Mumbai, February 27, 2026 – The final Friday of February has turned the Indian box office into a battlefield of genres. From hard-hitting sequels to regional powerhouses and aging blockbusters, the ticket windows are buzzing with activity. Today’s report highlights a significant shift in momentum as fresh releases attempt to dethrone the holdovers while veteran films like Border 2 and O Romeo continue to squeeze out every possible penny from the audience.

The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond Takes a Solid Lead

The most anticipated release of the week, The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, has opened with a roar. Built on a modest budget of ₹30 Cr, the film managed to collect ₹3.55 Cr Net on its opening day. With a Gross collection of ₹4.18 Cr, it has comfortably secured the top spot on the daily charts.

For a film that relies heavily on word-of-mouth and political discourse, this is a very healthy start. If the weekend shows a typical 40-50% jump, the producers will be looking at a “Super Hit” tag within the first ten days. The audience in the Hindi belt remains the primary driver, though southern markets are showing surprising curiosity.

Regional Cinema Shines: Thaai Kizhavi and Vishnu Vinyasam

Regional content continues to prove that language is no barrier when the content connects. Thaai Kizhavi (2026) debuted strongly with ₹2.65 Cr Net. It’s a testament to the loyal fan base of regional superstars that a film without a massive pan-India marketing blitz can still outperform several Bollywood mid-budget films.

Close on its heels is Vishnu Vinyasam, which opened to ₹2 Cr Net. With a budget of ₹20 Cr, this film needs a steady run over the next two weeks to reach the break-even point. Currently, its ₹2.36 Cr Worldwide Gross on Day 1 sets a positive tone for its theatrical journey.

O Romeo: The Big Budget Struggle and the 100 Crore Milestone

The story of O Romeo is one of massive scale meeting lukewarm reception. Despite a mammoth budget of ₹150 Cr, the film has struggled to maintain a high daily average. On its 15th Day, it earned ₹1.1 Cr Net.

While the daily numbers are dipping, the total net collection now stands at ₹63.53 Cr. However, the real victory for the makers is the Worldwide (WW) total, which has reached ₹99.07 Cr.

Analysis: O Romeo is just a few lakhs away from the prestigious ₹100 Crore Worldwide club. While it might not be a “Hit” by traditional ROI standards due to its high cost, hitting the century mark provides a much-needed face-saving grace for the production house.

Friday’s New Arrivals: Scream 7, Viyaah Kartaare Da, and More

The horror fans had their eyes on Scream 7 (2026). In India, the slasher franchise has a niche but dedicated following. It opened with ₹0.43 Cr Net. While this might seem low compared to Indian masala films, for a Hollywood horror sequel, these are decent numbers that usually double over Saturday and Sunday nights.

On the Punjabi front, Viyaah Kartaare Da started its journey with ₹0.52 Cr Net. Considering its tiny budget of ₹6 Cr, this is a fantastic start. The film is already on the path to becoming a profitable venture for its investors.

Meanwhile, the psychological thriller Masthishka Maranam 2026 pulled in ₹0.4 Cr Net. It’s a slow start, but in this genre, the second-day jump is everything.

The Holdovers: How Yesterday’s Winners Are Faring

Looking back at the performance from February 26th, we see how much the new Friday releases have disrupted the market:

1. Assi & Do Deewane Seher Mein

The film Assi, made on a ₹25 Cr budget, saw its collection drop slightly from ₹0.6 Cr (Day 7) to ₹0.49 Cr (Day 8). It has a total net of ₹7.54 Cr. Similarly, Do Deewane Seher Mein (Budget: ₹35 Cr) ended its first week with ₹6.96 Cr Total Net. Both films are struggling to find a solid footing and might face a significant screen count reduction by tomorrow.

Box Office Table (Feb 27, 2026)

Movie	Day	Net Collection	Gross	Total Net (Till Date)	WW Gross
The Kerala Story 2	Day 1	₹3.55 Cr	₹4.18 Cr	₹3.55 Cr	₹4.18 Cr
Thaai Kizhavi 2026	Day 1	₹2.65 Cr	₹3.12 Cr	₹2.65 Cr	₹3.12 Cr
Vishnu Vinyasam	Day 1	₹2.00 Cr	₹2.36 Cr	₹2.00 Cr	₹2.36 Cr
O Romeo	Day 15	₹1.10 Cr	₹1.29 Cr	₹63.53 Cr	₹99.07 Cr
Assi	Day 8	₹0.49 Cr	₹0.57 Cr	₹7.54 Cr	₹8.89 Cr
Scream 7	Day 1	₹0.43 Cr	₹0.50 Cr	₹0.43 Cr	₹0.50 Cr

---

What Does This Mean for the Industry?

The trend is clear: High-concept sequels and low-budget wonders are winning. While O Romeo struggles to justify its ₹150 Cr price tag, films like With Love and The Kerala Story 2 are proving that the Indian audience is hungry for specific narratives rather than just “big stars.”

The upcoming weekend will be crucial for The Kerala Story 2. If it maintains its momentum, it could easily become the highest-grossing film of March. For O Romeo, the mission is simple: cross that ₹100 Crore mark and exit gracefully before the big March releases arrive.