Pushpa 2 Still Top Opener Post Kantara 1 / After Deepika, Alia says NO

On BookMyShow, Pushpa 2 still holds the record with 107K tickets booked per hour at its peak. Kantara Chapter 1 entered the same zone with 74K tickets per hour earlier in the day, which is an impressive feat for Rishab Shetty’s film. Despite the buzz, Pushpa 2’s dominance remains untouched. Few films in Indian cinema look capable of challenging its booking record. Only future titles like Salaar 2 or Kalki 2 appear likely to come close, but Pushpa 2 remains safe for now. Breaking the Allu Arjun starrer’s record will take extraordinary numbers. For the moment, Pushpa 2 continues to lead as the benchmark for advance bookings in India, and audiences now wait to see which film will dare to topple it. Franchise films like Baahubali 2, KGF 2, LCU film Leo, and Mohanlal’s Empuraan did very well at the Kerala box office, but Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 failed to meet expectations and became a big failure. Apart from Allu Arjun’s highly anticipated sequel, all the films listed above debuted with record-breaking numbers and achieved massive success over time in Kerala. Now Kantara Chapter 1 has also exceeded trade’s expectations, and despite not having much pre-release jump and multiple films running in theaters, it still sees a 6 Cr opening, which is one of the biggest openings in Kerala.

Last November Alia Bhatt was in talks to headline filmmaker Nag Ashwin’s yet-untitled woman-led film. But 11 months is a long time for things to change. Ashwin, whose Kalki 2 is now undergoing a round of casting following Deepika Padukone’s exit, is reportedly considering focusing on his woman-centric film in the interim. However, that clashes with Bhatt, who is said to have given bulk dates to Maddock Films’ Chamunda from March 2026. In the latest development, industry chatter suggests that the filmmaker has resumed talks with Sai Pallavi, who has long been his choice to lead the action drama. A source close to the production revealed, “Nag didn’t let go of the idea of the woman-led film. It was simmering on the backburner through most of 2025. With the developments in Kalki 2, bringing the other project forward is a possibility.” Pallavi, however, can allot her dates only after the two-part Ramayana is complete. The source adds, “She is expected to wrap up the second instalment of Ramayana by mid-2026. If the dates align, she could step into Nag’s film before he moves to Kalki 2.” Insiders, however, insist that schedules and casting could shift, given the dynamic nature of the projects in question.

MEGA STAR MAMMOOTTY IN HYDERABAD ; REPORT

 We had reported on September 20 th about Mammootty coming nack ; Read the link :https://dhakshinscreen.blogspot.com/2025/09/mammootty-in-hyderabad-on-oct-1.html. Now Mega Star met media at Chennai airport in company of Anto Joseph to board flight to Hyderabad. Read on anout Hyderabad end of Mammooty meet with Director Anurag Kashyap and film crew etc. We learn that after a week schedule likely by October 9th, Mammooty is to leave for UK for next shoot schedule.

Veteran actor Mammootty has officially resumed work, and his return has already created a buzz on the internet. The actor, who reached Hyderabad on Tuesday for the next schedule of Mahesh Narayanan’s much-anticipated multistarrer MMMN, was warmly welcomed by fans and well-wishers.

Just before checking into his hotel, Mammootty was seen meeting acclaimed Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. Producer Anto Joseph, a long-time collaborator of the actor, shared a short video of their interaction on social media, quickly drawing attention from cinephiles. The clip, showing the two exchanging smiles and greetings, has already set off a wave of speculation online. It is not yet clear whether Anurag, who is also an actor, will be part of the cast of MMMN, or if the meeting signals the possibility of a new collaboration. Fans are already wondering if Anurag was trying to pitch a potential project to the veteran actor.

It is also not certain if the entire ensemble of actors will join Mammootty in the Hyderabad schedule of MMMN. The film, reportedly titled Patriot, features a powerhouse cast that includes Mohanlal, Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko Boban, Nayanthara, Revathi and Darshana Rajendran.

Mammootty took to social media to reveal that the teaser for his multistarrer film, MMMN, with director Mahesh Narayanan, will release at 12:00 pm tomorrow. The political espionage thriller also stars Mohanlal, Fahadh Faasil, Nayanthara, Kunchacko Boban, Darshana Rajendran and Revathy, among others. "Bringing together the Big M's of Indian cinema," says the MMMN teaser release announcement post, alluding to Mohanlal and Mammootty's reunion for the film after a long time. The last time the two appeared together in a film was in 2013 for Ranjith's Kadal Kadannoru Mathukutty. However, their last collaboration in key roles was for director Joshiy's 2008 film Twenty:20.