'Ramayana' Box Office Day 3 Sees Saturday Surge As Kerala Gives Ranbir Kapoor A Boost

Ranbir Kapoor-starrer 'Ramayana' is witnessing a strong box-office run, crossing the Rs 200 crore worldwide mark within two days of its theatrical release. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the mythological epic has also crossed Rs 100 crore in domestic net collections, while a sharp Saturday recovery has helped it regain momentum after Friday's decline.

According to Sacnilk, the film collected Rs 64.85 crore net on Day 1 and Rs 48.05 crore on Day 2 in India, taking its two-day domestic net collection to Rs 112.90 crore. Its worldwide gross reached Rs 221.05 crore, including Rs 86.25 crore from overseas markets. Although Friday witnessed a 25.9 per cent drop, Saturday brought a significant improvement. Bollywood Hungama reported that the film collected Rs 23.95 crore net by noon on Day 3.

Interestingly, Kerala has emerged as an unexpected success territory. According to trade estimates, the film collected Rs 3 crore gross on Day 1 and Rs 2.15 crore on Day 2 in the state, despite competition from Suriya's 'Scene'. Its Day 3 collections had reportedly surpassed the opening-day figure by afternoon. Trade observers believe limited screening capacity is affecting its potential, while Yash's presence as Ravana is also attracting audiences.

Ranbir's portrayal of Lord Rama has received appreciation, particularly after initial criticism surrounding the promotional material. SS Rajamouli described his performance as 'serene yet magnificent', while Mahesh Babu, Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Allu Arjun also praised the film and its ambitious presentation. The enthusiastic response from Telugu cinema personalities has also drawn attention, although several Hindi film personalities, including Karan Johar and Anupam Kher, have praised the film.

The film has also revived comparisons with Om Raut's 'Adipurush', starring Prabhas. Social media users are revisiting the 2023 film's controversial visuals and presentation, with many arguing that Tiwari's adaptation offers a more impressive cinematic experience.

Meanwhile, Ranbir has revealed that he has already started writing a script for his directorial debut and hopes to begin work on the film within the next two to three years. In an interview with Sai Pallavi for BBC Asian Network, he said he wants to gradually move towards direction and described the coming years as his 'last decade as an actor'. He also said he does not intend to direct himself.