Theatre owners' wait for a big release ends with Prabhas-starrer Kalki
Kalki 2898 AD, also featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan, will hit the screens on Thursday. Originally in Telugu, it is releasing in Hindi as well, apart from the other three south Indian languages, and builds on the southern film template of action and spectacle, while boasting a pan-India star cast.
The Telugu and Tamil movie industries that haven’t seen a film break out in the Hindi-speaking belt since 2022 are hoping for things to change with Kalki, expecting it to replicate the success of blockbusters like Baahubali, RRR and KGF. Trade experts predict opening-day collections of the dubbed Hindi version alone to touch ₹25 crore, while all languages put together could bring in ₹100 crore across the country. “The anticipation for Kalki is particularly high, given the prolonged absence of major releases in Indian cinema since the start of the year.
Advance bookings are soaring, with record-breaking pre-sales indicating robust audience interest. Major markets, including metropolitan areas and tier-2 cities, are leading the charge in terms of pre-bookings, reflecting a widespread eagerness to experience the movie on the big screen," Devang Sampat, managing director, Cinepolis India, said.
Based on current trends and pre-release interest, Sampat said estimates for the opening-day and week are highly optimistic and Cinepolis expects to garner its best ticket sales for the year, driven by strong marketing efforts, a dedicated fan base for the actors, and positive early reviews. The film’s broad appeal is a key factor in this potential success, he added.
The diverse star cast, which includes popular actors from various regions, is likely to attract audiences from all over the country. Made at a mammoth budget of around
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