
The reunion between 'Power Star' Pawan Kalyan and director Harish Shankar has finally landed on the big screen, but the initial box office story is a bit of a mixed bag. While the film definitely enjoyed that signature opening day buzz in the Telugu states, it is already under massive pressure from both a lukewarm critical reception and a relentless Bollywood juggernaut.
As per the Sacnilk report, early trends indicate a sharp dip, with live collections hovering around ₹0.59 crore in the early morning and afternoon slots. The overall occupancy has fallen to roughly 21%, a stark contrast to the 69% seen on Day 1.
Critics have largely panned the film as an ‘outdated commercial template,’ and with only 1,086 shows currently running compared to over 4,600 on Thursday, the film is fighting a losing battle for screen space.

According to the Sacnilk report, the action-packed cop drama recorded an India nett collection of ₹31.5 crore on its opening Thursday, March 19, 2026. While a ₹30 crore+ opening is objectively strong for most films, it represents a significant step down for Pawan Kalyan. To put this into perspective, his previous 2025 release, ‘They Call Him OG’, shattered records with a massive ₹63.75 crore opening day.
The film benefited from the Ugadi holiday, particularly in the Telugu heartlands of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where single screens saw nearly 90% occupancy. However, the domestic gross of approximately ₹37 crore was lower than his earlier hits like Vakeel Saab or Bheemla Nayak, suggesting that the ‘clash effect’ is taking a real toll.
According to early trade estimates, ‘Ustaad Bhagat Singh’ registered a worldwide gross of approximately ₹37.17 crore on its opening day.
The overseas performance was notably subdued compared to previous releases. In North America, the film recorded a Day 1 gross of roughly $76,000. In contrast, ‘Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge’ reportedly raked in a mind-boggling ₹236 crore gross worldwide on its first day.
View this post on Instagram
The primary reason for the shrinking footprint is the ‘Dhurandhar 2’ tsunami. Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller, starring Ranveer Singh, has essentially rewritten box office history. While ‘Ustaad Bhagat Singh’ earned ₹31.5 crore, ‘Dhurandhar 2’ raked in a historic ₹102 crore nett across India on its first day.
Even in the Telugu-speaking states, the Bollywood sequel is performing exceptionally well. Trade insiders note that in urban centres like Hyderabad, many viewers chose the Hindi thriller over the local mass entertainer. Overseas, the gap is even wider; while Pawan Kalyan’s film managed a modest gross in North America, ‘Dhurandhar 2’ surged past the $1.8 million mark.

Produced by Mythri Movie Makers on a lavish budget of ₹150 crore, Ustaad Bhagat Singh stars Pawan Kalyan alongside Sreeleela, Raashii Khanna, and R Parthiban. Despite the high production values and the catchy background score by Thaman S, the film needs a massive turnaround over the weekend to recover its substantial investment.
Keep reading Herzindagi for more such stories.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
Also watch this video
Herzindagi video
Our aim is to provide accurate, safe and expert verified information through our articles and social media handles. The remedies, advice and tips mentioned here are for general information only. Please consult your expert before trying any kind of health, beauty, life hacks or astrology related tips. For any feedback or complaint, contact us at [email protected].