Telugu superstar Jr NTR's highly anticipated film Devara: Part 1 is poised for a monumental opening both domestically and globally upon its release. With an impressive start in advance bookings, the film is expected to make a strong impact at the box office. According to industry estimates, Devara could potentially rake in around Rs 125 crore worldwide on its first day, making it a contender for the second-highest Indian film opening, behind Kalki 2898 AD, which earned Rs 177.70 crore on its first day globally.
Directed by Koratala Siva, Devara has already garnered around Rs 75 crore in advance bookings worldwide, with stellar pre-sales reported across major markets, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. In these regions, the film's domestic opening is projected to gross between Rs 85-90 crore, with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana expected to contribute Rs 65-70 crore. The film's overseas market, including premiere sales, is estimated to bring in Rs 40 crore, according to film trade portal Sacnilk.
Domestically, Devara has logged impressive advance bookings, with over Rs 54.27 crore in pre-sales, inclusive of block seats. Excluding block seats, the film has secured Rs 38.84 crore. In Andhra Pradesh alone, tickets worth Rs 16.31 crore have been sold, while in Karnataka, sales have reached Rs 5.85 crore. Telangana has also seen robust ticket sales, with Rs 12.88 crore worth of tickets sold.
Speaking at a promotional event, director Koratala Siva expressed his belief in creating films that resonate across language barriers. He emphasized that Devara wasn't tailored to any specific audience, including the Hindi-speaking population, but was written organically to appeal to all. He remarked, "I am not the kind of person who does those calculations. While penning the story or a particular sequence, I don't think if it would connect to the Hindi audience or not. I am weak at doing such things. I believe a film would connect with all language audiences if the story writing process happens organically."
Devara: Part 1 is a high-octane action drama that also stars Janhvi Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan. The film marks Jr NTR's first solo release in six years, following the massive success of SS Rajamouli's RRR. The movie is expected to break records for Jr NTR, who is set to become only the second Telugu actor, after Prabhas, to have a Rs 100 crore opening at the worldwide box office.
Devara has already surpassed Jr NTR’s previous highest-grossing solo release, Aravindha Sametha, which earned Rs 58 crore globally on its opening day. The film's extended 50-day theatrical release window in the Hindi market—unlike other recent Telugu films, which opted for shorter runs—shows a strategic effort to capitalize on Jr NTR’s newfound popularity in the North after RRR.
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With positive word-of-mouth, Devara could challenge the dominance of Stree 2 in northern markets, making it a strong contender at both the domestic and global box office. Devara: Part 1, which also stars Chaitra Rai and Shruti Marathe, is set for a grand release on September 27.
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