Ram Charan’s latest big-screen outing Peddi is proving that strong audience interest can survive both mixed reviews and online controversy. While the sports action drama witnessed a noticeable drop in collections on its third day, the film continues to hold a firm grip on the box office and remains one of the biggest Indian releases of the month.
After opening to impressive numbers on Thursday, expectations were high for a massive weekend surge. The Saturday figures, however, tell a slightly different story. Even with the dip, Peddi has already raced past the ₹125 crore mark in India net collections, putting it well ahead of most recent releases and keeping it on track for a strong extended run.
Saturday Sees Lower Numbers But Film Stays Strong
According to trade estimates from Sacnilk, Peddi collected around ₹28.85 crore on its third day in theatres. While many films usually show growth on a Saturday, Peddi recorded a decline compared to its opening-day performance and even fell short of the jump some analysts had predicted after Friday’s hold.
The film opened with a hefty ₹40.66 crore net collection on Thursday before earning ₹26.90 crore on Friday. With Saturday’s numbers now added to the tally, Peddi has reached approximately ₹125.25 crore in India net collections and around ₹141.41 crore in India gross earnings.
Those numbers become even more impressive when viewed against the current market conditions. The film entered cinemas on nearly 3,000 screens and benefited from strong advance bookings, reportedly selling more than 82 lakh tickets before release and generating around ₹20 crore in pre-sales. Such a start gave the film a major head start, allowing it to build a sizeable total within just three days.
The focus now shifts to Sunday. Trade experts believe a solid weekend finish could help the movie maintain momentum heading into weekdays, where audience retention becomes the real test for any large-scale commercial entertainer.
Ram Charan Leads an Ambitious Sports Drama
Unlike conventional sports films that focus on a single discipline, Peddi attempts to tell a broader story of ambition and self-discovery. Ram Charan plays the title character, a young man searching for purpose and recognition through multiple sporting paths.
The narrative follows his journey across cricket, wrestling, and sprinting before his achievements eventually attract national attention. The film combines sports action with emotional drama and rural themes, a blend that director Buchi Babu Sana has become known for since his breakthrough work in Telugu cinema.
Many viewers have praised the scale of the production and Ram Charan’s commitment to the physically demanding role. Several scenes featuring sports competitions and training sequences have emerged as crowd favourites, helping the film generate positive word of mouth in certain regions.
Alongside Charan, the film features Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, and Jagapathi Babu in important roles. The presence of veteran performers and established stars has added additional appeal for audiences across different markets.
Makers Respond After Criticism Over Janhvi Kapoor’s Character
While the box office numbers remain encouraging, Peddi has also found itself at the centre of an unexpected controversy. Since release, social media discussions have increasingly focused on the portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor’s character Achiyamma.
A section of viewers accused the film of unnecessarily sexualising the character and argued that certain scenes felt out of place within an otherwise emotional sports drama. The criticism quickly gained momentum online, leading to widespread debate among audiences and industry observers.
In response, director Buchi Babu Sana released a public statement acknowledging the concerns. He stated that cinema should entertain and connect with viewers without making anyone feel uncomfortable or disrespected. The filmmaker also clarified that there was never any intention to objectify women through the character’s portrayal.
Most significantly, he confirmed that changes would be made to the film currently playing in theatres. According to the statement, the production team reviewed audience feedback and decided to modify the portions that attracted criticism. The move has been welcomed by many viewers, with some praising the filmmakers for listening to audience concerns rather than ignoring them.
Strong Start Keeps Long-Term Prospects Alive
Despite Saturday’s decline, Peddi remains in a healthy position commercially. Large-scale Telugu films often depend heavily on opening weekend performance, and the film has already built a strong foundation thanks to its massive first day and solid follow-up collections.
Industry watchers believe the coming weekdays will provide a clearer picture of the film’s long-term potential. If positive audience response continues in key territories, Peddi could comfortably move toward major milestones in the coming weeks. Overseas markets have also contributed steadily to the film’s overall earnings, strengthening its worldwide performance.
For now, Ram Charan’s sports drama continues to dominate conversations for both its box office success and the discussions surrounding its content. Whether audiences remember Peddi for its emotional sports journey or the controversy that followed its release, one thing is certain — the film has become one of the most talked-about releases of the year.
