Pawan Kalyan's upcoming gangster action thriller, They Call Him OG, is generating significant buzz in the United States, with advance sales reportedly exceeding those of Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2: The Rule at the same point before release. This has sparked considerable interest and anticipation among fans and industry insiders alike.
They Call Him OG, stylized as OG, is slated for a theatrical release on September 25, 2025. The film features Pawan Kalyan in the titular role of Ojas Gambheera, a ruthless don who returns to Mumbai after a decade-long absence to seek vengeance on his rival, Omi Bhau, played by Emraan Hashmi. The movie also stars Priyanka Mohan as Kanmani.
Directed by Sujeeth, OG is produced by D. V. V. Danayya under the banner of DVV Entertainment, with a reported production budget of ₹250 crore. The film has a strong technical crew, including cinematographers Ravi K. Chandran and Manoj Paramahamsa, editor Naveen Nooli, and music composer Thaman S.
The US pre-sales for OG have been explosive, with distributor Prathyangira Cinemas opening bookings on August 27, 2025. Initial response saw four shows at Cinemark Dallas selling out rapidly. The strong pre-sales have led to predictions that OG could achieve one of the biggest premiere days in North America for a Telugu film, potentially crossing $2 million in premiere gross, a record for a Pawan Kalyan-starrer. Some analysts report that initial US pre-sales have already topped Pushpa 2. As of August 28, 2025, They Call Him OG had reportedly earned over $82,000 from approximately 2,900 tickets across 46 premiere shows.
In comparison, Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2: The Rule, which was released on December 5, 2024, also generated substantial pre-release excitement in the US. The film had advance sales of over 50,000 tickets, earning $1.458 million. Ultimately, Pushpa 2 was nearing $2 million in premiere show collections in the US. Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa 2: The Rule sees Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna reprise their roles as Pushpa Raj and Srivalli, continuing the story of Pushpa's rise in the red sandalwood smuggling world.
The apparent success of They Call Him OG's initial advance sales is particularly noteworthy considering the box office performance of Pawan Kalyan's previous film, Hari Hara Veera Mallu. The makers of OG opening US bookings four weeks in advance signals confidence in the film.
The buzz surrounding They Call Him OG has been further fueled by the release of two songs, "Firestorm" and "Suvvi Suvvi". The film is set to release in multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi. They Call Him OG revolves around Ojas Gambheera "OG" who returns to Mumbai following his ten year disappearance, to kill another crime boss, Omi Bhau.
While They Call Him OG is generating considerable pre-release buzz, Pushpa 2: The Rule was a significant commercial success. The movie grossed over ₹1,650 crore worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of 2024. The film had a runtime of 200–224 minutes.
The comparison between the pre-sales of They Call Him OG and Pushpa 2: The Rule highlights the anticipation surrounding both films and the strong overseas market for Telugu cinema. It remains to be seen whether They Call Him OG can maintain its momentum and achieve similar box office success as Pushpa 2.
