The highly anticipated sports action drama Peddi, starring Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor, continues to hold its ground at the box office. Despite facing an intense controversy regarding the portrayal of its leading lady and drawing mixed reactions from critics, the movie is posting a strong theatrical run.
According to official figures shared by the filmmakers, the high-budget entertainer has already accumulated Rs 292.5 crore in worldwide gross collections over its extended opening weekend.
Steady Rise in Domestic Box Office Numbers
The film witnessed a significant jump in ticket sales on Sunday, tracking excellent occupancy across major regions. The project kicked off its box office journey by minting Rs 26.90 crore net in India on Friday. Following this, the graph scaled upward to touch Rs 28.85 crore on Saturday.
On its fourth day, Peddi brought in an impressive Rs 31.90 crore net domestically. Consequently, this late weekend surge pushed the total domestic net earnings to Rs 157.15 crore, while the gross collection across Indian theatres stands comfortably at Rs 187.02 crore.
Detailed Theater Occupancy and Regional Footfall
The continuous inflow of audiences helped the movie record an overall theater occupancy of 43.15 percent on Sunday. While the morning shows started with a modest 43.15 percent turnout, the numbers drastically increased during the latter half of the day.
- Afternoon Shows: 71.77% Occupancy
- Evening Shows: 74.08% Occupancy
- Night Shows: 53.46% Occupancy
In terms of regional distribution, the Hyderabad region led the charge by registering 45 percent occupancy across 685 scheduled shows. Concurrently, Bengaluru maintained steady momentum by logging a 34 percent occupancy rate spanning 464 shows.
This consistent performance is helping the film survive tough competition from other major releases. It is currently sharing theater screens with Varun Dhawan’s romantic drama Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, the Hollywood horror thriller Obsession, and the Bobby Deol-starrer Bandar.
Director Issues Public Apology Over Janhvi Kapoor Scenes
Apart from its financial success, Peddi remains the center of a major public debate. A large section of the audience heavily criticized the project for what they described as the hyper-sexualization and objectification of Janhvi Kapoor’s character, Achiyamma.
Responding directly to the growing criticism, director Buchi Babu Sana released an official statement on X to clear the air. He explicitly apologized to uncomfortable moviegoers and promised that the creative team would modify the problematic portions.
“As a filmmaker, I believe cinema should entertain, inspire, and connect with audiences,” Buchi Babu Sana wrote. “It should never make anyone feel uncomfortable or disrespected. We have heard the feedback regarding certain scenes in Peddi and have taken it seriously. I have always had immense respect for women, both on and off screen, and it was never our intention to objectify or disrespect any female character. If any part of the film has been perceived that way, we respect those sentiments, understand the concerns being raised, and sincerely apologize.”
Production insiders suggest that the modified prints will make their way to cinema halls shortly, ensuring a more comfortable viewing experience for family audiences during the upcoming weekdays.