Mumbai: The buzz around Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge continues to surge as the Ranveer Singh starrer records massive advance bookings ahead of its March 19 release, crossing ₹130 crore globally even before hitting theatres.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy thriller sequel has not only generated strong box office numbers but also triggered historic programming changes in cinema halls, including Mumbai’s iconic Maratha Mandir.
Massive advance booking numbers in India
According to trade reports, the film has sold over 12.5 lakh tickets across India through a combination of paid previews and opening day bookings.
For its opening day alone, the film has collected around ₹29.04 crore in advance bookings, with approximately 4.74 lakh tickets sold. Excluding block bookings, the net collection stands at around ₹20.66 crore.
The Hindi version dominates the numbers, contributing the lion’s share of ticket sales, while dubbed versions in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada have added incremental value despite regional competition.
The film is now on the verge of surpassing the advance booking record of Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, which had collected ₹29.25 crore in advance sales for its opening day.
Strong response for paid previews
The paid previews scheduled for March 18 have also seen an overwhelming response, with 7.83 lakh tickets sold and collections touching ₹40.55 crore.
After excluding block bookings, the adjusted figure stands at approximately ₹35.61 crore. Once again, the Hindi version leads, with regional versions contributing steadily to the overall numbers.
Combined with opening day sales, the film’s domestic advance booking has reached nearly ₹70 crore.
Midnight shows and 24-hour screenings
In response to unprecedented demand, multiplex chains across major cities such as Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad have introduced round-the-clock screenings.
Shows have been scheduled as early as 2 am, with multiple screenings running simultaneously between 2:15 am and 5:30 am on release day. The film’s runtime of nearly four hours has also contributed to the need for expanded screening schedules.
Historic shift at Maratha Mandir
In a significant development, the release of Dhurandhar 2 has led to a rare disruption at Maratha Mandir, where the iconic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, has been running continuously for decades at its fixed 11:30 am slot.
To accommodate the new release, the show timing of DDLJ has been moved to 10 am, allowing additional screenings of Dhurandhar 2 throughout the day. Such a shift has previously occurred only during major releases like Animal and other blockbuster events.
Overseas market adds to momentum
The film’s global performance has also been impressive, with advance bookings exceeding ₹60 crore overseas for the opening weekend.
Key markets such as North America, the United Kingdom and Australia have reported strong pre-sales, contributing to a worldwide advance booking total of approximately ₹130 crore.
Competition and release landscape
Dhurandhar 2 is set to release alongside regional films, including Ustaad Bhagat Singh starring Pawan Kalyan, which is expected to perform strongly in Telugu-speaking regions.
Meanwhile, the postponement of Toxic: A Fairytale for Grownups, featuring Yash, has helped reduce competition in certain markets.
However, the film will not release in Gulf countries due to its reported geopolitical themes, which may slightly impact its international earnings.
Conclusion
With record-breaking advance bookings, expanded show timings and strong global interest, Dhurandhar 2 is poised for a massive opening at the box office.
The film’s performance in its opening weekend will be closely watched, as it aims to join the ranks of the highest-grossing Hindi films and reaffirm Ranveer Singh’s box office dominance.