Mumbai: "The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond," produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, has collected an estimated ₹3.5 crore on its sixth day in theaters, pushing its total India net box office collection to ₹20.15 crore. The film, released on February 27, 2026, saw a boost in its weekday earnings, partly due to the Holi holiday.
Box Office Performance Overview
The film, directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, opened to a modest ₹0.75 crore on its first Friday. However, collections significantly improved over the weekend, reaching ₹4.65 crore on Saturday and ₹4.75 crore on Sunday. After a dip to ₹2.5 crore on Monday, the film saw a jump to ₹4 crore on Tuesday, benefiting from the Holi festivities across several parts of the nation. Its Day 6 collection of ₹3.5 crore on Wednesday marked a slight decrease from Tuesday's holiday earnings but showed a steady hold. As of its sixthday, the film has recovered about 72% of its reported budget, which ranges between ₹28 crore and ₹30 crore.[indiatoday+8]
Comparison to Predecessor and Industry Context
"The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond" is a sequel to the highly successful 2023 film "The Kerala Story." While the original movie was a major box office hit, crossing ₹200 crore in its lifetime run, the sequel's performance has been significantly lower. The first film had garnered over ₹68 crore within its initial six days, making the sequel's ₹20.15 crore collection less than one-third of its predecessor's performance during the same period. Despite the comparativelylower numbers, trade analysts note that the film is performing better than some other recent releases.[indianexpress+3]
The film's cast includesUlka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha in lead roles, portraying women who become entangled in what the film describes as deceptive marriages and alleged forced religious conversions. Sumit Gahlawat and Arjan Singh Aujla also feature in key roles. Adah Sharma, the lead actress from the original "The Kerala Story," is not part of the sequel, a fact that drew attention from fans.[timesofindia+4]
Controversies and Producer's Stance
Like its predecessor, "The Kerala Story 2" has been at the center of legal and political debates since its teaser and trailer release. Petitions were filed challenging its censor certification, arguing that the film's portrayal could create misleading associations with the state of Kerala and disturb public harmony. However, the Kerala High Court eventually lifted an interim stay, paving the way for its theatrical release on February 27, 2026.[b4uentertainment+3]
A notable controversy also emerged between producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah and Sudipto Sen, the director of the first "The Kerala Story." Sen publicly criticized the sequel, claiming its research was based on "WhatsApp forwards." Vipul Amrutlal Shah strongly refuted these claims, stating that Sen's own script for the sequel was "absolute trash" and that he chose to proceed with Kamakhya Narayan Singh's story instead. Shah emphasized that Sen was not involved in the sequel's research process and therefore could not comment on its veracity. "I would say grapes are sour," Shah told India Today, addressing Sen's criticism.[en+8]
Looking Ahead
With its current collection nearing ₹20.15 crore, "The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond" still needs to gather more revenue to surpass its budget and achieve profitability. The film's performance in the coming days will be crucial in determining its overall box office trajectory. The ongoing discussions andmixed reviews continue to keep the film in the public eye, affecting its run at the box office.[indianexpress+2]
The film's narrative, expanding on themes from its predecessor, aims to explore stories of women across different Indian states facing societal pressures and alleged religious conversions. The production house, Sunshine Pictures, continues to navigate both audience reception and the controversies surrounding the film's sensitive subject matter.[indiatoday+3]
