Hyderabad, September 26 - The Indian box office has seen several historic milestones over the last few years, but only a few films have managed to cross the coveted 100 crore mark on the first day in the domestic market. Dominated by Telugu origin films, the elite club is reserved for the biggest spectacles that not only ride on star power but also on unprecedented hype, massive release scales, and pan-India appeal.

At the very top of the list is Pan India superstar Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2: The Rule, which stormed into cinemas with an earth-shattering 209 crore opening in India –” the biggest single-day haul ever recorded in the country. Close on its heels are director SS Rajamouli's blockbusters RRR and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which grossed 156 crore and 153 crore respectively, setting benchmarks that seemed unbeatable at the time.

Yash's KGF Chapter 2 followed with 134.50 crore, while Prabhas made his mark again with Kalki 2898 AD at 116 crore, Salaar at 107.10 crore, Saaho at 105 crore and Adipurush at 102.50 crore gross. The latest film in this prestigious club is Pawan Kalyan's They Call Him OG, which is estimated to gross over 100 crores in India.

What's remarkable is that, except for one film, every single one of these 100 crore openers comes from South Indian cinema. The Telugu industry, in particular, has redefined the meaning of a "mass opening" in Indian cinema. Backed by visionary filmmakers like Rajamouli, Sukumar, Nag Ashwin, and Prashanth Neel, and powered by stars such as Allu Arjun, Prabhas, Ram Charan, Jr NTR, and Yash, these films have created a cultural and commercial wave that Bollywood has yet to match.

Today, breaching the 100 crore mark on opening day in India has become the ultimate benchmark for any big-ticket release. With upcoming projects from the same powerhouses –” be it sequels, mythological spectacles, or high-octane action dramas –” the club is only expected to expand further. As Indian cinema continues to scale new heights, these films remain towering examples of how a perfect mix of scale, vision, and star power can turn a release into a nationwide festival.

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