Kuberaa box office failure: Why Dhanush’s big-budget drama missed ₹100 crore in India despite early hype

Why did Dhanush and Nagarjuna’s Kuberaa miss the ₹100 crore mark at the Indian box office?

Dhanush and Nagarjuna’s socio-political action film Kuberaa, directed by National Award-winner Sekhar Kammula, released on June 20, 2025, with major pre-release buzz. The multilingual drama was positioned as a pan-India project featuring an A-list cast, a philosophical core, and a commercial presentation. Opening weekend collections exceeded ₹48.6 crore, and the film crossed ₹78.45 crore in ten days. However, it has fallen short of the ₹100 crore mark in the domestic market.

Despite positive reviews and strong initial momentum, weekday declines and regional variance ultimately limited the film’s theatrical potential. This commercial shortfall comes in contrast to expectations fuelled by Dhanush’s box office history and a star-studded ensemble.

What are the box office numbers for Kuberaa in India and how did they trend after day one?

On opening day, Kuberaa earned ₹14 crore across languages, driven by strong bookings and fan support in Telugu and Tamil regions. Weekend footfalls spiked, taking total earnings to ₹48.6 crore. However, as the workweek began, collections declined sharply. The first week closed at ₹69 crore. During its second weekend, the film earned ₹2.12 crore on Sunday alone, reaching a cumulative domestic total of ₹78.45 crore.

The overall occupancy in Telugu theatres was 25.39 percent on day ten, indicating a softening of momentum in its core market. The film faced stiff weekday drop-offs, which compounded the challenge of reaching the ₹100 crore milestone in India before its digital window opens.

How did Kuberaa perform across different languages in its pan-India release?

Kuberaa was simultaneously released in five languages: Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada. While the Telugu version led with ₹48.7 crore in its first week, the Tamil version brought in ₹18.38 crore. The Hindi version, expected to penetrate North India, registered only ₹1.72 crore. Kannada brought in ₹20 lakh, and Malayalam failed to show traction.

The underperformance in non-Telugu speaking regions curtailed the film’s growth. Competing releases, including Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par, which earned over ₹116 crore in ten days, further diluted screen share and audience attention.

What is the plot of Kuberaa and how did its themes connect with Indian audiences?

Kuberaa tells the story of a beggar who rises to power in pursuit of wealth, exploring human flaws such as greed, pride, and ambition. The film features Dhanush in a role that transforms from poverty to moral conflict, drawing attention to themes of redemption, socio-economic disparity, and inner struggle. Nagarjuna plays a philosophical mentor with layered motives, while Rashmika Mandanna’s character adds emotional gravitas.

Critics praised Dhanush’s intense performance, with several calling it among his finest. While the themes resonated with sections of the audience, the film’s length and narrative pacing drew mixed reactions. Younger viewers were divided on the storytelling approach, with some citing a disconnect between the commercial expectations and moral tone.

How did the film industry and audiences react to Kuberaa’s success meet and critical acclaim?

The film’s success event in Hyderabad was attended by Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi, who praised Dhanush and Sekhar Kammula for their artistic collaboration. Chiranjeevi publicly stated that Dhanush deserved a National Award for his performance, while Nagarjuna lauded Dhanush’s acting as “amazing.” Rashmika Mandanna received special mentions from both senior actors, with comparisons to Soundarya and Sridevi evoking nostalgic applause.

On social media, fans celebrated Dhanush’s humility and his gestures of respect toward industry veterans. Memes, clips, and stills from the event trended on Twitter, with many applauding the film’s creative ambition even as its theatrical prospects waned.

What financial strategies helped Kuberaa recover budget despite weak theatrical growth?

Kuberaa was made on a reported budget of ₹120 crore. Ahead of its release, the producers secured lucrative digital and satellite deals to reduce risk. Amazon Prime Video reportedly acquired OTT rights for ₹50 crore, while Star Maa bought satellite rights for an undisclosed sum. These revenue streams helped the producers recover nearly half the budget before release, a strategy increasingly seen in South Indian big-budget cinema.

By adopting a risk-diversified model, the film ensured profitability despite theatrical limitations. Merchandising and international rights are expected to add incremental value, further strengthening its backend earnings.

How did piracy and competition from other films affect Kuberaa’s theatrical run?

Within hours of its theatrical release, Kuberaa was pirated and uploaded across torrent networks and illegal streaming sites like Tamilrockerz, Movierulez, and Telegram. Pirated versions in HD, CAM, and dubbed languages were widely shared, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. While hard to quantify precisely, this likely impacted footfalls, especially in regions where legal access was limited.

At the same time, the Hindi box office was dominated by Sitaare Zameen Par, which posted daily collections nearly twice that of Kuberaa. The overlap in audience demographics reduced Kuberaa’s growth curve, particularly in metro multiplexes.

What is the global performance of Kuberaa and will the OTT release impact its long-term reach?

While the Indian box office total remains under ₹100 crore, Kuberaa crossed ₹100 crore globally within five days of release. This made it Dhanush’s fourth film to enter the worldwide ₹100 crore club, a notable achievement in his pan-India career. Overseas markets such as the UAE, Singapore, and the U.S. contributed significantly to this milestone.

Kuberaa is scheduled to premiere on Amazon Prime Video six weeks after its theatrical debut. With global streaming access, the film is expected to gain new audiences, especially among South Indian diaspora and digital-first viewers. This secondary wave of engagement could reinforce its cultural footprint despite theatrical setbacks.