Junior NTR’s highly anticipated film, Devara: Part 1, had an explosive opening at the box office, marking the biggest release of his career. The Telugu action-drama, directed by Koratala Siva, raked in over Rs 140 crore globally on Day 1, positioning Junior NTR as one of the top stars in Telugu cinema. Despite its impressive performance, Devara still lagged behind the collection of Kalki 2898 AD, starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Amitabh Bachchan.
Devara’s Strong Opening Day Collections
Devara created a buzz even before its release, with advance bookings totaling Rs 38.84 crore. The film saw huge success across India, especially in the Telugu-speaking states, where it netted Rs 68.60 crore on the first day. According to industry reports, the overall domestic collection on Day 1 was Rs 77 crore, including earnings from five languages. However, its performance in non-Telugu languages, especially Hindi, was underwhelming.
Mixed Performance Across Languages
While Devara had an excellent opening in Telugu, its performance in other languages was less impressive. The Hindi version of the film earned just Rs 7 crore on Day 1, while Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada versions brought in smaller amounts – Rs 80 lakh, Rs 30 lakh, and Rs 30 lakh, respectively. To compete with other big-budget films like Kalki 2898 AD, Devara will need to gain momentum in the Hindi belt and other non-Telugu regions over the weekend.
Comparison with ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ and ‘RRR’
Despite the strong opening, Devara fell short of surpassing the record set by Kalki 2898 AD. Prabhas’ futuristic drama had a higher Day 1 collection, with a net of Rs 95.30 crore domestically and Rs 177.70 crore globally. Junior NTR’s film also couldn’t outshine the massive success of RRR, where he co-starred with Ram Charan. On its first day, RRR brought in Rs 133 crore in India and Rs 223 crore worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing Indian films ever.
Huge Craze in South India for ‘Devara’
Devara enjoyed massive occupancy in South India, particularly in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where theaters saw over 80% occupancy from morning to night. Fans were thrilled to see Junior NTR back in action, and the double role he plays in the movie has added to the excitement. The star-studded cast includes Janhvi Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, and Prakash Raj, adding to the film’s appeal.
High Budget and Box Office Expectations
With a budget of Rs 300 crore, Devara is one of the most expensive projects in Junior NTR’s career. Industry experts believe that if the film maintains its current momentum over the coming weekends, it could break several box office records. However, for that to happen, the Hindi version will need a significant boost through positive word of mouth. The movie has already set a benchmark in Telugu states, but its performance across India will be key in determining its ultimate success.
