The much-anticipated action spectacle Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, has stormed into cinemas with a powerful opening. The film, directed by Aditya Dhar, has secured the biggest opening day of Ranveer Singh's career, collecting an impressive Rs 27 crore in India on its first day of release, Friday, December 6, 2024.
A Strong Start Surpasses Expectations
Industry tracker Sacnilk reported the robust figures, which far exceeded pre-release projections. Initial estimates had suggested the multi-starrer would open at around Rs 15 crore, making the final tally of Rs 27 crore a significant and pleasant surprise for the makers. The film, with a wide release across approximately 6200 shows in India, recorded an overall occupancy of about 34 percent.
The day saw a notable growth in footfalls as it progressed. While morning and afternoon shows began with modest buzz, the film gained strong momentum in the latter half. Evening shows witnessed an occupancy of around 36 percent, which jumped to a healthy 56 percent for the night shows, indicating positive word-of-mouth.
How Dhurandhar Stacks Up Against Recent Blockbusters
Despite being Ranveer Singh's personal best opener, surpassing his previous record held by the 2018 film Simmba (approx. Rs 20 crore), Dhurandhar finds itself in third place for the biggest openings of the year 2024. It trails behind two other major releases.
The top spot is held by the Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR-starrer War 2, which amassed a colossal Rs 52 crore on day one (Rs 29 crore from the Hindi version). The second position is occupied by Vicky Kaushal's historical drama Chhaava, which opened at Rs 31 crore. This places Dhurandhar's Rs 27 crore just behind Chhaava's first-day earnings.
For context, Ranveer's last lead role in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani had opened at Rs 11.1 crore before enjoying a long and successful theatrical run, eventually earning over Rs 153 crore domestically.
Setting the Stage for a Lucrative Weekend
The stellar opening day has perfectly positioned Dhurandhar for what could be a highly profitable opening weekend. The film's performance on Saturday and Sunday will be crucial in determining its long-term box office trajectory. The strong start indicates that the extensive marketing campaign and star power have effectively drawn audiences to theatres.
Directed by Aditya Dhar of Uri: The Surgical Strike fame, the film boasts an ensemble cast including Sara Arjun, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, and R Madhavan alongside Ranveer Singh. The combination of high-octane action and a celebrated director appears to have resonated with the initial audience, setting a solid foundation for the film's commercial journey.
