

Broader Industry Implications

Kareena Kapoor’s remarks come at a time when audiences are increasingly vocal about seeking diverse, original storytelling. Her criticism echoes concerns raised by others in the industry, including veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, who previously called Animal’s success “dangerous for society”. The debate highlights a broader tension in Bollywood between commercial viability and creative risk-taking, with filmmakers often defaulting to proven formulas rather than experimenting with fresh narratives that challenge audiences.

Sreeleela Considering Mumbai Move for Bollywood Projects

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Sreeleela, who has established herself as a popular name in Telugu cinema, is reportedly considering shifting her base from Hyderabad to Mumbai. The actress has had a mixed run at the Telugu box office in recent years despite working with several leading stars in films such as Skanda, Bhagavanth Kesari, Guntur Kaaram, Robinhood, Junior, and Mass Jathara. With limited Telugu projects currently in hand and growing opportunities in Hindi cinema, the Sreeleela Mumbai move is said to be driven by professional reasons.

Growing Bollywood Commitments

Sreeleela’s increasing Bollywood commitments are reportedly the primary reason behind the possible move. She is set to make her Hindi debut with Anurag Basu’s romantic musical starring Kartik Aaryan, reportedly titled Tu Meri Zindagi Hai, and has recently resumed shooting for the film in Mumbai. She is also reportedly part of Diler, starring Ibrahim Ali Khan, while there has been buzz about another project featuring Janhvi Kapoor. These commitments could require her to spend considerable time in Mumbai, making a base shift more practical.

Telugu Cinema Still On Her Radar

A shift to Mumbai does not necessarily mean Sreeleela is moving away from Telugu cinema. She is reportedly in talks to star in Nandamuri Mokshagnya’s debut film, while she has already expanded into other South Indian industries with her Tamil debut Parasakthi and Dhanush’s upcoming OM. These projects indicate she remains open to Telugu and South Indian opportunities alongside her Bollywood ventures.

Importantly, there is no official confirmation from Sreeleela or her team regarding a permanent Mumbai move. For now, the reported shift appears to be driven by her expanding Bollywood career rather than an exit from Tollywood.

Vijay Deverakonda Plans Second Theatre in Hyderabad

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Actor Vijay Deverakonda is reportedly planning to expand his presence in the theatrical exhibition business with a new theatre or multiplex in Hyderabad. The project is said to be in the early stages, with Malkajgiri and Medchal being considered as possible locations. If finalised, the proposed property would mark Vijay Deverakonda’s second venture into cinema exhibition, following the launch of AVD Cinemas in Mahabubnagar.

Building On AVD Cinemas Success

Vijay Deverakonda first entered the exhibition business in 2021 with the opening of AVD Cinemas in Mahabubnagar, a collaboration with the Asian Group. The venture marked a shift from acting into the business side of cinema. Asian Cinemas, founded by Narayandas K. Narang and Daggubati Suresh Babu, operates multiple multiplexes and single screens across Telangana and has also partnered with actor Mahesh Babu for the AMB Cinemas brand. The reported Hyderabad expansion would build on this existing partnership.

Targeting North Hyderabad

The proposed theatre is expected to focus on audiences in North Hyderabad, particularly the growing middle-class population in areas such as Malkajgiri and Medchal. These localities have seen significant residential and commercial development in recent years, making them viable markets for a new multiplex. However, details regarding the exact location, number of screens, investment and construction timeline have not been finalised at this stage.

Vijay Deverakonda’s Exhibition Push

The move, if confirmed, would further strengthen Vijay Deverakonda’s presence beyond acting and into the exhibition side of the film industry. His AVD Cinemas venture has already established a foothold in Mahabubnagar, and a new property in Hyderabad could take the brand into a much larger urban market. For now, the proposed theatre remains at an early stage, and an official announcement is awaited on whether the project will eventually materialise.

Sardar 2 Review: Potential Wasted in Poor Execution

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Movie Name Sardar 2
Rating 2/5
Cast Karthi, S. J. Suryah, Malavika Mohanan, Rajisha Vijayan, Ashika Ranganath, Yogi Babu
Director P. S. Mithran
Produced By Prince Pictures, IVY Entertainment
Release Date 10th Sep, 2026

Made as a sequel to Sardar) (2022), Sardar 2 arrives in theatres today with decent hype among audiences. The Karthi starrer did not get big advances in Tamil Nadu, but it can turn the tables if it receives positive word of mouth. This Sardar 2 review examines whether the film delivers on its promise.

Sardar 2 Story

Sardar 2 presents a fresh mission involving Sardar and his son. Their goal is to stop SJ Suryah’s character’s attempt at biological warfare. The film’s plot centers on the father and son deactivating a dangerous machine to avert an antibiotic apocalypse.

Performances

Karthi delivers his usual committed performance, but despite playing dual characters, he doesn’t get much scope to showcase his range. SJ Suryah’s character feels outdated and he fails to impress except for a couple of his trademark hilarious moments. Malavika Mohanan, Ashika Ranganath, Yogi Babu, Rajisha Vijayan, and others play crucial roles, but none of them make any impact.

Analysis

Directed by P.S. Mithran, Sardar 2 starts on a good note with Agent Walrus’s disappearance and young Karthik’s introduction scene. After a few passable moments, the film leads to mission DOKU, whose explanation and execution fall flat.

The director sincerely sticks to the plot, but the first half misses badly in execution. The backstory involving the Japan episode and a village in India hardly have any impact. The introduction of Sardar’s character offers some energy and raises the tempo.

The second half follows the same stretched and boring pattern. Sardar’s attempt to dismantle the Doku machine and the villain’s plan to stop him don’t engage or provide the necessary thrills. Instead, these sequences appear silly and unconvincing.

A brief action sequence works to some extent, but the effect is short-lived. The lengthy episodes featuring SJ Suryah and Karthi’s confrontation feel shallow and fail to deliver emotional weight. The pre-climax and climax take the tiredness to another level with a never-ending feel in all the proceedings.

Director Mithran had previously stated that Sardar 2 would be “a tale of two missions,” but the execution doesn’t match the ambition.

Positives

  • Sardar intro episode
  • One or two good dialogues and scenes

Negatives

  • Poor screenplay
  • Over-the-top action sequences
  • Convoluted scenes
  • Never-ending climax

Sardar 2 Review Verdict

P.S. Mithran’s Sardar 2 has an engaging main storyline and one or two effective episodes. However, the overall film stumbles due to a wearying screenplay and scenes that fall flat, dulling the impact. The sequel fails to live up to the standards set by the first installment.

Sanya Malhotra Turns Up The Heat!

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Sanya Malhotra is turning heads with her latest glamorous photoshoot, opting for a leopard-print bikini paired with a sheer black cover-up. Posing on a vintage leather chair, the actress exudes confidence and attitude while embracing a bold, sultry aesthetic.

The earthy tones, dramatic lighting and retro-inspired setting add a distinct mood to the pictures, while Sanya‘s tousled hair and minimal styling keep the focus firmly on her. Her relaxed poses and striking expressions make the photoshoot effortlessly glamorous.

The pictures have also caught the attention of her industry friends, with Rakhisawant2511 showering the post with fire and heart emojis, while several other followers reacted with similar enthusiasm. The carousel, which was originally shared on May 27, has since garnered 336K+ likes, making it another eye-catching fashion moment for the actress.