The year 2025 has turned out to be a blockbuster year for Indian cinema. With several big releases from South Indian superstars, the box office has been buzzing with record-breaking numbers. Among these, They Call Him OG, featuring Pawan Kalyan, has stormed into theatres with an extraordinary opening day collection. Naturally, its performance is being compared with Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2: The Rule and Rajinikanth’s Coolie, two of the most anticipated films of recent times. In this blog, let’s break down the OG Day 1 worldwide collection and see how it fares against Pushpa 2 and Coolie.
OG’s Powerful Day 1 Start
Pawan Kalyan’s OG opened to massive hype. The film collected around ₹90.25 crore net in India on Day 1, including a staggering ₹20 crore from paid previews alone. The worldwide gross collection is estimated to be in the range of ₹150–155 crore, making it one of the biggest openers of 2025.
This achievement is not just significant for Pawan Kalyan’s career but also for Telugu cinema as a whole. OG’s advance bookings were historic, with shows selling out across major cities even before the release. The combination of fan frenzy, wide release strategy, and a strong promotional campaign ensured that the film took off like a rocket.
For Pawan Kalyan, who has juggled both cinema and politics in recent years, this success is a massive comeback moment, proving that his star power remains unmatched in the Telugu states.
Pushpa 2: The Rule – Setting the Benchmark
While OG’s performance is impressive, it is impossible to discuss big box office openings without mentioning Pushpa 2: The Rule. Allu Arjun’s sequel was a storm at the box office when it released in 2024.
On its opening day, Pushpa 2 grossed over ₹281 crore worldwide, with around ₹174–175 crore net from India alone. This made it the biggest opener in Indian cinema at that time, surpassing even pan-India juggernauts like RRR and KGF Chapter 2.
One of the major reasons behind Pushpa 2’s phenomenal success was its established fanbase. The first film, Pushpa: The Rise, had already created a cult following, especially in the Hindi belt. The sequel carried forward that craze with record advance bookings, an expanded release in multiple languages, and massive anticipation around Allu Arjun’s performance.
Compared to OG, Pushpa 2’s Day 1 numbers remain much higher, but OG has still made its mark by entering the ₹150 crore club globally on the very first day.
Rajinikanth’s Coolie – The Thalaivar Factor
No discussion of South Indian cinema is complete without Rajinikanth. His 2025 release Coolie had also created waves at the box office. On its first day, the film grossed around ₹150–151 crore worldwide, with India contributing about ₹65 crore.
While the domestic numbers were slightly lower than OG, the overseas collections pushed Coolie into the same league. Rajinikanth’s star power is unmatched internationally, and that was evident in the film’s overseas performance.
For Tamil cinema, Coolie became one of the biggest openers ever, reaffirming Rajinikanth’s dominance despite the rise of younger stars in the industry.
OG vs Pushpa 2 vs Coolie – Who Leads the Race?
When we compare these three giants, the results are fascinating:
- Pushpa 2 remains the undisputed leader in Day 1 collections with over ₹280 crore worldwide, setting a record that may take years to break.
- OG, with ₹150–155 crore worldwide, managed to equal or even slightly surpass Coolie, making it the biggest opener of 2025 so far.
- Coolie stood tall with around ₹150 crore worldwide, proving Rajinikanth’s draw at the global box office remains intact.
So while OG couldn’t match the gigantic numbers of Pushpa 2, it has definitely beaten or at least matched Coolie on the global stage, which is a monumental achievement for Pawan Kalyan.
What Makes OG’s Opening Special?
Several factors highlight why OG’s Day 1 performance is noteworthy:
- Paid Previews Boost
The film earned more than ₹20 crore even before its official release through paid previews. This kind of hype is rare and reflects the massive anticipation surrounding the film. - Widest Release for a Pawan Kalyan Film
OG was released across multiple states in India and dubbed into other languages, ensuring it reached not only Telugu audiences but also fans in other regions. - Strong Overseas Performance
Like Pushpa 2 and Coolie, OG also enjoyed great reception abroad. The global fanbase for South Indian stars has grown tremendously in recent years, and OG is a prime example of this trend. - Fan Frenzy
Pawan Kalyan’s fans turned the release into a festival. From early morning shows to massive cutouts and celebrations, the film had an unparalleled atmosphere, adding to the box office momentum.
Can OG Surpass Pushpa 2 in the Long Run?
While OG has delivered a fantastic opening, the real test lies ahead. Pushpa 2 set not only opening day records but also sustained its run at the box office due to strong word-of-mouth and repeat viewings.
If OG manages to maintain steady collections over its first weekend and beyond, it could emerge as one of the highest-grossing films of 2025. However, to surpass Pushpa 2’s monumental lifetime collections will be an uphill battle.
What OG has already proven, though, is that Pawan Kalyan remains one of the most bankable stars in Telugu cinema. The film’s start is a massive statement that Telugu films continue to dominate the Indian box office landscape.
Conclusion
The battle of big releases has always been exciting in Indian cinema, and 2025 has given us plenty to talk about.
- Pushpa 2 still holds the crown for the biggest Day 1 opener in Indian cinema.
- OG has delivered a historic debut for Pawan Kalyan in 2025, surpassing Rajinikanth’s Coolie in terms of worldwide collections.
- Coolie stands strong as a Tamil blockbuster, reaffirming Rajinikanth’s legendary status.
At the end of the day, OG’s Day 1 performance has cemented its place among the top openers of all time, proving that South Indian cinema continues to set benchmarks that the rest of the industry aspires to reach.