Yo, Tollywood squad! The day is finally here—September 25, 2025—and Pawan Kalyan’s They Call Him OG (aka OG) is storming theaters like a hurricane. Directed by Sujeeth, this gritty, A-rated gangster saga stars Pawan as the fierce Ojas “OG” Gambheera, locking horns with Emraan Hashmi’s chilling Omi Bhau. With Thaman’s electric beats and DVV Entertainment’s RRR-level swagger, OG is already shattering records with its advance bookings. But can it topple Ram Charan’s Game Changer (₹51 crore India net opener) and carve out a new Tollywood milestone? Buckle up—here’s our exclusive take on why OG is set to dominate Day 1 and rewrite box office history.
Unstoppable Hype: Advance Bookings That Broke Records
Pawan Kalyan, fresh off his Deputy CM duties, is back in action-hero mode, and fans are losing it. After the lukewarm Hari Hara Veera Mallu, OG is his redemption arc—and it’s massive. The film’s pre-release buzz is next-level, blending Pawan’s mass appeal with Emraan’s Bollywood edge.
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Advance Booking Bonanza: By September 24, OG clocked ₹98 crore worldwide in advances, crossing ₹100 crore as final bookings poured in. That’s Pawan’s biggest ever, dwarfing Hari Hara Veera Mallu’s ₹47.5 crore opener. In India, it hit ₹50 crore gross, while North America alone raked in USD 2 million (₹17.6 crore) with 54,000+ tickets sold—beating Pushpa 2’s Andhra-Nizam advances (₹19 crore vs. ₹15.36 crore).
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Premiere Power: Paid previews on September 24 grossed ₹23+ crore in India (final numbers pending), outpacing Hari Hara Veera Mallu’s ₹15 crore and Pushpa 2’s premiere haul. Overseas, North America premieres added ₹14 crore, with fans packing theaters in Hyderabad, Andhra, and beyond.
The vibe on X is wild—clips of Pawan’s entry scene are going viral, with fans calling it “mass rampage at its peak!” Trade analyst Rohit Jaiswal says OG is “Pawan’s career-defining opener,” fueled by his loyal fanbase and Emraan’s crossover pull.
Day 1 Prediction: Smashing Game Changer’s Record
Ram Charan’s Game Changer, Shankar’s political thriller, kicked off 2025 with a solid ₹51 crore India net (₹86 crore worldwide). But OG is playing in a different league. Its advances alone match Game Changer’s final Day 1, and early trends point to a knockout.
Here’s how OG stacks up:
|
Region/Metric |
Game Changer Day 1 (India Net) |
They Call Him OG Predicted Day 1 (India Net) |
Why OG’s Got the Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Andhra Pradesh |
₹15 crore |
₹22-27 crore |
Pawan’s rural stronghold |
|
Nizam (Hyderabad) |
₹12 crore |
₹20-24 crore |
Urban craze, tops Pushpa 2 |
|
Rest of India |
₹10 crore |
₹16-21 crore |
Emraan’s Hindi belt boost |
|
Overseas |
₹15 crore (WW share) |
₹27-32 crore |
North America’s USD 2M+ start |
|
Total India Net |
₹51 crore |
₹65-80 crore (incl. previews) |
30%+ jump over Game Changer |
|
Worldwide Gross |
₹86 crore |
₹145-165 crore |
Biggest Telugu opener of 2025 |
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India Net Estimate: ₹65-80 crore, including ₹23 crore from previews—Pawan’s best opener yet, crushing Bheemla Nayak’s ₹40 crore.
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Worldwide Gross: A jaw-dropping ₹145-165 crore, potentially outgunning Pathaan (₹141 crore) and Animal (₹130 crore) for non-holiday openers. Sacnilk and Koimoi are buzzing: “150 crore is a lock!”
Live data (as of 12 PM IST, Sept 25) shows ₹12.63 crore India net in early hours, with sold-out shows signaling a monster day. If fan reactions hold—X posts rave about “Pawan’s swagger and Thaman’s BGM”—this could hit ₹160 crore+ globally.
Why OG’s a Record-Smasher
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Beating Game Changer: OG isn’t just winning—it’s dominating. Game Changer’s ₹51 crore was huge, but Pawan’s mass pull, Sujeeth’s action-packed vision, and the A-rated edge give OG a 30-50% lead.
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Pawan’s Milestones: This is his biggest opener, topping Attarintiki Daredi’s ₹25 crore. It’s also the 5th highest advance booking in Indian cinema history, with North America setting a personal record for Pawan.
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Fan Frenzy on X: “#OGDay1 150Cr+” is trending, with fans calling it “Sujeeth’s ode to Pawan’s mass legacy.” One viral clip of Pawan’s fight scene has 500K views already!
With a reported ₹220 crore budget, OG’s ₹150 crore start puts it on track for a quick recovery if word-of-mouth stays strong.
The Verdict: Pawan’s OG Rules Day 1
They Call Him OG is more than a movie—it’s a phenomenon. Poised to crush Game Changer’s ₹51 crore with a projected ₹65-80 crore India net and ₹145-165 crore worldwide, it’s the Telugu opener of 2025. Early reviews praise the “pulse-pounding action” but note a familiar plot—still, for Pawan fans, it’s a full-on feast.
What’s your take—will OG hit 150 crore? Did you catch the premiere? Drop your thoughts below, and stay tuned for live box office updates as Pawan’s Gambheera takes over!
