on May 1, 2025, fans chanting Ajay Devgn’s name as Raid 2 kicks off, while across the hall, Nani’s HIT 3 sparks roars from Telugu loyalists. Labour Day turned Indian cinemas into a battleground, with Bollywood’s crime thriller sequel squaring off against Telugu cinema’s action-packed franchise in a heart-pounding box office race, per Telegraph India. Early numbers gave Raid 2 the edge, netting ₹18.25 crore on Day 1, just ahead of HIT 3’s ₹18 crore, though both trailed Suriya’s Retro at ₹18.50 crore, per Sacnilk and @dnaon X. As a film fanatic who’s cheered Ajay in Drishyam and cried over Nani’s Jersey, I’m diving into this epic clash to unpack Raid 2’s victory, HIT 3’s fight, and what it reveals about 2025’s cinema pulse. Let’s roll into this blockbuster saga—grab a soda and join me!
1. Raid 2’s Thunderous Opening: Ajay Devgn’s Bollywood Blitz
Raid 2, directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, hit screens with a bang on May 1, 2025, with Ajay Devgn back as the steely IRS officer Amay Patnaik, facing off against Riteish Deshmukh’s cunning politician Dada Manohar Bhai, per Telegraph India. The film raked in ₹18.25 crore nett on its opening day, clinching the third-biggest Hindi opener of 2025, trailing Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava (₹31 crore) and Salman Khan’s Sikandar (₹26 crore), per Outlook India. With 34.36% occupancy—peaking at 42% for night shows—Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi drove collections, per Sacnilk and @indiaforumson X.
Advance bookings were fiery, with 40,000 tickets sold across PVR Inox and Cinepolis, grossing ₹3.06 crore, outstripping Ajay’s Maidaan (₹1.11 crore), per Hindustan Times. BookMyShow reported 278K ticket sales, 152% above Sunny Deol’s Jaat (110K), securing the second-highest Hindi Day 1 ticket sales of 2024, per Koimoi. Fans raved, with X posts like @BusinessConne16calling it a “mass entertainer” for Ajay-Riteish’s “explosive” clash. Reviews were mixed—News18 found Ajay “one-note” but praised Riteish’s “menacing” villain—yet Labour Day crowds and Raid’s 2018 legacy gave Raid 2 a razor-thin lead over HIT 3, per Filmibeat.
2. HIT 3’s Gritty Charge: Nani’s Telugu Triumph
HIT 3: The Third Case, directed by Sailesh Kolanu, roared into theaters the same day, with Nani as a fierce cop in the HIT franchise’s latest chapter, alongside Srinidhi Shetty, per Pinkvilla. It netted ₹18 crore on Day 1, with ₹17.25 crore from Telugu markets, ₹35 lakh from Tamil, ₹25 lakh from Hindi, and ₹1 lakh from Malayalam, per Bollywood Life. North America pre-sales hit USD 300K, signaling global hype, per Pinkvilla. Telugu occupancy was electric, though exact figures are unavailable, per Times of India.
Advance bookings rivaled Raid 2, with strong traction in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where ticket prices jumped ₹50 (₹197 single screens, ₹254 multiplexes), per Pinkvilla. Adivi Sesh hailed its “twist-filled” thrills, per Filmibeat, and Srinidhi Shetty lauded Nani’s “dedication,” per Pinkvilla. X posts, like @Mjcartels, declared it a “Telugu blockbuster,” with fans buzzing over its high-octane action. Despite falling ₹25 lakh short of Raid 2, HIT 3’s Telugu dominance and glowing reviews position it for a weekend surge, per @THRIndia_on X.
3. Why Raid 2 Won the Day: Ajay’s Star Power Shines
Raid 2’s narrow victory leans on Ajay Devgn’s mass appeal and the Raid franchise’s nostalgia. The 2018 Raid opened at ₹10 crore and earned ₹103 crore lifetime, setting a high bar, per Outlook India. Raid 2 doubled that opener to ₹18.25 crore, fueled by a wider 3000-screen release and Labour Day walk-ins, per Sacnilk. Its 138-minute runtime and “gripping” climax, praised by Umair Sandhu’s 3.5-star review, hooked fans, per Filmibeat. Riteish Deshmukh’s shift to a “vicious” villain, lauded by News18, added fresh appeal.
The trailer, teasing Amay’s takedown of Dada Bhai, amassed 198.4K BookMyShow interests, ranking as IMDb’s second-most anticipated film, per Koimoi. Advance bookings surged 105% in 24 hours, hitting ₹1.12 crore early, with Delhi (₹27.64 lakh) and Maharashtra (₹25.19 lakh) leading, per Telegraph India. Facing Retro’s Tamil Nadu grip and HIT 3’s Telugu surge, Raid 2 dominated Hindi heartlands, per Pinkvilla. Mixed reviews may slow its run, but its Day 1 win signals Bollywood’s muscle, per @indiaforumson X.
4. HIT 3’s Near Miss: Nani’s Regional Fire
HIT 3 came achingly close, powered by Nani’s Telugu stardom and the HIT series’ loyal base. Following HIT 2’s 2022 success, HIT 3’s ₹18 crore opener crushed expectations, outpacing Raid 2 in Telugu markets with ₹17.25 crore, per Bollywood Life. Its USD 300K North America pre-sales and strong Andhra Pradesh bookings showcased global and regional clout, per Pinkvilla. Sailesh Kolanu’s taut direction and Nani’s “magnetic” performance, praised by Srinidhi Shetty, drove hype, per Pinkvilla.
Yet, HIT 3’s limited Hindi (₹25 lakh) and Tamil (₹35 lakh) collections capped its pan-India reach, per Bollywood Life. Competing with Retro’s ₹18.50 crore and Raid 2’s Hindi edge, HIT 3 relied on Telugu loyalty, per @Mjcartel on X. Its “pulse-pounding” action and surprises, as Adivi Sesh noted, earned stellar reviews, per Filmibeat. With Telugu word-of-mouth spreading, HIT 3 could overtake Raid 2 over the weekend, per @THRIndia_on X.
5. The Bigger Clash: A Three-Way Box Office Firestorm
May 1 wasn’t just Raid 2 vs. HIT 3. Suriya’s Retro led with ₹18.50 crore, ruling Tamil Nadu, while Sanjay Dutt’s The Bhootnii lagged, per @dna on X. Raid 2’s ₹18.25 crore topped Drishyam 2’s ₹15.38 crore, marking Ajay’s strong 2025 start, per India Forums. HIT 3’s ₹18 crore outdid recent releases like Kesari 2 and Jaat, per Bollywood Life. This razor-close race highlights 2025’s vibrant cinema scene, with Bollywood, Telugu, and Tamil films battling for dominance, per Times of India.
Raid 2’s budget, estimated at ₹80-100 crore, needs ₹150 crore to profit, a realistic goal given Raid’s ₹98 crore, per Pinkvilla. HIT 3’s leaner ₹50 crore budget offers flexibility, per industry estimates. Both face weekend hurdles: Raid 2 needs better reviews to hold Hindi markets, while HIT 3 banks on Telugu growth, per @apnlivehind on X. The clash reflects Bollywood’s pan-India ambition versus South cinema’s regional stronghold, per Telegraph India.
6. Ajay Devgn’s 2025 Surge: A Bollywood Titan
Ajay Devgn, 55, is unstoppable. After 2024’s Shaitaan (₹148 crore) and Singham Again, Raid 2 launches his 2025 with a bang, with Son of Sardaar 2 looming, per Outlook India. His 10 films in the 100-crore club, like Tanhaji and Golmaal 3, could tie Salman’s 11 if Raid 2 hits ₹100 crore, per Koimoi. X fans, like @BusinessConne16, call it a “thriller jackpot,” and its 278K BMS ticket sales rival Sikandar, per Koimoi. Despite News18’s critique, Ajay’s draw and Riteish’s villainy fuel buzz, per Filmibeat.
7. Nani’s Telugu Glory: A Star on the Rise
Nani, 41, cements his Telugu throne with HIT 3. After Jersey and Dasara, his ₹18 crore opener rivals Ajay’s, a coup for a regional film, per Bollywood Life. His USD 300K North America pre-sales and Srinidhi Shetty’s praise boost his global appeal, per Pinkvilla. X posts, like @THRIndia_, hail HIT 3’s “blockbuster vibe,” with a potential SS Rajamouli project next, per Pinkvilla. HIT 3’s Telugu strength could outshine Raid 2 if reviews hold, per @Mjcartelson X.
8. Why It Matters: Bollywood Meets South in 2025
This clash captures 2025’s cinematic shift. Raid 2 thrives on Bollywood’s star-driven Hindi markets, while HIT 3 rules Telugu regions with storytelling, per Telegraph India. Retro’s Tamil lead underscores South cinema’s edge, per @dnaon X. With OTT giants like Panchayat Season 4 on the horizon, theatrical films need weekend momentum, per Pinkvilla. Raid 2’s mixed reviews versus HIT 3’s acclaim could shift the narrative, per Filmibeat. The battle asks: can Bollywood’s scale match South’s soul?
9. Your Play: Ignite the Cinema Buzz
This box office duel is your story to share. Team Raid 2 or HIT 3? Debate pals: does Ajay’s IRS swagger top Nani’s cop intensity? Track updates on Sacnilk or Pinkvilla, but go deeper—how do Bollywood and Telugu films compete? On X, @indiaforumscheers Raid 2’s ₹18.25 crore; add your voice with facts, not just hype. Watch both films, share reviews, or stream Raid on Disney+Hotstar for context. Globally, tweet how Indian cinema challenges Hollywood; your post could spark a firestorm.
10. Wrapping Up: Raid 2’s Slim Win, HIT 3’s Fierce Fight
On May 1, 2025, Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2 netted ₹18.25 crore, narrowly beating Nani’s HIT 3 at ₹18 crore in a gripping Day 1 clash, per Telegraph India. Both lagged behind Suriya’s Retro (₹18.50 crore), but Raid 2’s Hindi market pull and HIT 3’s Telugu fire set up a weekend battle, per @Mjcartelson X. With Ajay’s charisma, Riteish’s menace, and Nani’s grit, this showdown is 2025’s cinematic heartbeat, per Outlook India. Will Raid 2 hit ₹100 crore? Can HIT 3 surge? Share below, and let’s keep the cinema buzz alive
