Prabhas’ Mega Hit Faces Off Against Dunki’s Shah Rukh Khan — Who’s Dominating?

After a spectacular run that marked the grand finale of 2023, the Telugu-language blockbuster Salaar: Part 1 — Ceasefire is gradually easing down on the global box office stage. With its third weekend concluded, the action-thriller boasts an impressive global gross of $75 million. To put it in perspective, Godzilla Minus One recently crossed the $80 million milestone. Despite facing tough competition from the Hindi-language comedy-drama Dunki, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Salaar maintains its strong performance.

Typical for big-budget films of this caliber, Salaar experienced a significant front-loaded surge. The movie raked in nearly $40 million, more than half of its current total, during its opening weekend. This trend is a reflection of India’s star-driven cinema culture, where films featuring prominent stars tend to draw their fanbase intensely in the initial days. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in the south Indian film industries, known for the fervent worship of their favorite male movie stars by fans.

Salaar features Prabhas, renowned for his role in the Baahubali movies directed by S.S. Rajamouli. Despite the global success of the Baahubali franchise, generating nearly $300 million between 2015 and 2017, Prabhas faced challenges replicating that triumph with subsequent releases. Prior to Salaar, he starred in three consecutive disappointments — Saaho, Radhe Shyam, and Adipurush, each ranking among the most expensive Indian films ever made. Prabhas is set to continue the streak with his upcoming dystopian thriller, Kalki 2898 AD, reportedly the largest Indian film to date.