King of Kotha Box Office Collection Day 1: Dulquer Salmaan gets career best opening

There was huge anticipation riding on Dulquer Salmaan starrer King of Kotha on a pan-India level following the success of Sita Ramam (2022). Stepping into the spotlight in an action-oriented avatar, the actor's latest venture hit the theatres on August 24. The film was expected to break the record of Rs 7.5 crore opening held by Yash-starrer KGF Chapter 2 in Kerala. So, how much did the film earn on its opening day?

3 things you need to know

• Dulquer Salmaan features alongside Ritika Singh, Aishwarya Lekshmi and Shabeer Kallarakkal in King of Kotha.
• KOK was expected to do good opening day numbers at the Kerala box office.
• The actor plays the role of a gangster in the movie. 

King of Kotha witnesses a slow start 

According to Sacnilk, King of Kotha earned Rs 7.7 crore on its opening day. Released across multiple languages, the film witnessed a strong reception in Kerala, commanding a 53.65% occupancy rate on its premiere day. It collected Rs 5 crore in Kerala on its opening day. 

(Dulquer Salmaan in a still from the King of Kotha trailer | Image: dqsalmaan/Instagram)

Kochi witnessed an impressive 67% occupancy. Despite its pan-Indian release, the film has garnered relatively modest numbers. King of Kotha has managed to emerge as the actor's career-best opener so far, beating Kurup (approx Rs 7 crore).

Dulquer Salmaan reveals if KOK will have a sequel

Opening up about the possibility of a sequel to King of Kotha, Dulquer Salmaan hinted that audience reception would decide the course of action. "If you (audiences) end up cherishing the film to that extent and embrace it wholeheartedly, we will certainly contemplate a sequel," he said at an event in Kochi.

In an earlier interview with Bollywood Hungama, the actor revealed that they reworked the climax of King of Kotha to amplify its impact. He said that the decision to reshoot was driven by the narrative's organic demand for an even more dynamic finale.

Before KOK, Dulquer's cinematic journey led him to R Balki's Chup: Revenge of the Artist, where he portrayed the role of a serial killer. The film struggled at the box office, earning Rs 11.6 crore throughout its runtime. However, his recent triumph came through the Telugu film Sita Ramam, a pan-India success that grossed Rs 77.28 crore in India alone.