Naveen Polishetty’s latest Telugu romantic comedy Anaganaga Oka Raju has emerged as the first blockbuster of 2026, achieving remarkable box office success during the competitive Sankranti festival season. Released on January 14, 2026, the film crossed the prestigious ₹100 crore worldwide gross milestone within just five days, marking a significant achievement for the actor and delivering exceptional returns on its modest budget. Directed by Maari and produced by Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, the movie stars Meenakshi Chaudhary opposite Naveen Polishetty in a village-based entertainer.
Box Office Performance Overview
Anaganaga Oka Raju has demonstrated exceptional commercial performance across all markets. According to industry tracking portal Sacnilk, the film collected approximately ₹38.10 crore net in India during its first seven days. The worldwide gross collection reached ₹100.2 crore within five days of release, with the film continuing its strong momentum into the second week. This performance is particularly impressive considering the intense competition from multiple simultaneous releases including The Raja Saab, Mana Shankara Prasad Garu, and Nari Nari Naduma Murari.
The India gross collection stood at approximately ₹43 crore after the first week, while overseas markets contributed around ₹17 crore to the total. The film’s sustained performance reflects strong word-of-mouth publicity and positive audience reception across demographics.
Day-Wise Collection Breakdown
The film maintained consistent collections throughout its opening week despite typical weekday drops. On Day 1 (Wednesday), Anaganaga Oka Raju collected ₹6.15 crore net in India, which increased to ₹7.40 crore on Day 2 (Thursday), representing a 20.33% growth. Day 3 (Friday) saw collections of ₹7 crore, followed by ₹8.45 crore on Day 4 (Saturday).
The film reached its peak during the extended weekend with Day 5 (Sunday) earning ₹7.50 crore, bringing the five-day total to ₹37.75 crore in India alone. Monday witnessed the expected weekday decline with collections dropping to ₹2.80 crore, followed by ₹1.60 crore on Day 7 (Tuesday). Despite the weekday dip, the film maintained decent occupancy rates, recording 19.60% Telugu occupancy on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
| Day | India Net Collection | Change % | Worldwide Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (Wednesday) | ₹6.15 Cr | – | ₹14.80 Cr |
| Day 2 (Thursday) | ₹7.40 Cr | +20.33% | ₹12.25 Cr |
| Day 3 (Friday) | ₹7.00 Cr | -5.41% | ₹11.35 Cr |
| Day 4 (Saturday) | ₹8.45 Cr | +20.71% | ₹12.20 Cr |
| Day 5 (Sunday) | ₹7.50 Cr | -11.24% | ₹12.40 Cr |
| Day 6 (Monday) | ₹2.80 Cr | -62.67% | ₹3.00 Cr |
| Day 7 (Tuesday) | ₹1.60 Cr | -42.86% | – |
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Territory-Wise Performance
Domestic Markets
Anaganaga Oka Raju performed exceptionally well in its core Telugu-speaking territories. The film collected approximately ₹33.50 crore from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana combined in its first five days. Breaking this down further, Andhra Pradesh contributed ₹17.50 crore, while Nizam (Hyderabad and surrounding areas) added ₹12.75 crore to the total. The Ceded region generated approximately ₹3.25 crore during the same period.
Outside its home territories, Karnataka emerged as a significant contributor with ₹3.35 crore in collections, while the rest of India accounted for approximately ₹90 lakh in the extended opening weekend. This distribution pattern demonstrates the film’s appeal beyond traditional Telugu markets.
Overseas Markets
The international performance of Anaganaga Oka Raju has been particularly noteworthy, especially in North America. The film crossed the $1 million mark within just four days of release in the USA and Canada, accumulating $1.12 million by Day 4. By Day 5, North America collections reached $1.086 million with advance bookings of $120,000 for subsequent shows.
Industry reports suggest the film was tracking toward the $1.5 million milestone by the end of the first week, which would give Naveen Polishetty his third consecutive $1 million-plus film in North America and back-to-back $1.5 million grossers. This achievement places him alongside select Telugu actors like Nani who have consistently delivered such numbers overseas. The total overseas gross collection reached approximately ₹17 crore in the first week.
Budget and Profitability Analysis
Anaganaga Oka Raju was produced on a remarkably controlled budget of ₹8 crore, which includes all production costs, prints, and advertising expenses. The production budget stood at ₹6 crore including all star salaries, while prints and advertising accounted for an additional ₹2 crore.
The film’s pre-release business strategy significantly reduced theatrical risk. OTT rights were sold to Netflix for approximately ₹19 crore, while audio rights fetched ₹3 crore and satellite rights brought in ₹5 crore. Overseas rights were sold for around ₹5 crore, taking total non-theatrical recovery to approximately ₹32 crore before theatrical release. The theatrical rights across all territories were valued at ₹28 crore, with the break-even target set at ₹30 crore share (approximately ₹60 crore gross).
By Day 4 itself, the film had generated a profit of ₹19.7 crore at the India box office, registering an exceptional 246.2% return on investment. With the worldwide gross exceeding ₹100 crore within five days, the film has become one of 2026’s most profitable ventures to date.
Cast and Crew Details
Anaganaga Oka Raju features Naveen Polishetty in the lead role as Raju, a sharp and street-smart youngster from a small village who believes in taking clever shortcuts in life. Meenakshi Chaudhary plays the female lead, bringing charm and appeal to her role as the love interest. The supporting cast includes veteran actor Rao Ramesh in an important role, along with Nag Raj Kottu in a key character.
The film is directed by Maari, who has crafted the story as a village-based entertainer set in the Godavari region. The plot revolves around Raju’s attempts to win over the beautiful girl he falls in love with by contesting and winning local body elections, presenting both romantic and political challenges in an entertaining manner.
Producer S. Naga Vamsi backed the project under the banners of Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas. Music composer Mickey J Meyer provided the soundtrack, contributing to the film’s family-friendly appeal. The film was released worldwide on 1,900 screens, with approximately 800 screens in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana alone.
Release Strategy and Competition
The decision to release Anaganaga Oka Raju during the Sankranti festival period proved strategically sound despite facing stiff competition. Originally planned for 2025, the release was pushed to January 14, 2026, to capitalize on the extended holiday window. The Sankranti season is traditionally one of the most lucrative periods for Telugu cinema, attracting family audiences during the harvest festival celebrations.
The film competed against several simultaneous releases, including The Raja Saab and Mana Shankar Varaprasad Garu, yet managed to carve out significant market share. The competition also included Nari Nari Naduma Murari, Thandel, Kingdom, and Mad Square during the crowded festive corridor.
Naveen Polishetty’s Growing Star Power
Anaganaga Oka Raju represents Naveen Polishetty’s fourth consecutive hit film, cementing his position as one of Telugu cinema’s most bankable actors. His previous successes include Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya (2019), which won him the Best Actor award at the Dada Saheb Phalke Awards South, the blockbuster comedy Jathi Ratnalu (2021), and the romantic comedy Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty (2023).
The actor has demonstrated particular appeal among overseas Telugu audiences, with Anaganaga Oka Raju becoming his third consecutive $1 million-plus film in North America. This hat-trick achievement in the USA market is shared by only a select group of Telugu actors, highlighting Polishetty’s unique positioning in the industry.
Industry Recognition and Records
Anaganaga Oka Raju achieved several notable milestones during its theatrical run. The film became the first Telugu release of 2026 to be officially declared a “Super Hit,” earning this status within just 72 hours of release. The exceptional 246.2% return on investment by Day 4 set new benchmarks for budget efficiency in Telugu cinema.
The film’s occupancy rates remained strong throughout the opening week, with Day 3 recording 59.8% occupancy and Day 4 jumping to 62.9%, indicating sustained audience interest. These figures reflect positive word-of-mouth and repeat viewership, crucial factors for long-term box office sustainability.
Producer Naga Vamsi publicly acknowledged the support of NTR fans for contributing to the film’s strong Sankranti performance, highlighting the collaborative nature of success during competitive release periods. This film was particularly important for Sithara Entertainments, which faced challenges in the previous year and planned nearly eight releases for 2026.
Critical Reception and Audience Response
While specific critical reviews were not extensively documented in box office reports, the sustained collections and high occupancy rates indicate positive audience reception. The film’s clean, family-friendly entertainment approach aligned well with Naveen Polishetty’s established brand of comedy-driven content.
The village-based setting and relatable protagonist resonated with audiences across demographics, particularly during the festive season when family viewership peaks. The combination of romance, comedy, and political satire presented in an accessible manner contributed to the film’s broad appeal.
Future Prospects and OTT Release
Given the typical 4-week theatrical window for mid-budget films, Anaganaga Oka Raju is expected to premiere on Netflix in late February 2026. The OTT release will provide the film with extended reach among digital audiences, potentially introducing Naveen Polishetty’s work to newer demographics beyond theatrical viewers.
The film’s theatrical run is projected to continue through the remainder of January 2026, with collections stabilizing during weekdays. The real test of longevity will come in the second and third weeks as the Sankranti holiday effect diminishes and audiences return to regular routines.
Anaganaga Oka Raju stands as a testament to the power of controlled budgets, strategic release planning, and star appeal in contemporary Telugu cinema. The film’s remarkable journey from an ₹8 crore investment to a ₹100+ crore blockbuster within five days demonstrates the commercial viability of clean, family-oriented entertainment during festival seasons. Naveen Polishetty’s consistent track record of delivering hits has been further strengthened, positioning him as one of the industry’s most reliable performers. The film’s success also validates Sithara Entertainments’ production strategy and sets a positive tone for Telugu cinema in 2026. With strong performances across domestic and overseas markets, Anaganaga Oka Raju has established itself as a case study in efficient filmmaking and effective audience targeting.