Telugu icon Ram Charan has delivered one of the biggest cinematic spectacles of his career with the film, ‘Peddi,’ as the sports drama continues its stellar run at the global box office. With just nine days of its theatrical release, the film has surpassed the Rs 366-crore mark globally, officially emerging as the highest-grossing South Indian film of 2026. 

The Buchi Babu Sana directorial has cemented its position as a massive commercial success despite receiving mixed reviews from critics. The film boasts a strong word-of-mouth and Ram Charan’s stardom, which has drawn impressive crowds across domestic and international markets since its release on June 4, 2026. 

Ram Charan marks spectacular comeback at box office

As per the film’s makers, Peddi has comfortably cruised to the top spot among South Indian releases this year. The achievement marks a spectacular comeback for Ram Charan following the mixed fortune of his recent releases. After RRR, his subsequent projects, Acharya and Game Changer, failed to meet commercial expectations. 

Industry observers are of the view that Peddi stands as the actors’ first major standalone box office success since RRR, reaffirming his position among Indian cinema’s most bankable stars. 

Film witnessed criticism post-release

While audiences have continued to throng theatres to watch the high-octane sports entertainer, Peddi has not escaped controversy. A section of viewers criticised the portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor’s character in the film soon after its release, alleging that certain scenes romanticised and hypersexualised the role. As the criticism mounted, director Sana publicly addressed the concerns via a post on ‘X’ and assured audiences that the feedback had been taken seriously. 

He said in his post, “As a filmmaker, I believe cinema should entertain, inspire and connect with audiences. It should never make anyone feel uncomfortable or disrespected. We have heard the feedback regarding certain scenes in Peddi and have taken it seriously.” 

Plot of the film

The film, written and directed by Sana, features an ensemble cast including Ram Charan, Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Divyendu Sharma and Jagapathi Babu. The movie’s story follows the journey of a determined young man who rises through intense sporting challenges while navigating rivalry, pride and personal expectations. Reportedly, Ram Charan underwent a notable physical transformation to do justice to his role. 

The film premiered through special international screenings on June 3 before its worldwide release the next day. With its box office momentum showing no signs of a slowdown, Peddi appears poised to set even more records in the weeks ahead.