Toxic Advance Bookings Delayed in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Amid Screen-Sharing Tussle
Advance bookings for the highly anticipated film Toxic have been put on hold across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana mere hours before its scheduled theatrical debut on Wednesday, August 26. The hold-up stems from an ongoing disagreement between local distributors regarding theater screen and show allotments, triggered by the sustained box office momentum of the Ravi Teja-led feature Irumudi.
What Happened
According to trade reporting, ticket sales for Toxic have opened successfully in multiple regions across the country, showing strong initial demand. However, arrangements in the Telugu-speaking territories reached a standstill due to conflicting demands from film distributors. Irumudi, distributed by Mythri Movie Makers, arrived in cinemas on Friday, August 21, and has experienced heavy foot traffic throughout its opening days.
Because of this continued audience interest, Mythri Movie Makers argued that Irumudi must retain sufficient screening slots in multiplexes alongside adequate single-screen representation. Conversely, Sri Venkateswara Creations, handling the distribution for Toxic, sought total allocation across single screens as well as a dominant share of multiplex time slots, citing high public anticipation for the incoming release. With Toxic set for a mid-week launch on a Wednesday, the two competing demands created a deadlock that left Wednesday show listings unfinalized with less than 24 hours remaining before premiere screenings.
Key Highlights
- Theatrical Release Date: Toxic is slated to hit theaters nationwide on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
- Territory in Dispute: Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are the specific circuits where advance bookings faced delays.
- Competing Films and Distributors: Sri Venkateswara Creations is distributing Toxic, while Mythri Movie Makers manages distribution for Ravi Teja’s Irumudi.
- Demands: Toxic‘s distributors sought all single-screen shows and a major share of multiplex screenings; Irumudi‘s team pushed to keep strong allocations based on existing demand.
- Box Office Backdrop: Irumudi accumulated nearly Rs. 51 crores within its initial four days, taking Rs. 12.12 crores on Friday, Rs. 12.75 crores on Saturday, Rs. 15.82 crores on Sunday, and Rs. 10.25 crores on Monday.
- Market Standing: Irumudi is currently leading ticket sales over concurrent releases such as Awarapan 2, Vishwanath And Sons, and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit.
Why This Matters
A mid-week release typically requires advance schedules to be locked early to capture audience bookings and maximize opening-day footfalls. When strong holdover titles retain significant commercial momentum, exhibitors face the logistical challenge of accommodating new big-budget arrivals without prematurely cutting short lucrative runs. For Irumudi, maintaining double-digit weekday collections after an extended slump marks an important commercial recovery for actor Ravi Teja, incentivizing its distributors to safeguard screen visibility.
What to Watch Next
Industry insiders have indicated that negotiations are actively underway between both distribution camps to reach a compromise on screen sharing. Ticket sales for Toxic and updated show plans for Irumudi are anticipated to go live once an agreement is reached between the distributors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were advance bookings for Toxic delayed in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana?
The delay occurred because distributors Sri Venkateswara Creations (for Toxic) and Mythri Movie Makers (for Irumudi) had not finalized theater and screen-sharing allocations.
When is Toxic scheduled to hit theaters?
Toxic is scheduled to release on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
How has Irumudi performed at the box office so far?
The Ravi Teja-starrer accumulated approximately Rs. 51 crores across its first four days, bringing in Rs. 12.12 crores on Friday, Rs. 12.75 crores on Saturday, Rs. 15.82 crores on Sunday, and Rs. 10.25 crores on Monday.
Source: Reporting based on information from Bollywood Hungama.