From 'Dasara' to 'Ismart Shankar': 5 Surprising Box Office Hits on a Limited Budget

The Telugu film industry has witnessed several outstanding movies in recent years that are distinguished by their exceptional storytelling, captivating background scores, memorable songs, and top-notch performances.

What's remarkable is that many of these films didn't feature the typical A-list actors but still managed to win the hearts of audiences. Moreover, these movies turned out to be commercially successful, proving that star power isn't always the key to success in the film world. Let's take a closer look at some of these noteworthy films:

Directed by Boyapati Srinu, ‘Skanda’ showcased the talents of Ram Pothineni, Sreeleela, Saiee Manjrekar, and Prince Cecil. The film's worldwide pre-release business was estimated at Rs 46.20 crore. It opened with a bang, grossing Rs 14.75 crore globally on its release day, with Rs 1 crore coming from India alone.

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Directed by Shiva Nirvana and featuring Vijay Deverakonda and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, ‘Kushi’ was another gem that didn't rely on A-list stars to shine. The pre-release business for this film crossed Rs 50 crore, and its theatrical earnings reached around Rs 90 crore, totaling an astounding Rs 140 crore. The film's debut in India was equally impressive, earning Rs 16 crore on the first day. It also made a significant deal with its OTT release.

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This action-packed film, directed by Puri Jagannadh, starred Ram Pothineni, Nabha Natesh, and Nidhhi Agerwal. Despite a relatively modest pre-release business of Rs 17 crore, it made a strong debut with a day-one gross collection of Rs 16 crore.

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Directed by VV Vinayak, ‘Akhil’ featured Akhil Akkineni, Sayyeshaa, Mahesh Manjrekar, and Jaya Prakash Reddy. The film's pre-release business reached an impressive Rs 46.9 crore. Although its total gross collection worldwide was Rs 13.86 crore, it still managed to become the highest opener for a debut Telugu actor.

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Directed by Srikanth Odela, this movie boasts a talented cast including Nani, Keerthy Suresh, Shine Tom Chacko, and Samuthirakani. The buzz around this film was so strong that its pre-release business reached a staggering Rs 47 crore. It lived up to the hype, becoming a blockbuster hit. On its very first day, it raked in an impressive Rs 38 crore worldwide.

picture credit: Twitter