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Mufasa opens to Rs 9 crore nett in India, with Shah Rukh Khan’s Hindi dub and Mahesh Babu’s Telugu version leading the way.
Shah Rukh Khan and Mahesh Babu have voiced Mufasa in Hindi and Telugu, respectively.
Mufasa, the prequel to Disney’s iconic The Lion King, made a roaring debut at the Indian box office with a Day 1 collection of Rs 8.5–9 crore nett. This figure accounts for nearly 80 percent of what The Lion King earned on its opening day in 2019 (Rs 11.10 crore nett). India has emerged as a strong market for the film, outperforming several international territories where Mufasa opened to a fraction of its predecessor’s earnings.
Interestingly, dubbed versions contributed significantly to the film’s opening, making up about two-thirds of the total revenue, according to Pinkvilla. The Hindi version, voiced by Shah Rukh Khan, emerged as the clear favorite, followed closely by the Telugu version, which saw Mahesh Babu lend his voice to the titular character. The Telugu dub alone netted an impressive Rs 2 crore on Day 1—an exceptional feat for a Hollywood family entertainer in this market. Mahesh Babu’s star power played a pivotal role in drawing audiences to theaters in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
While Hollywood family films often see substantial weekend growth—The Lion King soared from Rs 11 crore on Friday to Rs 25 crore on Sunday—Mufasa might chart a slightly different trajectory. The Telugu version, which made up a significant portion of the Day 1 collections, is heavily frontloaded due to the region’s box office dynamics. However, the Hindi and English versions are expected to fuel growth over Saturday and Sunday.
Industry experts predict Mufasa could achieve Rs 30 crore nett over its opening weekend, a commendable start for a film banking on nostalgia and stellar voice performances. Shah Rukh Khan’s presence as the Hindi voice actor and Mahesh Babu’s contribution to the Telugu version have undeniably bolstered its performance in their respective markets.
As Mufasa roars through its opening weekend, it remains to be seen whether it can replicate the sustained success of its predecessor, The Lion King.
