They Call Him OG (2025): Box Office, Cast & OTT Status

They Call Him OG follows Ojas Gambheera, a retired gangster played by Pawan Kalyan, who returns to Bombay in 1993 after a decade away to face his rivals.

Release date and status

They Call Him OG released on 25 September 2025. Release markets: India (theatrical), worldwide. Language: Telugu (dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam).

• 27 September 2024 – Originally scheduled: Postponed because of production delays
• 25 September 2025 – Released: Theatrical release

Release strategy

The film was first set for 27 September 2024 but was postponed indefinitely because of production delays and Kalyan's campaign, before being released on 25 September 2025 in Telugu with Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam dubs. The CBFC issued an 'A' certificate after asking for nearly two minutes of graphic violence to be trimmed. Think Studios distributed in Tamil Nadu, Prathyangira Cinemas in North America and DreamZ Entertainment in the UK. Netflix bought post-theatrical streaming rights for a reported ₹96 crore.

OTT release

The film began streaming on Netflix on 23 October 2025 in Telugu, with Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam dubs.

Cast and crew

• Director: Sujeeth
• Writer: Sujeeth
• Music: Thaman S
• Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Emraan Hashmi, Prakash Raj, Priyanka Mohan, Arjun Das, Sudev Nair, Sriya Reddy

Production history

Sujeeth narrated the script to Pawan Kalyan in late 2022, during the making of Hari Hara Veera Mallu, and announced the film that December. DVV Entertainment's D. V. V. Danayya financed it on a reported budget of ₹250 crore. A muhurat puja was held in Hyderabad on 30 January 2023. Priyanka Mohan plays the female lead, and Emraan Hashmi makes his Telugu debut as the antagonist, Omi Bhau; Kalyan plays Ojas Gambheera, a retired gangster who returns to 1993 Bombay.

The first schedule ran in Mumbai from 15 April to 2 May 2023, with scenes also shot in Pune, followed by Hyderabad schedules from May to July 2023, when Hashmi joined. Filming was paused for months during Kalyan's 2024 Andhra Pradesh election campaign. It resumed in October 2024 after he became Deputy Chief Minister, stopped again because of political commitments, and wrapped in July 2025. Ravi K. Chandran was the cinematographer and A. S. Prakash the production designer.

Trailer and music

A "Hungry Cheetah" glimpse came out on 2 September 2023, Kalyan's 52nd birthday, and another on 2 September 2025. At the pre-release event at LB Stadium, Hyderabad, on 21 September 2025, the trailer was not ready and raw footage was shown instead, which then leaked online. The official final trailer followed on 22 September. Thaman S composed the music, his fourth film with Kalyan, and Sony Music India holds the rights. The singles were "Firestorm" (2 August 2025), "Suvvi Suvvi" (27 August), "Trance of Omi" (11 September), "Guns N' Roses" (15 September) and the Japanese haiku "Washi Yo Washi" (19 September).

Certification and runtime

The runtime is 154 minutes.

Box office

OG grossed about ₹155 crore worldwide on its opening day, including about ₹100 crore in India. Its North American premieres earned $3.13 million, second only to Kalki 2898 AD among Telugu films. DVV Entertainment announced a 21-day worldwide gross of ₹308 crore. North America reached about $5.8 million and total overseas about $7.33 million.

Critical reception

Divya Shree of The Times of India (3/5) felt Sujeeth leaned on star power at the cost of layered storytelling, but called it a stylish action drama. Shrishti Negi of News18 (3/5) described it as a mass entertainer driven by Pawan Kalyan's swagger, and Swaroop Kodur of The Indian Express (3/5) said it was made mainly for hardcore fans.

What's next

The end credits reveal They Call Him OG II. On 25 June 2026, Sujeeth and Kalyan officially announced the sequel as part of a planned "OG Universe".