Ustaad Bhagat Singh, starring Pawan Kalyan and directed by Harish Shankar, opened with ₹34.75 Cr net in India on Day 1, with a worldwide gross of ₹48.00 Cr and ₹7.00 Cr coming from overseas markets. Released during the festive window, the film benefitted from strong footfall in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, but the overall opening reflects a performance that is steady rather than exceptional for a film of this scale.
The film, produced by Mythri Movie Makers, features Pawan Kalyan in a mass-oriented role alongside Sreeleela and Raashii Khanna. It marks the reunion of Pawan Kalyan and director Harish Shankar after the blockbuster Gabbar Singh (2012), coming together again after more than a decade. The film carried expectations of delivering a high-energy commercial entertainer; however, early reception appears to be mixed, which may have slightly limited its opening momentum beyond core markets.
A key comparison emerges with Pawan Kalyan’s previous release, They Call Him OG. While that film opened to a massive ₹84.75 Cr net in India and a strong ₹42.50 Cr overseas on Day 1, Ustaad Bhagat Singh has managed only ₹7.00 Cr overseas. This significant gap highlights a weaker international pull, even though the film has performed well in domestic mass circuits.
The current opening also reflects broader market dynamics. While Ustaad Bhagat Singh dominated single screens and its primary Telugu-speaking regions, its reach remained limited in multiplexes and overseas territories. At the same time, Dhurandhar 2 has generated stronger traction in these segments, creating competition that has impacted the overall scale of the opening.
Despite the competition, the film has managed to secure a place among the top 10 Day 1 openers in Telugu cinema, ranking at the 9th position with ₹41 Cr net. However, the clustering of multiple films at the same figure indicates that it has not broken into the top-tier bracket dominated by the biggest recent releases.
Take a look at the top 10 Telugu movies day 1 net
1. RRR – ₹103 Cr
2. Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2 – ₹80 Cr
3. Devara: Part 1 – ₹73 Cr
4. Salaar: Cease Fire – Part 1 – ₹67 Cr
5. Kalki 2898 AD – ₹66 Cr
6. They Call Him OG – ₹63 Cr
7. Sarkaru Vaari Paata / The Raja Saab – ₹47 Cr
8. Sarileru Neekevvaru – ₹46 Cr
9. Guntur Kaaram / Game Changer / Ustaad Bhagat Singh – ₹41 Cr
10. Vakeel Saab – ₹40 Cr
Going forward, the film’s box office trajectory will depend on its hold over the weekend and word of mouth, particularly in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. A strong trend in these regions could help it build on its opening, but the relatively lower overseas contribution and competition in key markets remain important factors to watch.
