Mahesh Babu’s fans are rejoicing as the actor makes a comeback to the silver screen after a two-year hiatus, and their enthusiasm is evident in the opening day box office numbers for “Guntur Kaaram.” The Trivikram Srinivas-directed film had a promising start, with early box office estimates indicating a double-digit opening.
According to the trade website Sacnilk, “Guntur Kaaram” grossed approximately Rs 50 crore on its first day of release. As anticipated, a significant portion of the collection hails from Mahesh Babu’s stronghold in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where his popularity is unparalleled. The gross collection from these regions amounts to around Rs 44.50 crore, followed by Karnataka with Rs 4.5 crore, Tamil Nadu contributing Rs 0.50 crore, and an additional Rs 0.50 crore from other territories in India.
Another film released on the same Friday was the sci-fi fantasy film “HanuMan,” featuring Teja Sajja and directed by Prasanth Varma. Despite a modest opening day, positive word of mouth is expected to bolster its performance in the coming days.
With a robust opening day and positive buzz, Mahesh Babu seems to be in a secure position. However, the absence of strong releases in the Hindi belt might attract family audiences to theaters for “HanuMan,” potentially giving it a much-needed boost at the box office.
The first weekend holds significance for both “HanuMan” and “Guntur Kaaram,” especially with the entry of Daggubati Venkatesh’s “Saindhav” and Nagarjuna’s “Naa Saami Ranga,” competing for attention during the Makar Sankranti window.
Trade experts had earlier predicted “Guntur Kaaram” to have a firm grip on the box office compared to other Sankranti releases in the Telugu film industry. It remains to be seen if the dynamics will change over the weekend.
