Pawan Kalyan has returned on big screens with a bang. After Hari Hara Veera Mallu failed at the box office, the Power Star has made a strong comeback with They Call Him OG. Directed by Sujeeth, the film hit theatres on September 25, 2025 and opened to a thunderous response worldwide.
They Call Him OG Box Office Collection Day 1
As per the reports from Sacnilk, They Call Him OG earned around Rs 70 crore net on its first day in India across all languages. With earnings from pre-release premiere (Rs 20.25 crore) added, the total reached Rs 90.25 crore. This makes it one of the biggest openings for an Indian film this year.
The Telugu version led the way with 69.35% occupancy on Thursday, going up to 77.51% during night shows. The Tamil version managed 18.36%, while Hindi and Kannada versions stood at 10.37% and 9.19% respectively. With more than 3,500 screens booked across India, the hype and advance sales pushed the film to record numbers.
This is far ahead of Pawan Kalyan’s previous release Hari Hara Veera Mallu, which had earned just Rs 34 crore on day one.
Did It Beat Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan?
The biggest question is whether OG managed to break Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan record in India. The answer is mixed. With presales included, OG scored Rs 90.25 crore (higher than Jawan’s Rs 89.5 crore). But if only Thursday earnings are compared, OG is behind with Rs 70 crore against Jawan’s first-day record. Either way, the film stands as one of the year’s top openers.
It has also overtaken films like Coolie (Rs 65 crore), Chhaava (Rs 31 crore), and Saiyaara (Rs 21.5 crore).
The film has performed strongly overseas too. In North America, it collected about $3 million (Rs 26 crore) from paid premieres alone. Including domestic numbers, the worldwide total is expected to cross Rs 150 crore on day one, putting it among the top Indian film openings ever.
Some overseas shows were cancelled due to content delivery delays. A cinema in North America even refunded tickets, accusing distributors of inflating numbers. In Europe too, some screenings did not take place on time.
Back in India, celebrations in Bengaluru went too far when a fan tore down a theatre screen with a sword. Shows were paused before order was restored, raising safety concerns.
About They Call Him OG
At the core of They Call Him OG is Pawan Kalyan’s strong screen presence. Playing a gangster, he delivers the power-packed performance his fans have been waiting for. The film also features Priyanka Arul Mohan, Emraan Hashmi, Prakash Raj, Arjun Das and Sriya Reddy in key roles. With high-energy action, gripping drama, and strong acting, the film has struck the right chord with audiences.
With this massive opening, They Call Him OG has re-established Pawan Kalyan’s dominance at the box office. Whether or not it beats Jawan depends on how you look at the numbers, but it is already a landmark moment for Telugu cinema. The film is well on track to become one of the year’s biggest hits.
