Kuberaa, the 2025 Indian crime drama directed by Sekhar Kammula, has generated significant buzz since its theatrical release on June 20, 2025.
Starring Dhanush, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Rashmika Mandanna, Jim Sarbh, and Dalip Tahil, this pan-Indian film, shot in Telugu and Tamil, explores themes of ambition, greed, and moral dilemmas.
With a hefty budget, a star-studded cast, and a gripping narrative, the question on everyone’s mind is: Is Kuberaa a hit or a flop? Let’s dive into its budget, box office performance, audience reception, critical reviews, and predictions for its future.
Kuberaa Movie Hit or Flop: Budget, Box Office Collection
Kuberaa Budget
Produced with a reported budget of ₹120 crore, making it a high-stakes venture for producers Suniel Narang and Puskur Rammohan Rao under Sree Venkateswara Cinemas LLP and Amigos Creations.
Posts on X also suggest a total financial commitment, including interest and initial estimates, reaching up to ₹150 crore, with ₹47 crore secured from OTT rights sold to Amazon Prime Video.
This substantial budget reflects the film’s ambitious scale, shot across real locations in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Tirupati, with top-notch production design by Thota Tharani and music by Devi Sri Prasad.
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Box Office Collection
Kuberaa had a solid but not spectacular opening at the box office. According to early estimates from Sacnilk, the film earned ₹13 crore net in India on its opening day (June 20, 2025) across all languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam.
This figure, while respectable, fell short of Dhanush’s previous release, Raayan, which collected ₹15.7 crore on its opening day.
Telugu regions showed stronger occupancy at 57.36%, with evening shows reaching 57.04%, compared to a relatively weaker response in Tamil Nadu, where buzz was lower due to limited pre-release promotions.
Advance bookings contributed ₹3.9–4 crore in pre-sales, and the film saw a 239% jump in North American premiere sales, grossing $335,393 by June 21, 2025, from 350 locations, with projections to cross $1 million over the weekend.
Trade analysts predict a first-weekend collection of ₹18–20 crore in India, driven by positive word-of-mouth and no major competing releases in Tamil and Telugu markets. Day 2 estimates suggest an additional ₹15 crore net in India, indicating steady growth.
However, in the Hindi market, Kuberaa faces stiff competition from Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par, which opened at ₹11.5 crore.
Analysts estimate Hindi collections for Kuberaa at a modest ₹20 lakhs on day one, highlighting its struggle to penetrate the Hindi belt.
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Is Kuberaa Hit or Flop?
Determining whether Kuberaa is a hit or flop depends on its ability to recover its ₹120 crore budget (excluding additional financial estimates).
With ₹47 crore secured from OTT rights and ₹40 crore from pre-business deals, the film is in a relatively safe financial zone before theatrical earnings.
The opening day collection of ₹13 crore and a projected weekend haul of ₹18–20 crore suggest a decent start, but the film’s high budget means it needs sustained performance to break even theatrically.
Positive word-of-mouth and strong performances, particularly in Telugu states, could push Kuberaa toward profitability.
However, the lack of pre-release buzz in Tamil Nadu and modest Hindi market performance may hinder its overall box office potential.
As of now, Kuberaa is neither a clear hit nor a flop—it’s a watchable performer with the potential to become a hit if weekend collections and post-theatrical streaming revenue align favorably.
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Reception
The audience reception for Kuberaa has been largely positive, especially among fans in Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, where celebrations included dancing and singing outside theaters.
Dhanush’s appearance at Chennai’s Rohini Silver Screens for the first-day-first-show, alongside his son Linga, sparked emotional fan reactions, with videos of enthusiastic crowds going viral on social media.
Posts on X hailed the film as a “blockbuster,” praising its intense storyline, Dhanush’s career-best performance, and Devi Sri Prasad’s music, particularly the song Poyivaa Nanba for its seamless integration. However, some fans noted issues with lip-sync in dubbed versions and a runtime of 3 hours 1 minute, which felt lengthy for some.
Despite a slow pre-release buzz due to limited marketing, the trailer and pre-release events helped generate last-minute excitement.
The film’s U/A rating, granted after 19 cuts totaling 13 minutes 41 seconds, didn’t seem to dampen audience enthusiasm, though some expressed disappointment with the rushed climax.
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Review
Critics have given Kuberaa mixed to positive reviews, with an IMDb rating of 7.4/10. Dhanush’s portrayal of Deva, a beggar-turned-powerful figure, has been universally praised, with many calling it a National Award-worthy performance.
Nagarjuna’s nuanced role as Deepak, a morally conflicted chartered accountant, has also received acclaim, with reviewers noting his restrained intensity. Rashmika Mandanna’s performance as Sameera adds emotional and strategic depth, while Jim Sarbh’s antagonistic role as Neeraj Mitra is compelling but underutilized.
Sekhar Kammula’s direction is lauded for its technical strength, emotional depth, and philosophical undertones, with the film’s gritty socio-political thriller elements resonating strongly.
However, critics pointed out flaws, including an uneven pace, a slow-burning second half, and a less convincing climax.
The Free Press Journal gave it 3.5 stars, noting, “Kuberaa isn’t a perfect film. It soars early, stumbles briefly, and skids at the end. But its heart beats loud.” Actor-critic Kuldeep Gadhvi awarded 4.5 stars, calling it a “visually rich, emotionally layered” drama, while Umair Sandhu gave 3.5 stars, praising the engaging story but critiquing the climax.
The film’s music by Devi Sri Prasad, cinematography by Niketh Bommireddy, and Mumbai-centric locations were highlighted as strengths, though editing received mixed feedback, with a 6/10 score from some reviewers due to pacing issues.
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Prediction
Looking ahead, Kuberaa is poised for a strong weekend, with trade experts predicting ₹18–20 crore in India by Sunday, June 22, 2025, driven by positive reviews and growing occupancy.
Its performance in Telugu states and overseas markets, particularly North America, suggests it could cross ₹100 crore gross worldwide if momentum holds. The lack of major competing releases in Tamil and Telugu markets is a significant advantage.
However, challenges remain. The film’s high budget requires consistent box office performance to achieve theatrical profitability.
Competition from Sitaare Zameen Par in the Hindi market may limit its growth there, and the lengthy runtime could deter some viewers.
The OTT release on Amazon Prime Video in July 2025 is expected to boost its reach, potentially making it a streaming hit. Posts on X suggest confidence in a ₹100 crore grosser for Dhanush, but its long-term success will depend on sustained audience interest and critical acclaim translating into ticket sales.
Stay tuned for more updates on Kuberaa’s box office journey and share your thoughts in the comments below!