The release of the NTR-Koratala Shiva movie Devara is just two weeks away, and the trailer has received mixed reviews.
Regardless of how the movie performs, its collections in the Telugu states are expected to be significant.
Gross collections of around Rs 300 crore are anticipated across the two Telugu states. Whether it reaches that figure or not is secondary.
The movie's performance in the Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam versions is also not a major concern at this point.
The real question is, what kind of opening will the movie generate in Hindi, and what will the collections be? That is the crucial issue.
NTR can solidify his status as a pan-India hero only if he achieves considerable success in the Hindi market. Otherwise, it could be seen as a setback. Hindi audiences typically favor mass masala action movies.
The question remains: are Janhvi Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan strong enough hooks for Devara to succeed in the Hindi belt?
The film’s opening in Hindi will be critical in determining the extent of NTR’s national stardom. The content of Devara will be key to maintaining strong collections.
This is why NTR and his team have focused heavily on the Hindi market. Interviews with Sandeep Reddy Vanga, conversations with Karan Johar, and the Hindi trailer launch are all part of this strategy.
Most of the promotional content has been targeted at Hindi audiences. With these efforts, the opening should be promising. However, we will have to wait and see.