Pawan Kalyan-starrer Ustaad Bhagat Singh, directed by Harish Shankar and produced by Mythri Movie Makers, released on Ugadi (March 19). Featuring Sreeleela and Raashii Khanna as the female leads, the film collected around Rs 41 crore net worldwide on its first day, according to trade reports. While the opening was respectable, it fell short when compared to the actor’s previous film, They Call Him OG.
However, the second-day collections came as a surprise, as the film saw a sharp decline. Reports suggest that the drop was largely due to negative word of mouth, with a section of fans expressing disappointment over the way Pawan Kalyan was portrayed in the film. As a result, the film managed to collect only around Rs 7.17 crore net on Day 2.
Another factor impacting the film’s performance is the strong run of the Hindi film Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which has been receiving positive word of mouth. Even in the Telugu states, some audiences are reportedly opting to watch the Hindi release over Ustaad Bhagat Singh, affecting its footfall.
The overseas market has also not been encouraging for the film. Due to negative talk following premiere shows, audience turnout has remained low. Trade analysts had expected strong opening numbers due to the Ugadi holiday, but the overall performance so far is considered below expectations when compared to Pawan Kalyan’s previous films.
With the second-day numbers dropping significantly, trade experts believe that the weekend could play a crucial role in determining the film’s box-office trend. At the same time, Dhurandhar: The Revenge continues to impact Ustaad Bhagat Singh to some extent.
Despite his busy schedule as a public servant, Pawan Kalyan reportedly allotted around 40 to 45 days for the film, working a few hours each day. However, despite the effort and high expectations, the film has so far not performed at the box office as anticipated.
