Ranabaali opens to mixed response as Deverakonda backs film

Ranabaali opened in theatres on October 16 to a mixed reception, while lead actor Vijay Deverakonda defended the film’s purpose and predicted it would become one of the best Telugu films of 2026. An unidentified distributor reported an opening-day share of ₹7 crore from ₹9 crore in net collections in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and said the film would need strong performance during the Dasara holidays to build on that start. The figures and outlook were attributed to the distributor. No independently sourced box-office figures for subsequent days were provided in the reports. The distributor linked the opening to the pairing of Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna and to pre-release promotions, while also describing audience responses in some centres as mixed. At a press meet on Friday, Deverakonda said the film was made to tell what he considered an important story, rather than simply to deliver large box-office numbers. He said he believed it would be remembered as one of the best Telugu films of the year and would hold a special place in his career. He also expressed confidence that it would become a hit, citing messages and reviews he had been reading. Mandanna described...