Varun Tej’s Korean Kanakaraju surprises at box office… film clocks Rs 19.58 crore worldwide in opening weekend

Varun Tej appears to have found the box-office spark he was looking for.

His latest Telugu horror-comedy Korean Kanakaraju has put up a surprisingly strong performance during its opening weekend, despite receiving mixed reactions from both critics and audiences.

The film officially arrived in theatres on August 7, with special premiere screenings held in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on the evening of August 6.

While the reviews were far from unanimous, audiences still turned up in significant numbers, giving the film a strong start.

Korean Kanakaraju crosses Rs 19 crore worldwide

According to the latest reported figures, Korean Kanakaraju has collected approximately Rs 19.58 crore worldwide during its opening weekend.

The overseas market has also contributed meaningfully to the film’s total.

The movie reportedly earned around Rs 1 crore overseas on its third day, taking its cumulative international collection to approximately Rs 4 crore.

In India, the film has recorded a reported Rs 13.2 crore net collection.

The numbers are particularly noteworthy given the mixed word of mouth surrounding the film.

Varun Tej scores his second-biggest opening

The film’s opening weekend has also created a significant milestone in Varun Tej’s career.

With a reported India net of Rs 13.2 crore, Korean Kanakaraju has become the actor’s second-biggest opening weekend.

The only film ahead of it is F3: Fun and Frustration, which collected approximately Rs 42.75 crore during its opening weekend.

Meanwhile, F2: Fun and Frustration currently sits behind Korean Kanakaraju with an opening-weekend collection of around Rs 12.7 crore.

However, F2’s figure came from a shorter opening window, as the film released on a Saturday.

A much-needed boost after Matka

The strong opening comes at an important point in Varun Tej’s career.

The actor’s previous film Matka failed to make the desired impact at the box office, leaving expectations around his next project relatively high.

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Korean Kanakaraju now provides Varun with a much-needed commercial boost.

The challenge will be to maintain the momentum after the opening weekend.

Strong initial numbers can often be driven by curiosity and fan support, but the real test for a film arrives during the weekdays, when sustained audience interest determines whether it can turn a good opening into a successful theatrical run.

What is Korean Kanakaraju about?

Directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, Korean Kanakaraju combines horror and comedy with a Telugu commercial-cinema setup.

The film features an ensemble cast including Satya, Ritika Nayak, Daksha Nagarkar and VTV Ganesh alongside Varun Tej.

The unusual title and horror-comedy genre have also helped the film stand out in a crowded theatrical market.

Can the film maintain its momentum?

The opening figures have certainly given Korean Kanakaraju a strong foundation.

A Rs 19.58 crore worldwide gross and Rs 13.2 crore India net over the opening weekend represent a healthy start, particularly considering the mixed reviews.

The coming weekdays will now provide a clearer indication of the film’s actual staying power.

If audience interest remains strong and collections hold up, Korean Kanakaraju could emerge as an important comeback for Varun Tej.

For now, though, the numbers have delivered a pleasant surprise — and the film has already secured its place among the actor’s biggest opening weekends.

Note: Box-office figures are based on early trade and reported estimates and may change as final figures are updated.