Sekhar Kammula’s crime thriller Kuberaa, featuring Dhanush, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Rashmika Mandanna, Jim Sarbh, and Dalip Tahil, has made a smashing debut, earning ₹13 crore net on its opening day, June 20, 2025, as per Sacnilk’s early estimates. This strong start has created a massive buzz across India, making Kuberaa one of Tollywood’s top openers of 2025.
Big Opening Driven by Stars and Regional Reach
Released in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam, Kuberaa has attracted huge crowds, especially in Telugu and Tamil regions. It recorded a 57.36% Telugu occupancy on Day 1, with evening shows at 57.04% and night shows at 78.87%. Tamil occupancy was 33.73%, while Kannada and Malayalam saw 6.54% and 2.32%, respectively.
Dhanush’s powerful performance as Deva, a beggar who becomes a financial mastermind, and Nagarjuna’s intense role as a political figure have won over fans. Rashmika Mandanna shines as Sameera, and Jim Sarbh’s villainous role adds grit. Fans on X are raving, calling Dhanush’s acting “National Award-worthy” and praising Devi Sri Prasad’s thrilling music.
Record-Breaking Numbers
Kuberaa’s ₹13 crore opening ranks it as the fifth biggest Tollywood opener of 2025, beating Naga Chaitanya’s Thandel (₹11.50 crore) and marking Dhanush’s second-best opening after Raayan (₹15.7 crore). In Vizianagaram, it earned ₹10.38 lakh on Day 1, a career-high for Dhanush and Kammula, and Nagarjuna’s second-best in the region. Advance bookings soared, with 12,000+ tickets sold in 24 hours on BookMyShow and a 239% jump in US premiere sales ($115.76K for 6,600 tickets).
Despite low pre-release hype due to limited promotions, the trailer and word-of-mouth have boosted Kuberaa’s performance. Analysts predict ₹18–20 crore over the weekend, helped by no major competing releases in Tamil and Telugu markets. However, it faces competition from Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par (₹11.50 crore) in Hindi markets.
Engaging Story and Top-Notch Craft
Directed by Sekhar Kammula, Kuberaa is a 182-minute socio-political thriller about ambition and greed. It follows Deva (Dhanush) navigating a dangerous world of black money and deceit, led by businessman Neeraj Mitra (Jim Sarbh). The film’s gripping story, Devi Sri Prasad’s electrifying score, Niketh Bommireddy’s visuals, and Thota Tharani’s detailed sets have earned praise. Despite 19 CBFC cuts (14 minutes), it retains its intensity with a U/A certificate.
Weekend Potential and Industry Impact
Positive reviews and fan excitement, including viral theater dance videos, suggest a strong weekend in cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. X posts highlight the buzz, with one user saying, “#Kuberaa sets BOX OFFICE On FIRE. Over 13k tickets booked in 1 hour on BMS. Weekend’s gonna be HUGE.” Amazon Prime Video and JioStar have secured streaming and satellite rights, ensuring wider reach after theaters.
With a ₹120 crore budget, Kuberaa has already recovered ₹107 crore through pre-release deals (excluding Kerala, Karnataka, North India, and overseas). Its strong start points to a potential blockbuster. As the weekend continues, Kuberaa is set to solidify its place as a major hit in Indian cinema.
Last Updated on: Saturday, June 21, 2025 2:12 pm by K Nikhil | Published by: K Nikhil on Saturday, June 21, 2025 2:12 pm | News Categories: Entertainment
About The Author
