The Aditya Dhar-directed action spectacle, 'Dhurandhar', continues its thunderous run at the Indian box office, achieving a rare and remarkable feat in its second week. The film, which features an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and R Madhavan, has not only sustained its momentum but has also outperformed some of the biggest blockbusters in recent history during the same period.
A Record-Shattering Second Week
According to data from industry tracker Sacnilk, 'Dhurandhar' has accomplished what few films can. In its second week in theatres, the movie collected a staggering Rs 253 crore. This figure is particularly significant because it surpasses the film's own first-week collection of Rs 207.25 crore, a phenomenon that occurs very rarely in cinema. More impressively, this two-week performance has allowed 'Dhurandhar' to eclipse the 14-day totals of two major 2023 hits.
The film has now officially beaten the second-week cumulative collections of Shah Rukh Khan's 'Pathaan' (Rs 446.2 crore) and Sunny Deol's 'Gadar 2' (Rs 419.1 crore). This places 'Dhurandhar' in an elite league and underscores its pan-India appeal and strong word-of-mouth.
Slowing Momentum in Week Three
As 'Dhurandhar' entered its third week, a natural slowdown began. The film's collections started to dip from its second Thursday and saw a more pronounced effect on its third Friday, the 15th day of release. Until the afternoon shows on day 15, the film had added approximately Rs 2.98 crore to its total. This brought the film's overall domestic box office collection to a monumental Rs 463.48 crore.
Industry analysts point to a key reason for this slowdown: the arrival of a new global competitor. The highly anticipated Hollywood sequel, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash', has begun to gain significant momentum in its advance bookings across India. Early estimates suggest the James Cameron film could open to over Rs 30 crore (approx. $3.5 million) on its first day in India.
The Avatar Challenge and Future Prospects
The advance booking numbers for 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' are reported to be strong. Its predecessor, 'Avatar: The Way of Water', opened to nearly Rs 50 crore gross in India in 2022 and went on to earn around Rs 500 crore in its full run. On its opening Friday, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' had already made Rs 3.33 crore by afternoon, indicating it might have an edge over 'Dhurandhar' on day one of its release.
However, it is crucial to note that a direct comparison is not entirely fair. 'Dhurandhar' is already in its third week and has achieved a historic total, while the Avatar film is just beginning its theatrical journey. The fact that 'Dhurandhar' is still providing competition in its third week is a testament to its enduring popularity. The coming days will reveal how both films coexist at the multiplexes and whether 'Dhurandhar' can continue its march towards the Rs 500 crore club.
In summary, 'Dhurandhar' has cemented its place as one of the biggest box office successes of the year with a record-breaking second week that outperformed giants like Pathaan and Gadar 2. While facing fresh competition from a global titan, its journey to the Rs 463.48 crore mark remains a landmark achievement for the team and for Hindi cinema.
