With less than two days to go for the release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the film is already rewriting the rules of theatrical exhibition in India. Directed by Aditya Dhar and headlined by Ranveer Singh, the much anticipated sequel has triggered unprecedented demand, prompting theatres to introduce round the clock screenings in several cities.
Trade sources indicate that the film has sold nearly 15 lakh tickets in advance booking across India so far with a significant chunk attributed to paid preview shows scheduled a day before release. The response has been so overwhelming that exhibitors are extending show timings well past midnight, a rare move typically reserved for the biggest releases.
The nearly four hour runtime of the film has posed a logistical challenge for theatre owners limiting the number of daily screenings per screen. To maximise occupancy, many cinema chains are operating on a tight turnaround window of over four hours per show, including interval and cleaning time. As a result, late night and early morning shows have been added in cities like Mumbai, Thane, and Ahmedabad, with some screenings beginning as early as 1:50 AM.
In Mumbai, cinemas such as PVR Chakala and MovieMax Sion have already rolled out these unconventional timings for the opening weekend. Industry insiders suggest that more theatres, particularly in western and southern circuits are expected to follow suit if the demand sustains.
Perhaps the most striking example of the film’s impact can be seen at Maratha Mandir, one of Mumbai’s most iconic theatres. The venue has been screening Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge continuously for nearly three decades in its fixed late morning slot. However, to accommodate Dhurandhar 2, the classic has now been shifted to an earlier time in the day marking a rare disruption in its historic run.
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The film’s advance booking numbers are equally staggering. Paid preview shows alone have reportedly grossed around ₹35 crore, surpassing previous benchmarks for Indian cinema. Day one advance bookings have also crossed ₹20 crore, while overseas pre sales have set new records, particularly in North America.
The sequel brings back a strong ensemble cast including R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi. There is also buzz around a possible cameo by Akshaye Khanna, who played a key antagonist in the first instalment.
Given the scale of its opening and the momentum from the first film which reportedly grossed over ₹1300 crore worldwide trade analysts are already speculating that Dhurandhar: The Revenge could challenge the long standing box office record of Dangal.
As the countdown to March 19 begins, all eyes are now on whether the film can translate its historic advance into an equally explosive box office run.