Pawan Kalyan returned to cinemas with his latest film Ustad Bhagat Singh. The film released in theatres on March 19. It was promoted as a full-fledged commercial action entertainer.
Coming to the box office, the film opened on a relatively slow note. Early reports suggest that the opening day numbers did not meet expectations. This is surprising given Pawan Kalyan’s strong mass following.
The film reportedly collected around ₹50 crore gross worldwide on day one. This is lower than Harihara Veera Mallu, which earned close to ₹70 crore on its opening day.
This is an unusual start for a Pawan Kalyan film. He is known for drawing large crowds regardless of early talk. However, the film’s commercial tone and limited Gen Z appeal may have affected its reach.
The clash with Dhurandhar 2 could have had some impact. However, the Hindi-only release of that film in Telugu states may have reduced its overall effect on Ustad Bhagat Singh.
With a slow opening, the film now depends heavily on weekend growth. Strong collections on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are crucial for recovery. These days will decide its box office trajectory.
Reports of average word of mouth and comments about a repetitive storyline may affect performance. In the coming days, much depends on how well Pawan Kalyan’s star power drives audience turnout.
