Junior box office collection: Kireeti Reddy's debut film performs moderate on day 1, earns over Rs 1 crore

For a debutant-led movie, the numbers are encouraging even though they show a modest start.

Junior, the Telugu-Kannada bilingual film marking the acting debut of Kireeti Reddy, released on July 18 and opened to a decent response at the box office.

The film, which also stars Sreeleela and Genelia D’Souza, earned over Rs 1.40 crore on its opening day, according to early estimates from Sacnilk.

For a debutant-led movie, the numbers are encouraging even though they show a modest start.

Junior recorded an overall theatre occupancy of 22.00% in the Telugu version, with night shows drawing the largest audience (27.57%). At 19.47%, morning shows started out slower. The afternoon and evening slots then saw a minor decline.

The Kannada version, on the other hand, performed less well overall, with an occupancy rate of 14.47%. Evening shows fell to 11.79%, while morning and afternoon shows remained steady at 13–14%. The night shows did, however, see a slight increase in occupancy, rising 18.06%.

The protagonist of the movie is Abhi, played by Kireeti Reddy, a young employee of Vijay Soujanya, played by Genelia D'Souza, who will eventually succeed him as CEO. The narrative tracks Abhi's path, difficulties, and relationships with the other characters.

Also read: Junior movie review: Kireeti Reddy makes a polished debut, but the plot fails to impress

The public gave Junior mixed reviews when it was first released. Some were disappointed by the film's poor plot and drab execution, while others praised Kireeti's assured debut performance and the dance sequences. Many viewers praised Genelia's captivating on-screen persona and her return to Telugu cinema.

Money Control's review reads "Junior is a slick, attractively packaged debut that falls short in some ways. Although Kireeti Reddy makes a genuine first impression, the movie suffers from a cliched script and flimsy narrative. Fans of debut-hero movies may find it appealing, but it's a one-time experience that's best viewed with low expectations."