More than a year after Vijay’s Leo stormed into theatres, questions are being raised on social media about the accuracy of its official box office numbers.
While the makers had proudly announced that the film grossed ₹600 crore worldwide by the end of its run, a fresh round of claims online suggests otherwise.
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and released in 2023, Leo was billed as Vijay’s biggest blockbuster. Trade posters and press notes at the time projected that the film earned ₹540 crore in just 12 days and eventually crossed the ₹600 crore milestone. The movie was celebrated as Vijay’s career-highest grosser and a feather in Tamil cinema’s cap.
But now, in the middle of the ongoing hype around Rajinikanth’s Coolie (also directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj), old wounds have resurfaced. On social media, Rajini fans have been circulating what they claim to be “evidence” from Leo’s production house, KAL Flicks Private Limited, filed with the Income Tax Department. According to these posts, the company’s financial statement shows a total revenue of ₹404 crore-far lower than the figures announced during release.
One user alleged: “Leo’s 600 crore collection is FAKE! Proof is in KAL Flick’s filing which shows only ₹404 crore revenue. Net profit is under ₹200 crore. #LeoScam.”
Another wrote: “If satellite and OTT rights are removed, the net theatrical collection stands at only ₹160 crore. The actual total comes to around ₹220 crore, nowhere close to the claimed ₹600 crore.”
These allegations, however, remain unverified. Neither the production house nor the film’s distributors have commented on the resurfaced claims. For now, the so-called “documents” being shared are only screenshots with no official authentication in the public domain.
Despite the chatter, industry observers point out that exaggeration in box office reporting is nothing new in Indian cinema. Especially with big-star films, numbers are often projected higher to boost perception and fan morale. Still, if the claims around Leo are accurate, it raises uncomfortable questions-not just about Vijay’s film but about the credibility of box office reporting in general.
For the moment, Leo continues to be celebrated as Vijay’s highest grosser on record. But the controversy highlights a growing need for transparency in box office accounting, particularly as social media enables fans to challenge and counter official narratives with their own “evidence.”
Until an official clarification emerges, the true numbers behind Leo may remain one of Tamil cinema’s biggest mysteries.