A new box office battle is taking shape in Indian cinema as major releases gear up for the Diwali season. Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit, starring Prabhas, is scheduled for release on October 29, 2027. Prabhas will reportedly play a police officer in the film. Following the announcement of its release date, discussions have begun over whether the movie could challenge the opening-day box office records of films released during Diwali.

Salman Khan has long been a major name in Diwali box office discussions. His film Tiger 3 earned Rs 44.5 crore on its opening day, while Prem Ratan Dhan Payo collected Rs 40.35 crore on its first day. Both films remain notable entries in discussions about the biggest opening-day collections for Diwali releases.

Now, several big-budget productions could challenge those figures, with Prabhas’s Spirit emerging as one of the most anticipated contenders.

Director Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana could also make a significant impact on the Diwali box office. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi, the film is scheduled for release on November 5, 2026. Preliminary trade predictions suggest that it could rank among the top five Diwali releases in terms of opening-day collections. If that happens, Salman Khan’s Prem Ratan Dhan Payo could slip out of the top five.

Expectations are also building around Spirit, largely because of Prabhas’s nationwide popularity and Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s distinctive filmmaking style. Prabhas has strengthened his box office standing with films such as Baahubali 2, Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD. Meanwhile, Vanga has gained widespread recognition for directing Kabir Singh and Animal.

The combination of the two could help Spirit deliver a strong opening at the box office. If the film performs as expected, it could challenge the Rs 44.5 crore opening-day collection of Salman Khan’s Tiger 3.

Trade analysts will closely monitor advance ticket sales and projected earnings as the release dates approach. However, pre-release predictions do not guarantee box office success. Actual collections will depend on audience response, the film’s reception and its performance after release.

With highly anticipated films such as Ramayana and Spirit entering the Diwali release race, the competition could reshape box office expectations. Whether either film can break the existing records remains to be seen.

Source: Zoom TV