Double iSmart Opens Strong at Box Office

Ram Pothineni's Telugu sci-fi action film 'Double iSmart', directed by Puri Jagannadh, debuted on August 15, 2024, earning approximately ₹7.5 crore on its opening day despite receiving mixed reviews from audiences and critics. The film, a sequel to the 2019 hit 'iSmart Shankar', features Sanjay Dutt in his Telugu debut and explores themes of memory transfer and revenge within a high-octane narrative. Although initial reactions were lukewarm, the film's occupancy rates were strong, particularly in the Telugu version, which saw around 63.98% attendance. Comparatively, other films released on the same day, like Ravi Teja's 'Mr Bachchan', performed poorly, with 'Double iSmart' expected to benefit from the extended Independence Day weekend. Analysts predict that if the film maintains momentum, it could surpass ₹15-20 crore by the end of the weekend. Overall, the film's performance is being closely watched as it seeks to replicate the success of its predecessor.