Mahesh Babu Smashes ₹3.25 Cr Advance Booking Record

Superstar Mahesh Babu’s 2005 blockbuster Athaadu is back on the big screen, and the response is nothing short of phenomenal. The 4K restored re-release has pulled in an astonishing ₹3.25 crore in advance bookings worldwide, proving yet again why Mahesh commands such an enduring fanbase.

Marking its 20th anniversary and coinciding with Mahesh Babu’s birthday, Athaadu 4K hit cinemas on August 9, 2025, with paid premieres a day earlier. The advance sales, which include premiere collections, rank among the highest ever for a Telugu re-release. In the US, the film racked up over USD 46,000 in pre-sales across 238 shows. If walk-in audiences match the hype, it could set a new all-time record for a re-release at the US box office.

The hype is even higher than Mahesh Babu’s first re-release, Khaleja 4K. Industry trackers say that with great first-day receipts and robust weekend turnout, Athaadu 4K might create a benchmark that will be hard to exceed in the future. Both new and devoted viewers appear to be drawn to theaters by the nostalgic appeal and the improved visual quality.

Mahesh plays a shrewd hitman in Trivikram's film Athaadu, which is backed by an impressive ensemble that includes Trisha, Prakash Raj, Sonu Sood, Nassar, Sayaji Shinde, and Sunil. The movie was one of the highest-grossing films of the year when it was first released, and Telugu viewers have subsequently come to revere it. Fans now have the opportunity to relive its captivating action and humorous exchanges on the big screen once more thanks to a new 4K restoration. Both online and at the box office, tickets are selling quickly, Athaadu 4K's second inning has started off spectacularly.