Vijay's The GOAT Hits ₹288 Crore Worldwide, But Why Didn't It Work in Hindi & Telugu?

Director Venkat Prabhu has shared his theory on why his latest movie, The Greatest of All Time (The GOAT), starring Vijay, didn’t perform well in Hindi and Telugu. Speaking to fans on X (formerly Twitter) Spaces, Venkat humorously suggested that the movie’s connection to his favorite IPL team, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), might have limited its appeal outside Tamil Nadu.

The CSK Factor

In The GOAT, the climax takes place at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium during a CSK match, where Vijay’s character races to stop a bomb. Venkat believes that while Tamil audiences enjoyed this connection, fans of other IPL teams like Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) didn’t connect with it as much. “We are all CSK fans—it’s in our blood. Maybe that’s why the movie didn’t work as well with Telugu and Hindi audiences,” he joked.

Box Office Performance

According to Sacnilk.com, The GOAT earned ₹44 crore net on its opening day, with ₹39.15 crore from Tamil, ₹1.85 crore from Hindi, and ₹3 crore from Telugu. The film has made approximately ₹151 crore net in India and ₹288 crore gross worldwide, according to AGS Entertainment.

MS Dhoni Cameo That Didn’t Happen

Venkat also mentioned that they considered a cameo appearance by former CSK captain MS Dhoni during the film’s climax but couldn’t make it happen.

About The GOAT

Vijay plays dual roles in the film, which also stars Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, and Mohan. The story revolves around Gandhi, a former leader of a special anti-terrorism squad, who reunites with his team to face unresolved issues from his past.