They Call Him OG: Pawan Kalyan’s film accused of inflating sales numbers by exhibitor, shows cancelled amid delay in content delivery

With too much of frustration(Pressnote)#TheyCallHimOG pic.twitter.com/HvApV17N27

— 4Seasons Creations AS (@4SeasonCreation) September 23, 2025

“For far too long, we as overseas distributors have been bearing the impact of careless content delivery delays. Already, we pay huge amounts upfront and absorb financial risks. On top of that, every time a film’s content comes in late, it is we who take the hits in all aspects,” the statement read.

It added: “On one hand, we hear repeated complaints that audiences are not coming to theaters. But how can they, when even for massive, hyped titles like OG, content is delivered at the last possible minute, risking premieres being cancelled? Do producers realise what kind of damage this causes? Distributors are left in a helpless state, facing backlash from both theater chains and fans.”

They Call Him OG accused of artificially inflating sales numbers

In another development, York Cinemas, a major exhibitor of Indian films in North America, announced it was pulling out of They Call Him OG. The company accused the film’s distributor of unethical practices, including requests to artificially inflate sales numbers.

Its statement said: “York Cinemas has made the difficult decision to cancel all upcoming exhibitions of They Call Him OG. York Cinemas has become increasingly concerned that various cultural and political forces associated with the distribution of the film in North America could pose a potential risk to public safety and security.”

⚠️ Press Release (Safety)#YorkCinemas #TheyCallHimOG#OGMovie #Update pic.twitter.com/xoLCVV5oEU

— York Cinemas (@yorkcinemas) September 22, 2025

The exhibitor further claimed: “We have previously faced requests by individuals affiliated with the distributor of OG in North America to artificially inflate sales numbers to increase the economic value of future OG South Asian films. This was apparently done in an effort to gain greater control over the South Asian film industry in North America.”

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York Cinemas also alleged that the distributor had spread false information in Indian media regarding its financial arrangements and obligations. “York Cinema unequivocally denies the accuracy of such statements and will seek appropriate remedies,” it said.

The controversy deepened when York Cinemas, shortly after its first statement on September 23, announced that Sumanth Sunkara was no longer affiliated with the company. The note revealed that Sunkara, a former partner until September 16, had secretly taken up a director role at Prathyangira Cinemas, another distributor.

“During this time, York Cinemas was negotiating with Prathyangira Cinemas for distributor relations of various Telugu films. Mr. Sunkara failed to disclose this conflict of interest and, in fact, shared York’s confidential information without our consent,” the company alleged. Reports also suggest cancellations in Canada due to similar disputes.

Fans on rescue mission

Amid the chaos, Gulte reported that fans of Pawan Kalyan in North America, alongside distributors, have been working to rescue screenings. Prathyangira Cinemas is said to have arranged “content travelers,” with fans personally carrying hard drives from Los Angeles to theaters across the U.S.

Film still expecting to open at Rs 150 crore

Despite the turmoil, industry tracker Sacnilk notes that They Call Him OG is witnessing record-breaking pre-sales. The film is expected to open with a Rs 150 crore global gross, close to Pawan Kalyan’s highest lifetime grosser Bheemla Nayak (Rs 158.50 crore).

Reports state that advance bookings have already crossed Rs 70 crore worldwide. On BookMyShow, over 6.3 lakh tickets have reportedly been sold, with Hyderabad leading at Rs 12.58 crore from 851 shows with 87.7% occupancy.

Directed by Sujeeth, the film is mounted on a Rs 200–250 crore budget and marks Pawan Kalyan’s second film in 2025 after the box office debacle Hari Hara Veera Mallu.

Cancelled shows is not the only controversy

The film has been in the spotlight for more than just overseas distribution issues. Recently, producer Vishwa Prasad of the Teja Sajja-starrer Mirai gave up multiple screens to accommodate OG, calling it an act of “respect.”

Out of respect for #PawanKalyan garu #Mirai #TheRajaSaab producer @vishwaprasadtg garu decided to allocate many MIRAI screens to #TheyCallHimOG on 25th September, 2025.

From 26th September, MIRAI will be available in those screens

Lovely gesture ❤️ 👏@peoplemediafcy pic.twitter.com/vKLiv46Qlx

— SKN (Sreenivasa Kumar) (@SKNonline) September 24, 2025

Additionally, the Andhra Pradesh government granted permission for a 1 AM benefit show on September 25 with a special ticket price of Rs 1,000. The order also allowed a temporary hike in ticket rates from September 25 to October 4—Rs 125 for single screens and Rs 150 for multiplexes—sparking debates online about affordability.

Adding to its unique positioning, They Call Him OG received an ‘A’ certificate from the censor board, the first such rating for Pawan Kalyan in 14 years.