In just over 24 hours, moviegoers will get the chance to see paid previews of “Dhurandhar: The Revenge,” a much-anticipated spy thriller directed by Aditya Dhar. Its excitement mirrors that of successful franchises like “Baahubali” and “Pushpa.” Advance ticket sales are already breaking records as the film gears up for its release.
Advance bookings for “Dhurandhar 2” have reached impressive heights. With less than a day left until the previews, more than 800,000 tickets sold have generated earnings of ₹36 crore, setting a new record for Indian films. The initial advance ticket sales, which started just two days ago, are approaching the ₹25 crore mark in India. Notably, “Dhurandhar 2” has also achieved a milestone by being the first Indian film to garner $5 million in pre-sales in North America, contributing to a global expectation of over ₹130 crore in advance bookings for its opening weekend.
The anticipation surrounding the film’s paid previews is likely to lead to a substantial premiere collection. Projections suggest a possible opening day total exceeding ₹40 crore, potentially surpassing the day one figures of notable films like Shah Rukh Khan’s “Pathaan” and Ranbir Kapoor’s “Animal.” This could result in the combined first-day earnings reaching over ₹100 crore, a first for Hindi cinema. Observers highlight the strong international interest that could push the film to achieve the biggest premiere for any Indian film in North America.
Despite the absence of releases in six Gulf countries and Pakistan, experts predict “Dhurandhar 2” will break records in multiple markets. Analysts are optimistic that it can surpass ₹200 crore gross on its opening day, making it only the fourth Indian film, and the first from Bollywood, to achieve such a feat, joining the ranks of “Baahubali 2,” “RRR,” and “Pushpa 2.”
While the record set by “Pushpa 2” at ₹274 crore on opening day might hold firm, the figures of ₹214 crore for “Baahubali 2” and ₹223 crore for “RRR” are at risk. Moreover, the existing Bollywood record of ₹129 crore held by “Jawan” is likely to be surpassed.
The previous installment of “Dhurandhar” demonstrated notable staying power, gaining momentum from positive word of mouth after a modest opening. If “Dhurandhar 2” can replicate this trajectory, its four-day opening weekend could yield over ₹300 crore in India and upwards of ₹500 crore globally, with some estimates projecting over ₹550 crore in total weekend earnings.
“Dhurandhar 2” features an ensemble cast, including Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi. Akshaye Khanna, who played the antagonist Rehman Dakait in the first film, is expected to make a cameo. The film is set for release on March 19, following its predecessor, which earned ₹1,300 crore globally and continued to draw viewers three months after its December release.