The first half of 2026 has been a surprising ride for Bollywood. While many films started slow at the ticket windows, they picked up massive momentum in the weeks that followed. Actor-filmmaker Riteish Deshmukh recently opened up about this trend, calling it a hopeful sign for the entire industry. His own film, Raja Shivaji, became the highest-grossing Marathi movie ever, proving that good content eventually finds its audience.
The half-yearly box office reports are in, and Deshmukh has every reason to be happy. His historical epic on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj not only broke records in theatres but also started streaming on Netflix recently. But beyond his personal success, the actor is looking at the bigger picture. He points out that 2026 has seen successes across multiple genres, from comedy to horror to partition dramas.
Different Genres Finding Success at the Box Office
Deshmukh is thrilled to see that audiences are showing up for all kinds of stories. He told Hindustan Times that every month, and even every two weeks, the industry is witnessing success in different genres.
“There’s a comedy that’s doing well, a horror film that did well. Even a film that didn’t open well is doing extraordinary business in the third week compared to the first week. It definitely gives hope to all filmmakers to just believe in a subject. If the subject is right, audiences will turn up to theatres.”
His words reflect what the numbers are showing. Bhooth Bangla, the Akshay Kumar horror-comedy, crossed Rs 269 crore worldwide. The comedy Welcome To The Jungle collected over Rs 129 crore globally within its first week. Even the partition drama Main Vaapas Aaunga recovered from a slow start and is nearing Rs 50 crore at the domestic box office.
Raja Shivaji: A Dream Realized on Screen
Deshmukh’s own film Raja Shivaji stands as the biggest example of this trend. The movie released on May 1, 2026, in both Hindi and Marathi. It opened to a record-breaking first weekend of Rs 40.35 crore gross, the biggest opening weekend ever for a Marathi film. The film went on to become the first Marathi movie in Indian cinema history to cross the Rs 100 crore net milestone domestically.
Speaking about the film’s performance, Deshmukh shared his feelings of gratitude.
“With this particular subject on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the dream was to show it across India. I’m glad that because of that, the reach has widened. It’s absolutely humbling to see the response the audience has given. It’s been an effort of three and a half years on ground, and probably more than ten years of dreaming to make this film.”
The film featured a strong cast including Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, and Sanjay Dutt. It has now started streaming on Netflix in both Hindi and Marathi.
A Beginning for Marathi Cinema
Deshmukh believes that the success of Raja Shivaji is just the start for Marathi cinema. He hopes that more films will come and break this record.
“The idea that even in the Marathi industry, these kind of figures that we are seeing… I believe it’s a beginning. We hope that more and more films come and break this record and make new ones, because unless records are broken commercially, the industry doesn’t stand. It will only survive when newer records are broken frequently. That’s very important.”
His film has already become the highest-grossing Marathi film of all time, beating Nagraj Manjule’s Sairat. The Marathi version alone generated Rs 51.75 crore nett, while the Hindi version added Rs 21.40 crore nett in India. Worldwide, the film collected over Rs 114 crore.
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2026: A Year of Surprises
The first half of 2026 has proven that box office numbers are not always predictable. Films that opened to modest numbers found their footing through word of mouth. Main Vaapas Aaunga, starring Diljit Dosanjh, collected Rs 1.25 crore on its third Wednesday and reached Rs 48 crore nett at the Indian box office. The film has now amassed a worldwide gross of Rs 77.64 crore.
Welcome To The Jungle collected Rs 6.15 crore on its first Wednesday, taking its total India net to Rs 87.65 crore. The film has crossed the Rs 125 crore mark worldwide. Meanwhile, Bhooth Bangla maintained a steady presence in theatres for eight weeks, securing its position as the third highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2026.
Deshmukh’s observations highlight a key shift in audience behavior. Viewers are no longer just showing up for big-budget spectacle dramas. They are supporting comedies, horror films, and serious dramas alike. This variety gives filmmakers the confidence to invest in different kinds of stories.
The actor also addressed the importance of subject over spectacle. He believes that if the story connects with people, they will come to theatres regardless of the opening weekend numbers. This is a message that resonates with many in the industry who have faced the pressure of big-budget expectations.
Raja Shivaji continues to be a landmark film for Marathi cinema. Its success has opened doors for more regional films to aim for pan-India appeal. The movie’s OTT release on Netflix has further expanded its reach, allowing audiences who missed it in theatres to watch it at home.
The first half of 2026 has given the film industry plenty to celebrate. From record-breaking epics to sleeper hits, the variety of successful films shows that Indian cinema is in a healthy place. Deshmukh’s optimistic outlook reflects the mood of an industry that is learning to trust its audiences and its stories.
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