The undisputed box office reign of the Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna starrer 'Dhurandhar' has finally encountered a significant hurdle. The film, which enjoyed a spectacular and largely unchallenged run for over five weeks, has seen its collections dip to a new low as it entered its sixth week in theatres. This decline coincides with the powerful pan-India release of the Prabhas-fronted magnum opus, 'The Raja Saab'.
A New Challenger Arrives
According to early estimates reported by industry tracker sacnilk, 'Dhurandhar' began its sixth week by collecting approximately Rs 3.5 crore net in India on Friday. This marks a noticeable drop from its performance in the fifth week, where it consistently maintained a steady daily collection of around Rs 4.5 crore net. The timing of this dip is directly linked to the arrival of 'The Raja Saab', which opened with formidable numbers across the country.
The Prabhas film, initially projected for a Rs 100 crore debut, launched strongly with an estimated Rs 45 crore India net collection on its first day across all languages. While its core strength lay in Telugu-speaking regions, it made a notable impact in the Hindi belt as well. The film recorded an overall Hindi occupancy of 15.63%, translating to an estimated net collection of Rs 5.50 crore to Rs 6 crore from Hindi versions alone on day one, directly competing with 'Dhurandhar's' audience.
Dhurandhar's Record-Breaking Journey So Far
Despite the recent slowdown, 'Dhurandhar's' box office journey remains historic. The film's week-wise India net collections paint a picture of a blockbuster:
- Week 1: Rs 207.25 crore
- Week 2: Rs 253.25 crore
- Week 3: Rs 172 crore
- Week 4: Rs 106.5 crore
- Week 5: Rs 51.25 crore
The film is now inching closer to the coveted Rs 800 crore net mark in India, with its current total standing at an impressive Rs 793.75 crore net. Its gross total in India has reached Rs 952.4 crore. Adding to this is a robust performance in overseas markets, where it has raked in an estimated Rs 285.75 crore. This brings the film's staggering worldwide collection to approximately Rs 1238.15 crore.
The Road Ahead and Record Books
'Dhurandhar' has already secured its place in the annals of box office history by scoring the highest-ever collections for a fifth week. Its Rs 3.5 crore sixth-week Friday earning has also earned it a spot on the list of top-earning films in their sixth week. However, to claim the top position on that particular list, the film will need to muster an estimated Rs 18.6 crore net throughout its sixth week—a target that now seems challenging amidst the new competition.
The coming days will be crucial in determining whether 'Dhurandhar' can stabilize its collections and continue its march towards new milestones, or if 'The Raja Saab' will dominate the theatrical landscape. The clash exemplifies the dynamic nature of the Indian box office, where even a record-shattering film must eventually navigate the waves of fresh content.
