Nandamuri Balakrishna (NBK) has made an explosive return to the silver screen with Daaku Maharaaj. The film, directed by Bobby Koli, witnessed an impressive opening on Sunday, January 12, setting the tone for a successful Sankranti run. With early estimates indicating collections in the range of ₹22–24 crore, the movie has already outperformed NBK’s last release, Bhagavanth Kesari, which opened at ₹16.6 crore.
Breaking NBK’s Own Records
While Daaku Maharaaj surpassed the lifetime collections of Bhagavanth Kesari on its first day itself, it fell slightly short of NBK’s 2023 Sankranti release, Veera Simha Reddy, which debuted with ₹33.6 crore. However, the 35% improvement over his last outing signals NBK’s growing dominance in Tollywood’s festive releases.
Surpassing Tollywood’s Recent Hits
Compared to Tollywood’s last Sankranti success, HanuMan, which opened at ₹12.5 crore, Daaku Maharaaj clocked a staggering 80% higher opening day collection. While HanuMan ultimately achieved a lifetime haul of ₹201 crore, it remains to be seen if NBK’s latest outing can replicate or surpass this benchmark.
A Tough Competition with Guntur Kaaram
Despite its strong start, Daaku Maharaaj couldn’t top the opening day collection of Guntur Kaaram, Mahesh Babu’s 2024 Sankranti release, which amassed ₹42 crore on Day 1 and finished with ₹127 crore in its lifetime. The ongoing holiday season will be crucial in determining how NBK’s film fares in the longer run.
The NBK Effect
With NBK delivering power-packed performances and fans flooding theaters, Daaku Maharaaj has already cemented its place as a significant festival release. Will it continue its upward momentum and surpass expectations during Sankranti week? Stay tuned to find out!
Note: The box office numbers are based on estimates and sourced data, subject to independent verification.