Nayanthara began 2026 on a strong note with Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, but her subsequent releases have not enjoyed the same success. Toxic ended up as a box-office disaster, Hi failed to make much impact, and now Mahasakthi has opened to a poor response in Telugu.
The Telugu version of Mahasakthi reportedly collected only around Rs 13 lakh nett on its first day, while the combined Tamil and Telugu versions managed approximately Rs 1.88 crore nett across India. These are worrying numbers for a film reportedly made on a budget of over Rs 100 crore. The film badly needs a jump in collections over the weekend, but the initial word of mouth has not been encouraging. Given the response so far, a significant turnaround looks difficult.
The film also had very little buzz in the Telugu market before its release. The initial response has not helped matters, with viewers raising concerns about its visual effects and execution. Despite Nayanthara playing the lead in a devotional fantasy film, it failed to draw a sizeable audience on the opening day.
This comes after Toxic, which also failed to live up to its massive budget and expectations. Despite a strong opening, the Yash-starrer reportedly grossed around Rs 340 crore worldwide against a budget estimated at Rs 500 crore and was labelled a disaster by trade trackers. Hi, meanwhile, had a weak commercial run as well.
It is a disappointing phase for Nayanthara after the strong start she had with Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu. With her recent releases struggling to deliver the expected box-office results, her upcoming films will be important in regaining that momentum.
