Rashmika Mandanna's newest Telugu offering, 'The Girlfriend,' is demonstrating impressive staying power at the domestic box office, posting substantial growth during its inaugural weekend and building momentum with each passing day.
Weekend Box Office Performance
The film opened to modest numbers on Friday but witnessed a remarkable surge in collections on its second day. According to data from industry tracker Sacnilk, 'The Girlfriend' earned ₹1.3 crore on its opening day, followed by a significant jump to ₹2.55 crore on Saturday. This represents an impressive growth of over 96% from Friday to Saturday.
Although Sunday saw a minor decline in earnings, the film still managed to pull in a respectable ₹2.18 crore. This brings the total collection for the first three days to ₹6.03 crore across all language versions, indicating steady audience interest in the Rashmika Mandanna-starrer.
Regional Dominance and Occupancy Rates
The film maintained strong viewer turnout across key markets in South India and major metropolitan centers. On its third day, the Telugu 2D version recorded average occupancy rates of 21.74% during morning shows, which climbed to 45.80% in the afternoon and reached 46.59% during evening screenings.
Hyderabad emerged as one of the strongest performing markets with 51.33% occupancy, while Chennai surpassed all other regions with an impressive 56% occupancy rate. Other significant territories including Warangal (46.67%), Guntur (45%), and Mumbai (52.67%) also delivered solid numbers, reflecting positive word-of-mouth and growing audience appreciation for the film.
Film's Unique Narrative and Critical Reception
Directed by Rahul Ravindran, 'The Girlfriend' is jointly produced by Dheeraj Mogilineni Entertainment, Mass Movie Makers, and the renowned Geetha Arts. The film features Rashmika Mandanna alongside Dheekshith Shetty, Anu Emmanuel, Rao Ramesh, and Rohini in pivotal roles.
Unlike conventional romantic comedies, the film delves into the emotional and psychological complexities of contemporary relationships. It challenges viewers, particularly male audiences, to engage in introspection about the true meaning of love and companionship. Critics have praised the film as an 'important and brave story' that raises difficult questions and communicates to both genders that relationships should not become suffocating experiences.
With its powerful performances, relevant thematic content, and consistent weekend performance, industry experts predict 'The Girlfriend' will maintain its positive trajectory through the weekdays. The film's long-term box office prospects appear promising if the current wave of positive audience feedback continues to build momentum.
