The NBK starrer Daaku Maharaaj has seen a notable slowdown at the box office following the festive holiday period. The film managed to gross ₹19 crore in its second week, but weekday collections dwindled significantly. With a total gross of approximately ₹90 crore at the Indian box office, the movie is unlikely to surpass the ₹95 crore mark, signaling a disappointing close to its theatrical run.
At its peak, Daaku Maharaaj seemed poised to achieve ₹100 crore in the Telugu states alone a milestone that would have been a first for NBK. However, after the second weekend, it became evident that this benchmark would remain out of reach. Current estimates indicate the film will end its Telugu states’ run around ₹85 crore, falling short of expectations despite a strong start and positive reception during the Sankranti holiday period.
The performance has been underwhelming for most distributors, with significant losses in key territories such as Nizam and Ceded. This is particularly surprising as Ceded has traditionally been a stronghold for NBK’s films. Coastal Andhra fared relatively better, nearing recovery due to the holiday boost, but in a normal release period, the situation could have been even worse.
On the international front, Daaku Maharaaj grossed ₹18 crore (approximately USD 2.10 million), contributing to a worldwide gross of ₹108 crore. However, this figure does little to offset the domestic underperformance.
Despite a solid start, strong word-of-mouth, and favorable timing during Sankranti, Daaku Maharaaj couldn’t maintain momentum. While the film had the potential to join the ₹100 crore club in its domestic market, post-holiday drops and low weekday collections significantly impacted its overall performance.
For NBK, the film’s underperformance in his core territories underscores the importance of sustaining strong numbers beyond the initial holiday period. As the film winds down its run, all eyes will be on his next venture to regain box office momentum.
