Prabhas-led Kalki 2898 AD towards a plausible trajectory of hitting the Rs. 700 cr milestone at the box office.
On its third Monday, Kalki 2898 AD amassed 5 cr, pushing its cumulative gross in India to an impressive Rs. 667 crore. This ascent places it as the fifth highest-grossing film in India’s cinematic history, usurping the position previously held by Animal. The quartet of films surpassing it includes Baahubali: The Conclusion, KGF Chapter 2, RRR, and Jawan.
Despite facing stiff competition from the new releases, Indian 2 and Sarfira, Kalki 2898 AD maintained a solid performance in its third week. The underperformance of these new entries allowed Kalki to reclaim lost showtimes, thus prolonging its theatrical run. The steadfast performance suggests a tangible possibility of the film reaching the Rs. 700 crore landmark. Nevertheless, the film will likely settle in the fifth position, as catching up to Jawan appears improbable.
Baahubali 2 remains the apex-grossing film by a vast margin, exceeding Rs. 350 crore over the runner-up. It has upheld this title for over 2,600 days, outstripping the nearly 2,400 days record previously held by Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Gadar. These two films alternated the record for the longest duration, whereas between 2008 and 2017, several films emerged as record grosses almost annually.
Sholay held the record for the most prolonged period, reigning for over 7,000 days from 1975 to 1995. Before Sholay, box office reporting lacked the comprehensiveness seen today, but Mughal-e-Azam likely held the record for more than 4,000 days.
Baahubali 2 will face a formidable contender in Pushpa 2 later this year. Should it succeed, Pushpa 2 might terminate Baahubali 2’s reign at around 2,800 days. Conversely, if it falters, Baahubali 2 will likely surpass the 3,000-day mark, extending its legendary status indefinitely.
