Ram Charan’s Peddi has become one of the biggest success stories of 2026. The sports-action drama, directed by Buchi Babu Sana and co-starring Janhvi Kapoor, has not only crossed the coveted ₹400 crore mark worldwide but is also preparing for its highly awaited OTT debut. However, the film’s journey has been far from smooth, with controversy, edits, and an extended theatrical cut all becoming part of its remarkable run.
Released globally on June 4, Peddi arrived with huge expectations and has comfortably lived up to the hype. Within just two weeks of release, the film crossed ₹400 crore in worldwide gross collections, cementing its place among the highest-grossing Indian films of the year. The achievement is particularly significant for Ram Charan, whose previous release, Game Changer, failed to generate similar box-office momentum.
The film’s success has been driven largely by its Telugu version, which continues to dominate collections across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. While the Hindi dubbed version has found a niche audience in select northern markets, Telugu audiences remain the backbone of the film’s impressive earnings. As things stand, Peddi is South India’s highest-grossing film of 2026 and trails only a couple of major pan-Indian blockbusters in the annual rankings.
Now, attention is shifting toward the film’s digital release. Streaming giant Netflix has secured the post-theatrical rights, and industry buzz suggests the movie could begin streaming as early as July 2. If the theatrical run continues to remain strong, the release could be pushed to July 16. Whenever it arrives, the film is expected to stream in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada, ensuring a broad audience reach across India.
Despite the box-office triumph, Peddi found itself at the center of controversy shortly after release. Several scenes involving Janhvi Kapoor’s character, Achiyamma, drew criticism on social media, with viewers accusing the filmmakers of unnecessarily sexualizing the character. The backlash grew rapidly, prompting director Buchi Babu Sana to publicly acknowledge the criticism and issue an apology.
In response, the controversial portions were removed from theatrical prints. Interestingly, the filmmakers didn’t stop there. To boost repeat viewership and strengthen the narrative, they introduced an extended cut of the film featuring nearly six minutes of additional footage. The revised version removed the criticized scenes while adding fresh moments that expanded character arcs, particularly for Janhvi Kapoor and veteran actor Jagapathi Babu.
Set in rural Andhra Pradesh during the 1980s, Peddi tells the story of an underdog who uses sports as a tool to fight for justice and recognition for his marginalized community. Alongside Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor, the film features a strong supporting cast including Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, Boman Irani, Divyenndu, and Ravi Kishan.
With music by A. R. Rahman and a box-office run that continues to impress, Peddi has emerged as one of the defining Indian films of the year. The big question now is whether its OTT release can generate the same level of excitement that it created in theatres.
