The Paradise pre-sales: 16.42 crore in India, $1.11 million in North America

Nani's The Paradise reaches theatres on September 24, and the advance booking board already points to a loud opening. The action thriller has locked 7,214 shows across India, which reports say is the widest release of the Natural Star's career, going past the 5,705 shows Dasara carried. More shows are still expected to be added before the film opens.

On day one pre-sales, the film had sold 7.71 lakh tickets as of 1:30 pm IST, leaving out blocked seats. Reports put that at 16.42 crore gross, which works out to 13.92 crore net. With a full day of booking still left, both numbers are likely to climb.

That total is enough to place The Paradise fifth among 2026's opening day advance bookings for Indian films, ahead of The RajaSaab and its 15.31 crore. The list is led by Toxic at 58.27 crore, followed by Dhurandhar 2 at 53 crore, Jana Nayagan at 22.26 crore and Peddi at 20.66 crore. Reports say the film is on course to overtake Peddi in the final count.

Overseas, the story is just as strong. Premiere pre-sales in North America closed at $1.11 million, which is about 10.62 crore, after a jump of more than $300K on the last day of bookings alone. The USA accounted for $1.03 million of that, roughly 9.86 crore, from 45.2K tickets.

Those numbers are already a career best for Nani in the territory, clearing the $870K premiere that HIT: The Third Case posted. Reports suggest he now has a real shot at his first $1.5 million premiere. The film is also set to break into Tollywood's all time top 10 North American premieres, pushing Guntur Kaaram and its $1.42 million off the list.

If it goes past Peddi's $1.57 million, The Paradise becomes Tollywood's biggest premiere of 2026 in North America. The stage is set, and from Thursday, word of mouth takes over.