Sekhar Kammula’s much-anticipated crime drama Kuberaa, starring Dhanush, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Rashmika Mandanna, and Jim Sarbh, has delivered a robust performance at the Indian box office, raking in an estimated Rs 54.25 crore net over its opening weekend (June 20-22, 2025).
Released in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam, the film has capitalized on strong word-of-mouth and critical acclaim, particularly for Dhanush’s transformative performance as Deva, a beggar navigating a world of greed and power.
The film opened on Friday with Rs 13 crore net in India, marking Dhanush’s biggest career opener, surpassing his previous release Raayan (Rs 15.7 crore).
Despite a competitive Hindi market with Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par, Kuberaa saw a steady climb, earning ₹16 crore on Saturday and an estimated Rs 25.25 crore on Sunday, driven by a 70.53% Telugu occupancy and 35.59% Tamil occupancy. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana led collections with Rs 21 crore gross, followed by Tamil Nadu at Rs 8 crore and Karnataka at Rs 3.95 crore over the weekend.
Globally, Kuberaa grossed approximately Rs 80-85 crore, with North America contributing a stellar $1.4 million (Rs11.76 crore), including a record-breaking $500,000 on Saturday alone, making it the highest Day 2 gross for a non-Hindi film in 2025. Overseas markets like Australia and the UK also showed strong traction, adding ₹19 crore to the tally.
The Telugu version dominated, fueled by Sekhar Kammula’s home-ground appeal and Nagarjuna’s charismatic portrayal of a former CBI officer. Tamil audiences embraced Dhanush’s emotionally resonant role, though collections in Tamil Nadu were slightly below expectations. The Hindi version faced stiff competition but managed a 17.87% occupancy on Sunday, while Kannada and Malayalam versions saw limited traction.
Produced by Sree Venkateswara Cinemas LLP and Amigos Creations on a reported Rs 120 crore budget, Kuberaa has recovered a significant portion through non-theatrical deals, including OTT rights with Amazon Prime Video and satellite rights with JioStar.
However, to break even theatrically, it needs to gross around Rs 125 crore globally, leaving a Rs 40-45 crore gap post-weekend. Trade analysts remain optimistic, citing the film’s positive buzz and lack of major competing releases.