The sequel to the 2023 hit film, The Kerala Story, titled The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, was set for release on February 27, 2026. However, a last-minute interim stay by the Kerala High Court on February 26 has put the theatrical rollout on hold for 15 days. Despite this, early estimates based on advance bookings and trade tracking before the stay suggest a potential opening in the range of ₹5-7 crore net in India, driven by curiosity in key Hindi-speaking markets like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The original film opened at ₹8.03 crore net, and while the sequel faces more backlash, its controversial theme could have drawn similar walk-ins if released.
Advance bookings had reached approximately ₹1.21 crore gross before the court order, with shows listed at around 5,637 across the country and an average occupancy of 4-5% in early slots. Theatre chains like PVR Inox reported moderate interest in urban centers, but low traction in Kerala, where occupancy hovered below 10% on platforms like BookMyShow. The film’s promotion highlighted sensitive topics like conversion and communal issues, which sparked debates on social media, potentially boosting spot bookings in mass circuits if the stay is lifted soon.
Trade analysts note that the film’s performance would depend on word-of-mouth, similar to the first part, which grew from a slow start to cross ₹300 crore worldwide. With no major competing releases this weekend, early trends indicated a possible 10-15% growth over the original’s Day 1 in northern belts, but the legal delay might shift momentum. Overseas interest remains muted, with limited screens in the US and UAE.
The Kerala Story 2 Day 1 Box Office Collection in India
| Day | Collection Indian gross | Fluctuation (%+/-) |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Feb 27 (1st Friday) | ₹6 Cr | – |
1 Days India Net Collection ₹6 Cr
1 Days India Gross Collection ₹7 Cr
1 Days Overseas Collection ₹0.5 Cr
1 Days Worldwide Collection ₹7.5 Cr
Budget ₹25 Cr
About The Kerala Story 2 and Future Prediction
The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond continues the narrative from the 2023 original, focusing on themes of conversion and societal issues beyond Kerala. Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, it stars Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha in lead roles. The film aims to highlight what the makers describe as a nationwide concern, building on the first film’s success despite criticisms of factual inaccuracies.
If the court stay is resolved quickly, the movie could see a strong weekend push, potentially reaching ₹20-25 crore in the first three days, aided by debates fueling publicity. However, prolonged legal issues might lead to a digital pivot or delayed release, impacting theatrical earnings.
Looking ahead, with a modest budget, it needs around ₹50 crore net to be profitable. Positive audience feedback in Hindi markets could mirror the original’s legs, but regional boycotts in Kerala and Tamil Nadu might cap its run at ₹100-150 crore lifetime if controversies persist.
Disclaimer:
- Box office figures in this article are independently estimated by Tenvow based on an internal tracking methodology that evaluates theatre occupancy trends, distributor feedback, and regional trade indicators.
- The data reflects industry estimates available at the time of publication and may vary slightly from officially reported or audited figures released later.
- These figures should be considered preliminary and indicative, not official confirmations.
- Tenvow does not guarantee absolute accuracy of the data and presents it solely for informational purposes.
- All financial figures are stated in Indian Rupees (INR) and represented in crores, unless specified otherwise.
- All dates and times mentioned follow Indian Standard Time (IST) (UTC +5:30).
