Sonali Kulkarni celebrates The Paradise's Rs 100-crore haul with paps amid criticism
Nani’s The Paradise may have received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, but the film has continued to make an impact at the box office. The Srikanth Odela directorial crossed the Rs 100-crore mark in India within a week of its release, and actor Sonali Kulkarni, who plays Nani’s mother in the film, celebrated the milestone with the paparazzi.
On Thursday, Sonali was seen cutting a chocolate cake to mark The Paradise entering the Rs 10- crore club. In videos shared by paparazzi on social media, the actor appeared visibly happy about the film’s box-office performance.
“Super happy. Cheers on Rs 100 crores, cheers on The Paradise and cheers on my song Sammakka. Thank you everyone. Thank you so much. The Paradise is doing really great,” she said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SnehZala (@sneyhzala)
The film had a bumper opening at the box office, collecting Rs 46.25 crore in India on its first day and recording the highest opening of Nani’s career. However, its collections saw a sharp decline after the film received mixed reactions from audiences and critics. Despite the criticism, The Paradise has collected Rs 108 crore in India in its first week, while its worldwide gross stands at Rs 158 crore.
Directed by Srikanth Odela, The Paradise is backed by Sudhakar Cherukuri and Ishan Saksena under the banners of Sri Lakshmi Venkateshwara Cinemas and IVY Entertainment. The film stars Nani, Mohan Babu, Kayadu Lohar, Sonali Kulkarni and Raghav Juyal in key roles.
Set in the 1980s, the film revolves around the Savaari tribe and their struggle for legal citizenship. Sonali plays Sammakka, the leader of the community, while Nani essays her son, Jadal. Mohan Babu plays Shikanja Malik, a powerful feudal lord, with Raghav Juyal portraying his son, Vikram Malik.
The story follows Sammakka and Jadal as they take on the Malik family and challenge a system that denies the Savaari tribe legal recognition despite their contribution to society. While the film has managed to register a strong box-office run, its writing and execution have drawn criticism.
Nani has also addressed the intense reactions to The Paradise, saying it was the first time in his 18-year career that he had experienced such a strong response to one of his films.
Speaking to director Srikanth Odela after the release, Nani said, “Out of 33 films I made in my 18 years of career, this is the first time I am experiencing something like this. But even when someone says they didn’t like the film, there is a passion behind that response, an aggressive honesty. When someone says ‘this didn’t work for me’ with that kind of intensity, it tells you something. That is also positive in a way.”- EndsALSO READ | Nani's The Paradise breaks Rs 100 crore in India, surges past Rs 150 crore globally
