Nandamuri Balakrishna returned to the big screen with Daaku Maharaaj, an action-packed drama released this Sankranthi. Directed by Bobby, the film had a strong opening with decent word of mouth and reviews, setting high expectations.
Initially projected to join the ₹100 crore club by its first Sunday (January 19), the film instead settled at a ₹74 crore share by the end of the weekend. Based on the trend from Monday’s noon shows, the total box office share is now estimated to end around ₹80 crore, falling short of the initial expectations.
The primary reason for this shortfall appears to be the preference of family audiences for Sankranthiki Vasthunnam. With its family-friendly genre, catchy songs, pre-release buzz, and Venkatesh’s strong brand appeal, Sankranthiki Vasthunnam significantly impacted Daaku Maharaaj’s performance. As a result, the latter primarily attracted mass audiences, limiting its box office potential.
While Daaku Maharaaj has performed decently overall, its box office verdict remains mixed. Some territories are seeing profits, while others are experiencing minor losses. Despite this, Balakrishna’s mass appeal continues to resonate with his core fan base.