Pushpa 2 collects Rs 100 crore even before release!

The makers on Wednesday, announced through a Social media post that the advance bookings for the sequal have touched Rs 100 crore mark. "#Pushpa2TheRule crosses the 100 CRORES mark with advance bookings 💥💥💥," a post on X read.

Pushpa is expected to break all box office records on its opening day as trade experts and exhibitors believe the sequel will attract a footfall of over 50 to 60 lakh and a weekend number that may go beyond Rs 150 crore.

According to online ticketing website BookMyShow, the movie has become the fastest movie to surpass the one million tickets sold on the platform, crossing previous records set by "Kalki 2898 AD", "Bahubali 2" and "KGF 2".

Gautam Dutta, CEO, Revenue & Operations, PVR INOX, said the sequel is already on its way to becoming a cult hit.

"We are talking about weekend footfall in the range of about 50-60 lakh. We are looking at 'Pushpa' doing about Rs 800-1000 crore (overall)... On the first day itself we should get around one million people coming. It is going to be like 10 Eden Gardens ( Kolkata's iconic stadium) full at PVR," Dutta told PTI in an interview.

The film, like many hits from the south in recent years which have broken new grounds in Hindi speaking belt, is likely to cross over Rs 60 crore on day one in the north and the crowd frenzy that its trailer launch attracted in Patna was only a glimpse of the buzz surrounding the release.

Starring Allu Arjun, the sequel follows the highly successful first part, 'Pushpa: The Rise,' which released in 2021. The movie will be released across the globe on December 5 with dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam.

The original film, directed by Sukumar and produced by Mythri Movie Makers, was not only a commercial success, amassing over Rs 300 crores in India, but also established a strong fan base that has only grown over the years.

Trade expert Taran Adarsh told PTI that despite the release day on December 5 being a working one, the audience response to the film is at its peak and many will catch the movie on the first day, first show.

"The advance sales are terrific. The box office collection will be historic; it will take a fabulous earth-shattering start all over India. If all goes well, it will be the biggest opening of Hindi cinema... It's a working day, all fingers crossed. 'Pushpa 1' has created a ground for 'Pushpa 2', the love and adulation that the film has got over the years, on OTT and TV, is immense," Adarsh said.

While ticket prices are an issue in the North, Chennai-based trade analyst Ramesh Bala reassured there is substantial excitement for "Pushpa 2" in the south.

"In the five South states, it should do about Rs. 125 to 150 crore on day one at the box office. People are crazy in the South to watch the film on the first day irrespective of the high ticket rates," Bala told PTI.