The much-anticipated action spectacle 'Dhurandhar', directed by Aditya Dhar and headlined by Ranveer Singh, has finally stormed into cinemas nationwide. After months of eager anticipation, fans flocked to theatres for the first-day-first-show experience, flooding social media with their initial reactions. While early trade projections hinted at a modest opening, the film's box office performance is now showing promising signs of acceleration as the day progresses.
Early Numbers Show a Promising Spike
Initial reports based on advance bookings had estimated an opening day collection in the range of Rs 15 to 20 crore net. However, the film's performance in early screenings suggests a stronger start. According to trade portal sacnilk, 'Dhurandhar' has already garnered approximately Rs 66 lakh from its early morning shows. Industry insiders expect this figure to climb significantly through the day's prime shows.
The film's advance booking phase concluded with substantial numbers. Current data indicates that total advance collections stand at an estimated Rs 9.23 crore, generated from the sale of 2.62 lakh tickets across roughly 14,000 shows in standard 2D format. Crucially, this figure does not include blocked seats. When blocked seats are accounted for, the total advance booking revenue rises to an impressive Rs 14 crore.
State-Wise Breakdown and Format Performance
The geographical distribution of advance earnings reveals key markets. Maharashtra leads the pack with Rs 3.02 crore (including blocked seats), followed very closely by the National Capital Region of Delhi with Rs 2.98 crore. The southern state of Karnataka contributed Rs 1.41 crore, while Gujarat brought in Rs 1.01 crore. Uttar Pradesh rounds out the top five with Rs 79.39 lakh.
In terms of premium formats, the IMAX 2D screenings have made a notable impact. Playing across 123 shows in top national theatre chains, the IMAX version alone has reported collections of Rs 45.22 lakh in advance sales. Overall, the film has sold over 2.55 lakh tickets across 14,549 shows in the 2D format at major multiplexes.
The Road Ahead: Challenges and Competition
For a large-scale production reportedly made on a budget of Rs 250 crore, the journey to profitability is a long one. The film lacks the advantage of a holiday release, placing immense pressure on positive word-of-mouth and strong content to sustain footfalls through the working week. Its initial trend places it on a similar trajectory as last week's release, the Dhanush and Kriti Sanon-starrer 'Tere Ishk Mein', which opened to comparable numbers.
The theatrical run for 'Dhurandhar' faces a significant hurdle in just two weeks. The ticket windows will see formidable competition with the release of the Hollywood mega-franchise film, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'. Directed by James Cameron, the film is already tracking a blockbuster opening in India, thanks to the massive existing fanbase for the franchise. This sets the stage for a major box office clash.
Ultimately, the fate of 'Dhurandhar' hinges on audience reception. Trade analysts suggest that robust weekend growth, driven by positive buzz, is essential for the film to build momentum and establish itself as a commercial success in the competitive cinematic landscape.
