Animal BO: Ranbir Bigger Than Salman?

Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s much-anticipated film starring Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna, “Animal,” is gearing up for a showdown at the box office on December 1, as it clashes with Vicky Kaushal’s “Sam Bahadur,” which is also having a decent buzz.

Despite only a decent response to its songs, “Animal” has successfully managed to sustain a great buzz on the ground level, setting the stage for a colossal opening.

Trade pundits are predicting a staggering Rs 35 Crore+ net on the first day in India. To put this in perspective, Ranbir Kapoor’s previous film, “Brahmastra,” opened at 32 crores, while Vanga’s “Kabir Singh” earned 19 crores in 2019, equivalent to 25 crores adjusted for today’s average ticket price.

If “Animal” achieves this monumental feat, it could position Ranbir Kapoor as a bigger star than Salman Khan. Even in the face of a clash and releasing on a normal Friday, surpassing the opening figures of a massive franchise film like “Tiger 3” released on the Diwali holiday would be nothing short of phenomenal.

With a three-week window to dominate the box office, the film’s success hinges on word of mouth. The potential for “Animal” to cross the 300-crore mark at the Indian box office is high, provided the audience reception is positive. However, the 200-minute runtime may prove challenging if word of mouth is just about average.

The success of Animal is extremely crucial for Sandeep Reddy Vanga because nobody knows what he is capable of outside the Arjun Reddy/Kabir Singh universe. The fate of Animal would decide the prospects of his future projects with Allu Arjun and Prabhas.