Thug Life Worldwide Box Office Collection: Kamal Haasan Film Falls Short Of Indian 2's Opening, Earns ₹78.5 Cr

Thug Life Box Office Collection: The much-anticipated Tamil gangster drama Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan, has delivered an underwhelming performance at the global box office over its opening weekend. Despite the high-profile collaboration between Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan-reuniting nearly four decades after Nayakan-the film saw a steady decline in collections over its first four days.

According to data provided by industry tracker Cinetrak, Thug Life grossed approximately ₹78.5 crore worldwide by the end of its extended weekend. Of this, the Indian market contributed around ₹40.75 crore, while the international territories added another $4.4 million (about ₹37.75 crore).

The film's box office performance has notably fallen short when compared to recent big-ticket Tamil releases. For instance, Indian 2, another Kamal Haasan film released last year, managed to gross nearly ₹115 crore globally within just three days, marking a sharp contrast in audience turnout.

Mixed Reception Dampens Thug Life's Box Office Prospects

Released on June 5 in standard, IMAX, and EPIQ formats, Thug Life received largely unfavorable reviews from critics and audiences alike, which appears to have impacted footfalls, particularly after the first day. The film's narrative spans multiple timelines and revolves around Rangaraaya Sakthivel, a powerful gangster in New Delhi navigating betrayal and redemption after a fallout with his brother and protégé.

The film boasts an ensemble cast including Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, and others. Backed by Raaj Kamal Films International and Madras Talkies, the production featured contributions from several leading technicians-cinematography by Ravi K. Chandran, editing by A. Sreekar Prasad, and music by A. R. Rahman.

The film underwent over two years of development and was initially announced in November 2022 under the working title Kamal Haasan 234. Principal photography wrapped in late 2024, with filming locations spread across Chennai, Kanchipuram, Pondicherry, and North India.

While the long-awaited collaboration generated substantial buzz prior to release, the film's tepid reception and modest earnings suggest challenges ahead unless there's a significant turnaround in weekday collections or overseas interest. Given the mixed word-of-mouth, Thug Life could struggle to maintain its momentum at the box office.