So, is Niharika Konidela’s latest production actually working at the box office? Yes, and early numbers suggest the horror-comedy Raakaasaa has managed to grab audiences’ attention right out of the gate.
The film, which hit theatres recently, opened with solid collections on its first day. For a horror-comedy—a genre that typically needs word-of-mouth to really build momentum—this kind of opening is exactly what producers hope for.
A genre experiment that’s paying off
Here’s the thing about horror-comedies in Telugu cinema: they’re tricky. You need to nail the balance between scares and laughs, otherwise audiences just feel confused. Raakaasaa seems to have figured out that recipe, at least based on opening day responses.
The film stars Sangeeth Shobhan and Nayan Sarika in lead roles, with Niharika Konidela backing the project through her production banner. Having a known producer behind it probably helped with both promotion and audience confidence going in.
Day one collections might seem like just a number, but they actually tell you something important: whether people felt confident enough to spend their Friday evening on your film instead of scrolling through OTT platforms or catching something else.
What happens next matters more
Look, day one is just the beginning. Real success for a film like this depends on what happens over the weekend and beyond. Horror-comedies especially need that positive word-of-mouth to keep audiences coming back on days two and three.
The fact that it’s opened solidly is encouraging for everyone involved—the producers, the actors, and honestly, for Telugu cinema fans who are always looking for fresh ideas beyond the usual romance and action formulas.
Niharika Konidela has been strategic about her production choices, and Raakaasaa represents another attempt to diversify Tollywood’s content. Whether it sustains momentum will depend on how audiences react to the full film experience.
The weekend numbers will be crucial. If the film maintains strong collections across Saturday and Sunday, it could turn into a solid performer. If it drops significantly, it might suggest that day one curiosity doesn’t translate into genuine audience interest—which would be valuable feedback for the horror-comedy space in Telugu cinema.
For now though, Niharika’s bet on this project seems to be paying off. The real test comes in the days ahead.