Pawan’s ‘OG’ Breaks Pre-Release Records
The actor-politician is now in the same bracket as many Tollywood biggies
Though Hari Hara Veera Mallu failed to ignite the box office, Pawan Kalyan’s charisma and market value remain rock-solid. The actor-turned-politician is teaming up with young filmmaker Sujeeth for the much-hyped gangster saga OG, set in Mumbai. The film, slated for release on September 25, has reportedly notched up phenomenal pre-release prices.
According to trade sources, the film has recorded Pawan’s biggest-ever pre-release business in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. “OG has been traded for over Rs 135 crore in the Telugu states,” says a leading distributor.
Interestingly, Pawan himself had downplayed his box office business in comparison with Tollywood’s stars. But with OG, he is now on par with the likes of Prabhas, Allu Arjun, Jr NTR, and Ram Charan, whose recent films notched up pre-release business of between Rs 130–150 crore each. “Pawan has reached those benchmarks much quicker than expected, and if OG delivers a record-breaking run, he could even surpass them,” the source adds. What’s fuelling the craze is Pawan’s stylish mass avatar and Sujeeth’s vision. “From the beginning, OG carried much more hype than Hari Hara Veera Mallu. It promises big openings, especially with the Dasara holiday advantage,” the distributor feels.
