Nani’s ‘The Paradise’ Opens to Strong Worldwide Box Office Response

HYDERABAD, Sept 25: Telugu actor Nani’s latest film The Paradise opened worldwide on Thursday, September 24, drawing strong audience interest and recording substantial opening-day collections. Directed by Srikanth Odela, the action drama stars Nani alongside Kayadu Lohar and was released across several languages.

According to figures reported by entertainment trackers and media outlets on Friday, the movie recorded a significant opening across India. Times of India, citing Sacnilk data, reported India net earnings of Rs 34.65 crore on the first day, with India gross collections reaching Rs 54.90 crore. The report placed the worldwide gross at Rs 74.90 crore after the opening day.

Moneycontrol also reported the same worldwide figure of Rs 74.90 crore, while noting that the film collected Rs 46.25 crore net in India according to its cited tracking data. Differences between early box-office reports can occur because collection figures are updated at different times and may use different tracking methodologies.

The film’s theatrical arrival followed weeks of promotional activity surrounding Nani’s collaboration with Odela. The two previously worked together on Dasara, making The Paradise a much-anticipated follow up for Telugu cinema audiences.

Set against the backdrop of 1980s Secunderabad, the film combines action with social and emotional elements. Nani plays Jadal, a character from a marginalised tribal community whose journey develops into a larger struggle involving identity, dignity and power.

The film’s period setting is an important part of its visual identity. Rather than presenting a contemporary urban action story, Odela uses the atmosphere of 1980s Secunderabad to build the world surrounding the central character.

The production has also attracted attention because of its scale and multilingual release. The film has been made available to audiences in Telugu as well as Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam markets, expanding its theatrical reach beyond its original-language audience.

Before the release, advance bookings indicated considerable interest. Times of India reported that bookings had approached Rs 20 crore before the film’s theatrical debut, while Sacnilk’s subsequent tracking showed substantial advance sales across the opening period.

The film also received special attention in Telangana ahead of its release. The state government approved revised ticket prices and permitted a special screening on September 23. The arrangements were applicable during the initial theatrical period.

Another development surrounding the release involved legal protection sought by the production team. A Bengaluru court had issued an interim order restricting circulation of certain alleged defamatory online material concerning the film before its theatrical arrival. The order did not prevent genuine reviews or legitimate criticism, according to reports.

The legal development came at a sensitive stage for the movie’s publicity campaign, when promotional activity and social-media discussion were building ahead of the release.

Nani has been one of Telugu cinema’s established performers, with a career spanning romantic dramas, comedies, thrillers and action films. His earlier movies include Eega, Jersey, Bhale Bhale Magadivoy and Pilla Zamindar, among other successful productions.

His collaboration with Odela has attracted particular interest because Dasara also explored themes involving social divisions, community and individual struggle. The Paradise continues the director’s engagement with socially grounded characters while moving into a larger period-action setting.

The supporting cast includes Kayadu Lohar, while actor and dancer Raghav Juyal plays the antagonist. Juyal’s performance has already received attention during the promotional campaign, particularly following his appearance at the film’s pre-release event.

The movie’s music and promotional material have also been used to establish its period setting and action-driven tone. Promotional events featured performances and appearances by members of the cast ahead of the September 24 release.

The first-day figures have become a major part of the film’s early reception. However, opening-day numbers represent only the beginning of its theatrical run, and collections can change substantially during the first weekend depending on audience response, regional performance and the number of available shows.

Early box-office tracking showed particularly strong activity in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where the film received a large number of screenings. Other markets, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, also contributed to its opening-day performance.

The multilingual strategy has allowed The Paradise to reach audiences beyond the Telugu-speaking states. Hindi and Tamil screenings were also part of its nationwide theatrical distribution, while the film’s international release contributed to its reported worldwide total.

The September 24 release places the movie among a busy group of new theatrical and streaming titles arriving during the final week of the month. Its combination of a recognised Telugu star, a returning director-actor partnership and a large-scale period setting has helped it attract attention across Indian entertainment markets.

For Nani, the release represents another major theatrical project following his recent action-oriented work. For Odela, it provides an opportunity to build on the response to his debut feature and establish his filmmaking style on a larger scale.

As the film enters its first weekend, attention will shift from advance bookings and opening day numbers to audience response and sustained theatrical performance. The first day’s figures have established a strong starting point according to multiple box-office reports, but the coming days will provide a clearer picture of the movie’s theatrical run.