Khaleja 4K Re-Release: Mahesh Babu’s Cult Classic Creates Box Office Storm!

Khaleja re-release: Mahesh Babu’s cult classic storms back in stunning 4K, smashing box office records with 6.85 crore on Day 1! Experience the action, comedy, and iconic dialogues that made this Telugu gem timeless.

On 30th May, 2025, the Telugu movie world experienced a cinematic tsunami when Khaleja, starring superstar Mahesh Babu, re-released on the screens in a breathtaking 4K remastered format.

Originally released in 2010, this action-comedy film directed by Trivikram Srinivas never lit the box office ablaze at the time of its release. However, over a period of time, it gained a huge cult following due to its offbeat plot, Mahesh Babu’s hunk factor, and snappy dialogues. Jump to 2025, and the re-release of Khaleja swept the globe off its feet to prove that classics never fade away.

With the fans packing cinemas and pre-booking records breaking, the Day 1 collections of the movie were just mind-blowing with a whopping 6.85 crore worldwide.

Let’s get into the frenzy of this re-release and how it’s re-writing box office history!

A Cult Classic Back in Style

Khaleja is the tale of Raju, a hot-blooded taxi driver played by Mahesh Babu, who becomes embroiled in a village’s battle against a strange disease inflicted by a selfish industrialist. Full of action, comedy, and social message, the film mixes Mahesh’s charm with Trivikram’s humorous narration. The female lead, Subhashini, is played by Anushka Shetty, and Prakash Raj plays the powerful villain, GK.

Despite polarized reviews in 2010 and a decent 36 crore gross against its 30 crore budget, the movie is now a cult classic. Its quirky humor, Mahesh’s suave avatar, and its philosophical storyline have made it one of the finest Telugu films, even featuring in Film Companion‘s “25 Greatest Telugu Films of the Decade.”

The 4K re-release in 2025 and Dolby Atmos have provided the fans with an opportunity to relive the magic on the big screen again. The enhanced visuals and audio have made the movie feel like a new release, and the fans have been talking about the cinema experience.

Breakthrough Advance Reservations

The news of Khaleja’s re-release was out weeks before the original date of release on May 30. Fans flooded ticketing sites like BookMyShow (BMS), purchasing tickets at a record-breaking rate. Within the first two days of advance bookings alone, the movie sold over 105,000 tickets on BMS, with estimates suggesting the final number would be 200,000+ tickets on opening day. Khaleja became the third Telugu re-release to record such monster ticket sales after just Mahesh Babu’s own Murari (258,000 tickets).

The movie also became the quickest re-release to get 1 crore advance bookings in Hyderabad, a proof of Mahesh’s unparalleled stardom.

Day 1 Box Office: Record Opening

When Khaleja released on May 30, 2025, it did not just live up to expectations—it surpassed them. The film grossed 6.85 crore on its opening day, including premiers, and is the second-largest re-release opening in Telugu cinema history, behind only Pawan Kalyan‘s Gabbar Singh (7.2 crore).

Day 1 collections : 

Nizam: 3.32 crore (42 lakh from premiers inclusive)

Ceeded: 37 lakh

Uttar Andhra (UA): 40 lakh

East Godavari: 20 lakh

West Godavari: 30 lakh

Guntur: 32 lakh

Krishna: 29 lakh

Nellore: 12 lakh

Andhra Pradesh-Telangana is valued at 5.32 crore gross.

Karnataka + Rest of India (KA+ROI): 48 lakh

Overseas (OS): 1.05 crore

Worldwide Total: 6.85 crore gross

At the Nizam belt (Hyderabad included), Khaleja 4K topped the chart with 3.32 crore, followed by other major re-releases such as Murari 4K (2.93 crore) and Gabbar Singh 4K (2.52 crore). This was the largest re-release Day 1 grossing ever in Nizam’s history.

In Ceeded, the film earned 37 lakh, ranking fifth among the re-releases, after Gabbar Singh 4K (81 lakh) and Simhadri 4K (76 lakh).

Overseas, Khaleja hit gold. In North America, it racked up $57,600 (around 48 lakh INR) on Day 1 from 105 screens, becoming the third-biggest re-release opening there, after Indra 4K ($65,000) and Gabbar Singh 4K ($60,000).

In Australia, it raked in A$13,720 (11.73 lakh INR) and emerged as the second-highest re-release grosser, which can top Murari 4K in the future.

Why the Crazy Hype

So what is the reason behind this never-ending Khaleja frenzy? One, Mahesh Babu’s popularity is unquestionable. Nicknamed the “Prince of Tollywood,” his fans have turned each re-release—Pokiri, Businessman, Murari—into a hit. Khaleja is no different, with fans quoting his dialogues and tapping their feet to Mani Sharma’s signature numbers like “Sada Siva” on the screen.

Second, 4K remaster has given the movie a fresh feel. The sharp images and thumping audio have attracted both old-timers and new-generation audiences. The timing is also apt—Mahesh’s next with SS Rajamouli (SSMB29) has kept him in the limelight, fueling the hype. Last but not least, cult status for Khaleja has increased over the years. Its blend of action, comedy, and a message of corporate greed appeals to audiences now, making it more relevant than ever.

The movie’s success cannot be measured. Fans turned the screenings into celebrations with special screenings in Hyderabad at a premium due to demand. Social networking sites are full of videos of cheers from fans in cinemas, proof that Khaleja is not merely a film—it’s a cultural phenomenon.

List of Khaleja’s Box Office & Advance Booking Records

Mahesh Babu’s Khaleja has created numerous pre-release booking and box office records due to its cult fan following as well as the unrelenting popularity of Mahesh Babu. Below are 12 pre-release booking and box office records created or shattered by Khaleja’s re-release.

1. Khaleja 4K is the HIGHEST GROSSING Re-release on Day 1 (including premieres) in Telangana with 3.48 Crore

2. Khaleja 4K has reached the Mighty 300K mark in advance booking of tickets combining BookMyShow & District app’s tickets sales.

BookMyShow : 192K+

District : 115K

Total : 305K for a re release film which is a new all time record for a Telugu re release film in India.

3. First Telugu Re-Release Quickest to Reach ₹1 Crore in Advance Bookings in Hyderabad: The film became the quickest re-release to reach ₹1 crore in advance bookings in Hyderabad, reflecting the enormous fan base of Mahesh Babu in the city.

4. Highest Hourly Ticket Sales for a Re-Release on BookMyShow: Khaleja achieved a new record of selling 13,170 tickets per hour on BookMyShow, a new re-release benchmark.

5. First Telugu Re-Release to Sell Over 10,000 Tickets in “An Hour” on BookMyShow: The film was the first Telugu re-release to sell over 10,000 tickets in an hour on BookMyShow, a testament to its cutting-edge demand.

6. Second-Highest Ticket Advance Bookings for Any India Re-Release: Khaleja garnered 192,000 advance bookings on BookMyShow, second to none except for Christopher Nolan‘s Interstellar (234,000) amongst all re-releases in India.

7. Highest-Grossing Indian Re-Release in North America: The 4K re-release gathered over $51,000 (₹43 lakh) from 96 North American theaters until May 29 evening, surpassing Chiranjeevi‘s Indra and Gabbar Singh numbers of Pawan Kalyan to become the highest-grossing Indian re-release in the USA.

8. Third Re-release Movie to Cross 200,000 BookMyShow Ticket Bookings: Khaleja was the third movie to cross 200,000 ticket bookings on BookMyShow for a re-release, with Mahesh Babu’s own Murari being the highest on the list with 258,000 ticket bookings.

9. Fourth ₹5 Crore Grosser Among Mahesh Babu’s Re-Releases: Khaleja had garnered over ₹5 crore in pre-sales alone, Mahesh Babu’s fourth re-release to achieve the feat, topped by none.

10. Khaleja become first and only Telugu re release to sell more than 50K tickets on advance booking opening day on Book My Show with 58k tickets sales.

11. Khaleja 4K enters the record books as the VERY FIRST Re-release to Gross from fastest ₹1 Crore to ₹6 crore pre-sales Globally.

12. Biggest BookMyShow pre sale’s for a Telugu re release movie.

(1) Khaleja – 192K

(2) GabbarSingh – 175K

(3) Murārī – 166K

(4) Businessman – 145K

(5) Arya2 – 103K

These numbers reflect the phenomenal response to Khaleja’s re-release, driven by the popularity of Mahesh Babu, the cult of the film, and the enhanced 4K experience.

[ Note : In this list “K” means Thousand for example 1K tickets = 1 Thousand Tickets] 

What’s Next for Khaleja ? 

With day 2 advance bookings already creating history, Khaleja will be the top-grossing Telugu re-release. Its success in Nizam, abroad, and elsewhere proves that Mahesh Babu’s fan following cannot be shattered.

During the weekend, trade experts are anticipating the film to keep going strong, and while doing so, might even reach the 10 crore mark in its re-release. 

For viewers, Khaleja’s re-release is a chance to watch a film that was far ahead of its time. For Mahesh Babu, however, it’s another validation of his box office dominance.

Old-school fan or new, Khaleja 4K is a must-watch on the big screen. Because when brand Mahesh Babu takes charge, records fall! So, grab your tickets and hop on the Khaleja bus—it’s something you won’t soon forget.

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Disclaimer: Box Office Collection data & Boom My Show Advance Booking Data for Re Release movies is compiled from various sources and by my own research. These data can be approximate or may have huge difference from producer figure or trade official’s and I do not make any claims about the authenticity of the data. Accordingly, I don’t provides no guarantees, implied warranties, or assurances of any kind, and will not be responsible for any interpretation made or used by the recipient of the information and data mentioned above.

Please note that these numbers are based on the real-time data and updates available trade websites and might be subject to slight variations in later, more finalized reports.