The IMAX format has a tremendous following, and certain films have done exceptional business in it. The Odyssey, for instance, has collected more than Rs. 70 crores in IMAX alone, a remarkable feat considering that India has just 34 IMAX theatres. While Mumbai has 9 IMAX screens, Delhi-NCR has 8. Meanwhile, Hyderabad still doesn’t have an IMAX auditorium, while cities like Pune and Chennai have two IMAX screens each. In comparison, the United States has more than 250 IMAX-branded screens! This naturally raises a question: why doesn’t India have more IMAX theatres, especially when the format has proved to be such a crowd-puller?

Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Executive Director, PVR INOX Ltd, spoke about it in an interview with NDTV. He said, “We have 26 IMAX screens across the country (belonging to the PVR INOX chain), which seemed very few in number when The Odyssey was coming out. But it’s a very expensive technology. At the same time, it’s something which obviously can’t be ignored. It needs to be pushed. We need to have a roll-out of IMAX screens as well. Also, in India, it’ll make more sense to invest in this technology if we end up getting a lot more Hindi content, or rather, local content. It takes around Rs. 10-11 crores per screen. It’s not cheap at all.”

Sanjeev Kumar Bijli explained, “What happens with English IMAX films is that while a film like The Odyssey worked very well, Toy Story 5 didn’t work as much as intended in the IMAX format. So, it’s like 50-50. As a result, we need more Hindi and regional filmmakers, that is, Tamil and Telugu filmmakers, to make IMAX-worthy films. If we have more content, then I think we’ll be more comfortable investing in the IMAX format.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: PVR INOX’s Sanjeev Kumar Bijli opens up on Project Hail Mary’s IMAX tussle with Dhurandhar The Revenge: “These are the challenges that we face in our business”; shares his views on Disney’s Infinity Vision: “We would love to partner…”

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is having an unstoppable run at the box office. Yet the other Hollywood film, The Odyssey, remains rock-solid at the box office. It's currently in its fourth week and in 24 days, it has collected Rs. 166.89 crores. If we count all languages, the total collections amount to Rs. 178.31 crores.

The Odyssey opened at Rs. 16.08 crores and went on to record an opening weekend of Rs. 56.85 crores. After collecting Rs. 85.65 crores in its first week, it added another Rs. 45.67 crores in Week 2. Spider-Man: Brand New Day was released on Thursday, July 30, the 14th day of The Odyssey’s run, and its arrival did impact the Christopher Nolan-directed film. A day earlier, The Odyssey had collected Rs. 4.46 crores, but on July 30, its collections dropped to Rs. 2.79 crores.

But The Odyssey picked up on Friday, July 31, when it collected Rs. 3.41 crores. On August 1 and 2, it earned Rs. 5.66 crores and Rs. 5.72 crores respectively and remained rock-steady in the weekdays. This way, it earned Rs. 24.15 crores in Week 3.

What is interesting to note is that the collections fell by 46.68% in Week 2 compared to Week 1. In the subsequent week, earnings dropped by just 47.12%, despite the Spider-Man mania.

While The Odyssey collected Rs. 2.23 crores on Thursday, August 6, the earnings increased on Friday, August 7, when the period epic collected Rs. 2.54 crores. The collections on August 8 and August 9 were Rs. 4.49 crores and Rs. 4.39 crores respectively. Hence, the film has collected Rs. 11.42 crores in its fourth weekend and will end the week with Rs. 15-16 crores.

The crazy IMAX performance

Meanwhile, the IMAX format has played a major role in the collections of The Odyssey. This is the first film to be completely filmed in IMAX and hence, there’s a tremendous demand to catch the film in the premium format. As a result, the footfalls in the IMAX version are very strong. Bollywood Hungama had earlier reported that in 13 days, the share of IMAX collections are a huge Rs. 48.25 crores. This is when the film had earned Rs. 132.65 crores.

To date, the IMAX format of The Odyssey has collected Rs. 74.21 crores (Rs. 73.77 crores from English and Rs. 44 lakhs from Hindi), accounting for nearly 41.62% of the film’s total collections. Interestingly, the contribution from IMAX has increased significantly as the film’s run has progressed. In Week 3, when The Odyssey collected Rs. 25.30 crores across all languages, IMAX screens contributed Rs. 16.10 crores. In other words, IMAX alone accounted for a massive 63.64% of the film’s Week 3 collections.

However, in the fourth weekend, the IMAX share jumped further to 67.14%. Of the film’s total collections of Rs. 11.44 crores across all languages, IMAX screens alone contributed Rs. 7.68 crores. If all premium formats (IMAX, HDR By Barco, 4DX, MX4D, EPIQ and Dolby) are taken into account, they contributed a staggering 71.15% of The Odyssey’s total fourth-weekend collections.

Even after completing 24 days, the demand for The Odyssey in IMAX remains rock-steady. For instance, as of 8:45 am on August 10, the 9:45 am show at the IMAX screen of PVR Phoenix Lower Parel, Mumbai, had already sold around 80 tickets. The figure is likely to touch 100 tickets by the time the show begins, which is remarkable for a Monday morning, especially for a film in its fourth week. Moreover, tickets for these premium-format shows are priced considerably higher than those for regular 2D shows, which has played a major role in driving the film’s collections. At this rate, The Odyssey has a shot at a lifetime collection of Rs. 180 crores from its English version alone.

The 24-day collections of The Odyssey Week 1 - Rs. 85.65 cr Week 2 - Rs. 45.67 cr Week 3 - Rs. 24.15 cr Week 4 [3 days] - Rs. 11.42 cr

The 24-day collections of The Odyssey in the IMAX format Week 1 - Rs. 27.97 cr Week 2 - Rs. 22.45 cr Week 3 - Rs. 16.10 cr Week 4 [3 days] - Rs. 7.68 cr

Also Read: Exhibitors hail Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey for becoming highest-grossing IMAX release in India: “Moviegoers embraced it not merely as a film to watch, but as a cinematic experience to revisit”

Film director Shakeel Noorani, 73, has been arrested in Mumbai following a complaint filed by a 33-year-old actor, who has alleged that she was raped after being called to his residence in Malwani. According to the police complaint, Noorani allegedly invited the actor to his house on the pretext of discussing an upcoming film project.

The actor has alleged that after she reached the director's residence, she was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted. The complaint further states that Noorani allegedly threatened her following the incident. Police subsequently registered a case based on the actor's allegations and arrested the filmmaker.

Following his arrest, Noorani was produced before the Borivali Holiday Court. The court has reportedly remanded him to police custody until August 12, during which the police are expected to investigate the allegations and gather further evidence in the case.

The allegations are currently part of an ongoing investigation, and the charges against Noorani have not been established in court.

Shakeel Noorani has been associated with Hindi cinema as a writer, producer and director. He is known for films including Bade Dilwala, released in 1999, and Joru Ka Ghulam, which came out in 2000.

The latest case has brought the veteran filmmaker into the spotlight as Mumbai Police continue their investigation into the actor's allegations. Further details regarding the case are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses and the police record statements and examine other evidence connected to the complaint.

Noorani's police custody is scheduled to continue until August 12, following which he is expected to be produced before the court again. The investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding the allegations and the events that allegedly took place at his Malwani residence.

The much awaited trailer of filmmaker Geetu Mohandas’ Toxic released yesterday and, ever since, it has become the talk of the town. The striking visuals, action and production design has ensured that the chatter around the film hasn’t stopped on social media. Along with that, Tara Sutaria’s presence in it has also been noticed and appreciated.

During the trailer launch of the film in Bengaluru, when asked on having a Disney princess image about her and what was it like to go from fairy tales to fairy tales for grown-ups, Tara responded saying, “There's a very popular phrase from an old Disney fairy tale, which I think it goes something like, ‘A dream is a wish your heart makes.’ And it feels so fitting to Toxic and to this fairy tale that we've all created. Because I think it's a dream and a wish that all of us have had, I think collectively as a team, to be a part of something and a fairy tale of sorts that is really outstanding, exceptional, and something very, very special to all of us in many different ways. And I think I'm just, like I said, overwhelmed and humbled and blessed to be with all of you and to be a part of this incredible story.”

Tara’s words reflected not only her excitement but also the emotional connection she shares with Toxic. Her belief in the film has only heightened the anticipation surrounding Toxic. With her appearance as Rebecca already earning praise for her captivating screen presence, audiences are now eagerly looking forward to watching Tara on the big screen.

Also Read: Toxic trailer launch: Yash praises his co-stars: “All these lovely talented people have kept their EGOS aside to put an Indian film on a GLOBAL platform”; HITS back at those who doubt him: “I see it as their STUPIDITY”

On the occasion of Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu’s birthday, team Varanasi unveiled two stills from the highly anticipated epic, offering the world its first glimpse of Rudhra in his element.

The first still captures Rudhra at rest on a bamboo raft, surrounded by a dense jungle, effortlessly cool, magnetic and carrying the quiet intensity that defines his character. The second transports us to the sweeping plains of Kenya’s Maasai Mara, where Rudhra stands amidst giraffes and wildebeest looking back with an unmistakable sense of command.

Together, the two stills offer a glimpse into the soul of Varanasi, a globe-trotting, century-spanning epic where one man’s extraordinary journey takes him from the sacred waters of India to the wildest corners of the earth.

Director SS Rajamouli said, “Rudhra was born to fulfil a purpose much larger than himself. He carries a destiny he did not ask for. He is witty, he is vulnerable, and he is fierce. That is what Mahesh brought to him. Anyone can play fierce. Very few can play fierce and fragile in the same breath. These frames are from our Africa schedule, and the land gave us something no set could. Shooting around Kilimanjaro and in the Maasai Mara, I was stunned. There were mornings when I felt even the 1.43:1 IMAX frame could not hold what was in front of us.”

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Directed by SS Rajamouli, with music by MM Keeravani, Varanasi is produced by Sri Durga Arts and Showing Business and is set to release worldwide on April 7, 2027, in IMAX.

Also Read: Priyanka Chopra gets birthday surprise as new Varanasi photos unveil fresh look from SS Rajamouli film

In the last 10 days, Ravi Kishan has achieved cult status on the world of internet memes. A months-old video of the actor went viral, in which he can be seen passionately singing the devotional song ‘Har Har Bhole Namah Shivaya’. The clip opened the floodgates, triggering what can only be described as a Ravi Kishan special week on the internet. Netizens began unearthing and sharing several priceless gems – from Ravi Kishan and Manoj Tiwari posing like cool dudes and hilariously arguing in English to Ravi dancing without a care at promotional events.

We have now stumbled upon an interesting coincidence that connects Ravi Kishan with the recently-released blockbuster, The Odyssey, directed by legendary filmmaker Christopher Nolan.

The Odyssey was released in India and most major markets across the world on July 17. Interestingly, Ravi Kishan’s birthday falls on the very same date! Did Ravi Kishan’s charm rub off on The Odyssey, or was it the other way around? Well, that’s difficult to say!

Ravi Kishan breaks silence

Meanwhile, Ravi Kishan spoke to Bombay Times about his viral memes. He said, “If you lose the ability to laugh at yourself, you lose a part of your freedom. People are having fun, and as long as it's in good spirit, why should I be offended? So, I smile, I move on, and I focus on doing good work. The internet will always find something new tomorrow.”

He also said, “If you start planning viral moments, they stop being real. The audiences of today are incredibly smart; they are hyper aware of authentic and organic moments…I've always believed that if you start changing yourself to avoid trolling, you slowly lose the person you truly are. I would rather remain authentic than become overly cautious. The people who genuinely appreciate you connect with your honesty, not with a carefully manufactured image. Tareef aur trolling, dono temporary hain.”

Also Read: Ravi Kishan’s viral ‘Headquarters’ meme reaches Europe as Juventus and Borussia Dortmund join the trend

On August 5, Bollywood Hungama was the first to report that Ramayana would release worldwide in most international markets on Friday, November 6. And now, producer Namit Malhotra has revealed an unusual release strategy – the film will arrive in international markets two days before its India release.

In an interview with NDTV, Namit Malhotra revealed that since Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, audiences in India will get to watch Ramayana on the big screen on the festival day itself. Meanwhile, the film will release overseas two days earlier, on Friday, November 6.

When asked about the film’s release date, Namit Malhotra said in the NDTV interview, “It’ll release in India on Diwali.” When specifically asked if that meant Ramayana would arrive in Indian theatres on November 8, he replied in the affirmative.

The reporter then pointed out that the recently released English version of the Ramayana trailer mentions November 6 as the release date. Explaining the difference, Namit Malhotra said, “So, we are releasing internationally (on November 6). The international distribution works from a Friday standpoint. So, that is on the 6th of November. But India currently we are targeting a release on Diwali.”

While Dharma Productions will distribute Ramayana in India, Sony Pictures has picked up the overseas distribution rights. Last week, Bollywood Hungama broke the news that T-Series has bagged the music rights to both parts of Ramayana for Rs. 75 crores in an advance deal.

Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. It is directed by Nitesh Tiwari of Dangal (2016) fame and produced by Namit Malhotra. The music is composed by A R Rahman and Hans Zimmer. It's a two-part saga with the first part releasing on Diwali 2026. As for the second part, it'll arrive on the big screen on Diwali 2027.

Also Read: CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurates Namit Malhotra’s Prime One; says, “I will be disappointed if Academy Award doesn’t come to Ramayana”