The cinematic juggernaut 'Dhurandhar' shows no signs of stopping its monumental run, having dominated the Indian box office for over a month. Directed by Aditya Dhar and headlined by Ranveer Singh, the film has not only shattered records but also demonstrated remarkable resilience against a slew of new releases, including major holiday contenders.
A Record-Shattering Journey
What makes 'Dhurandhar's' performance truly exceptional is its rare achievement of earning more in its second week than its opening week, setting it on a record-breaking trajectory. The film has left the industry astounded by crossing the monumental milestone of Rs 1200 crore in worldwide collections. Its domestic performance has been equally spectacular, significantly boosted by the extended holiday period from Christmas through New Year's Day.
Despite the release of big-ticket films like 'Avatar Fire And Ash', the Ranveer Singh-starrer maintained its dominant pace. Even the releases of 'Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri' and 'Ikkis' on December 25 and January 1, respectively, failed to make a dent, as both had dull openings. 'Dhurandhar' continued its triumphant march, largely unaffected.
Facing New Competition
The film's first significant dip came on its 36th day, the sixth Friday, coinciding with the release of Prabhas's 'The Raja Saab'. On that day, 'Dhurandhar' collected approximately Rs 3.5 crore, a decline that was anticipated as its collections had begun to normalize after the holiday frenzy ended.
Interestingly, while 'Stree 2' had higher collections on its own sixth Friday due to a special cinema day promotion, industry observers predict that 'Dhurandhar' will outperform 'Stree 2' over the full weekend. Showing strong recovery, the film's numbers improved on day 37 (Saturday), with early evening collections reaching Rs 3.4 crore. This surge has pushed its total domestic collection to a staggering Rs 793.75 crore, putting it on the cusp of crossing the coveted Rs 800 crore mark within India.
The Challenger's Mixed Fortune
The new release, 'The Raja Saab', starring Prabhas and Sanjay Dutt, opened to a robust day one, aided by strong advance bookings. However, the film's prospects appear uncertain. By the evening of its second day, it had garnered Rs 12.24 crore, bringing its total to Rs 75.14 crore.
Industry insiders suggest that 'The Raja Saab' might see a drop over the weekend. This potential slowdown is attributed to mixed reviews and word-of-mouth that hasn't been as strong as its opening day numbers might suggest. This scenario could provide 'Dhurandhar' with additional breathing room to consolidate its historic earnings further.
As the box office drama unfolds, 'Dhurandhar' stands as a testament to content-driven cinema's power, achieving a rare and sustained success story that has captivated audiences and rewritten the rulebook for blockbuster performances in Indian cinema.
