Korean Kanakaraju Adds Extra Screens in Telangana After Rs 10.20 Cr Day 1

The Telugu horror comedy film Korean Kanakaraju, starring actor Varun Tej, saw extra screens added across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on August 8, 2026, following a surge in audience demand on its second day in theatres. Directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, the film registered over Rs 10.20 crore in worldwide gross on its opening day, including collections from premiere shows, according to official figures released by the makers.

Ticket sales on the second day suggested that the film was heading toward a higher single-day box office total than its opening day, driven by massive turnout across cinema halls. Theatre operators in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh responded to the heightened demand by allocating additional screens on day two, demonstrating strong theatrical support as the weekend progressed.

Before its theatrical arrival, Korean Kanakaraju completed pre-release theatrical business worth Rs 12 crore across the two Telugu states. The business breakdown comprised Rs 4 crore in the Nizam region, a Rs 6 crore ratio in Andhra, and Rs 2 crore in Ceeded. Bookings for premiere screenings were strong, allowing the film to build momentum right from its initial shows.

The film's comedic elements, featuring screen fun between Varun Tej and co-actor Satya, drew audiences despite the movie opening to mixed critical reviews. Theater turnout is projected to rise further over the weekend, with box office performance expected to gain additional traction from Sunday crowds and the upcoming Bonalu holiday in Telangana.

The horror comedy is also maintaining a steady theatrical run in overseas markets. In North America, ticket collections are moving closer to the $200,000 milestone, with the overseas box office expected to make a significant contribution to the movie's overall worldwide numbers across the weekend.

The initial box office response represents the biggest opening of Varun Tej's career to date. With sustained audience turnout across domestic and international screens, early theatrical signs indicate that Korean Kanakaraju is on track to become the actor's highest-grossing release overall.