Chiranjeevi's 'Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu' Scores Big at Box Office; Fan Dies During Screening

Fans can’t keep calm as megastar Chiranjeevi returned to the big screen with his much-awaited Sankranthi release Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu after a hiatus of three years. The action-comedy, directed by Anil Ravipudi, released in theatres on January 12, 2026, and has been receiving positive reactions from critics and audiences. Now after a day of its release, the bumper box office opening proves that audiences are loving the performances and emotional core of the story. Produced by Sahu Garapati and Sushmita Konidela, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu earned big at the box office. Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu Box Office Numbers According to early estimates by Sacnilk, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu collected Rs 28.50 crore on day 1 at the box office. A day ahead, on Sunday, the action-comedy earned Rs 8.60 crore in its pre-sales. Taking that into consideration, the total collection of Chiranjeevi’s film now stands at Rs 37.10 crore. Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu’s Storyline And Cast The film revolves around a security officer Shankara Vara Prasad (played by Chiranjeevi), who is assigned to safeguard his estranged wife and their children from a revenge-driven former cop. The protagonist finds himself facing more than just danger. The tense mission becomes an unexpected opportunity to mend broken ties and reconnect as a family after six years of separation. Other than Chiranjeevi, the Anil Ravipudi directorial also stars Nayanthara as Sasirekha, Venkatesh as Venky Gowda and Catherine Tresa, Zarina Wahab, Harsh Vardhan, Abhinav Gomatam, and others in key roles. Tragic Incident At Kukatpally’s Arjun Theatre The celebratory release day ended in shock and silence at a Hyderabad theatre. Amid the applause and excitement, a fan watching the film collapsed during the screening. The incident occurred at Arjun Theatre in Kukatpally, a busy movie hub in the city. According to Telugu Scribe, the fan died while watching the film during the 11.30 am show. Theatre staff and audience members reportedly rushed to help when the man collapsed, but efforts were unsuccessful. Kukatpally police officials later arrived, and they suspect the cause of death to be a heart attack, though the exact cause of death will be confirmed after a medical examination.