Pawan Kalyan's highly anticipated action-gangster film, "They Call Him OG," has stormed the box office, achieving a significant milestone in just two days. Despite mixed reviews, the film has grossed ₹104 crore worldwide, marking it as one of Pawan Kalyan's fastest films to reach this benchmark.
The movie, which was released on September 25, 2025, had advance ticket sales exceeding Rs 50 crore worldwide. On its opening day, "OG" earned an estimated ₹84.75 crore net in India. However, on the second day, the film experienced a significant drop, with collections falling by approximately 69.25% to ₹19.6 crore net in India. Despite this drop, the two-day total reached ₹104.35 crore net.
"They Call Him OG" is directed by Sujeeth and features Pawan Kalyan as Ojas Gambheera, a gangster returning to Mumbai after a decade. The film also marks the Telugu debut of Emraan Hashmi as the antagonist Omi Bhau. The cast includes Priyanka Mohan, Arjun Das, and Prakash Raj.
The film is set in 1990s Mumbai and tells the story of Satya Dada (Prakash Raj), who owns a port. Mirajkar (Tej Sapru) wants to take over the port, leading to conflict and the eventual return of Ojas Gambheera (Pawan Kalyan), who has been in exile. The plot revolves around Omi Bhau's plan to acquire a missing container with deadly explosives, adding layers of suspense and action.
"OG" has received mixed reviews, with some critics praising Pawan Kalyan's performance and the film's stylish action sequences. However, some have criticized the film's pacing and predictability. Jahnavi of TNM noted that while some moments might appeal to fans, the film plays out like a fan edit for the common viewer, and the style isn't substantial enough. A reviewer from 123telugu.com gave the film a rating of 3.25/5, praising Pawan Kalyan's portrayal as a "classy yet massy gangster" and the impressive action sequences. The Times of India noted that early reviews were mixed, but Pawan Kalyan's aura won over fans, with many calling it a "bloody mass thriller".
Directed by Sujeeth, according to the director, the character Gambheera has Japanese roots because of Pawan Kalyan’s fondness for Japanese films. Gambheera is an orphan raised in a Japanese samurai school until it is wiped out by the Yakuza in 1970, leaving him the lone survivor. He then joins Satya Dada (Prakash Raj), who raises OG like a son, and OG becomes his deputy.
The film's budget is estimated to be around Rs 220 crore, making it one of the most expensive Telugu cinema projects in recent years. "OG" is Pawan Kalyan's first pan-India release, and it is being released in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.
