The great escape: Dhurandhar 2 emerges as a box office bright spot in uncertain times
- March 18, 2026
- Ultra Team
The film is looking at a record opening day business of over Rs 100 crore in Hindi and an opening week alone of over Rs 500 crore.
Even as geopolitical tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran disrupt daily life—from flight delays to LPG shortages—Indian audiences are flocking to cinemas, turning Dhurandhar: The Revenge into a runaway box office phenomenon.
The second instalment of the blockbuster franchise, led by Ranveer Singh, is witnessing massive traction across the country, underscoring how cinema continues to thrive as an escape in uncertain times.
The film has already clocked Rs 30 crore in advance bookings, with exhibitors expecting the number to touch Rs 40 crore including paid previews.
“Dhurandhar has the potential to cross Rs 1,000 crore in India alone,” said Bhuvnesh Mendiratta, Managing Director of Miraj Cinemas. Others in the trade like Sanjay Barjatya, CEO of Roongta Cinemas are even more bullish, with estimates going up to Rs 2,500–Rs 3,000 crore globally, especially given its multi-language release.
The film is also seeing strong traction beyond Hindi-speaking markets. In Kerala alone, opening day pre-sales have crossed Rs 1 crore, a massive jump compared to just Rs 17 lakh for the first instalment.
“What is particularly encouraging is the response beyond Hindi markets. Audiences across southern regions are also showing strong interest,” said Gautam Dutta, CEO – Growth & Revenue at PVR INOX.
As many as one million tickets have been sold of the film so far with PVR INOX selling more than 2 lakh tickets for paid previews, with many shows nearing full capacity.
The film is looking at a record opening day business of over Rs 100 crore in Hindi and an opening week alone of over Rs 500 crore.
Cinema thrives amid crisis
When people are surrounded by anxiety or negative news cycles, they seek small emotional escapes and cinema provides that shared experience,” said Sushilkumar Agrawal, Founder & CEO of Ultra Media & Entertainment, pointing to the classic “lipstick effect”—where consumers continue spending on affordable indulgences during tough times.
Movies are not only a great medium for escape, they are also the cheapest source of entertainment, said Mendiratta.
Abhishek Jain of Arihant Capital Markets called cinemas a more accessible entertainment option right now. “While restaurants in some cities are facing disruptions due to LPG shortages which may temporarily reduce dining-out options, theatres remain largely unaffected as they rely on electricity.”
Packed theatres, limited shows
The demand for the film has been so strong that theatres are grappling with capacity constraints.
With a runtime of nearly four hours, the number of daily shows is limited.
“Since the movie length is long, the number of shows are compromised. We are getting very less capacity. We will be increasing the shows as much as possible with special approval from the administrations for early and late night shows,” Barjatya said.
Currently having around 13,400 shows, the film is expected to expand to over 15,000 shows in the coming days.
“We are seeing extremely high demand. Occupancy is expected to touch 80% during the opening weekend and remain above 50% through the week,” said Mendiratta.
Festive timing adds fuel
The release has also been strategically timed around festivals like Gudi Padwa, Ugadi and Eid, further boosting footfalls.
The Eid holiday always brings in a festive cinema-going sentiment, and Dhurandhar being a standalone release works strongly in its favour, said Satwik Lele COO, muktaA2 Cinemas. “With no major competition, it has the opportunity to capture a wider audience base, including families and repeat viewers.”
Big-screen escape
People prefer small luxuries like movies during uncertain times, noted Agrawal, adding that if consumers become more selective with discretionary spending, movies often remain a preferred choice because they offer a complete entertainment experience within a controlled budget.
“Even during periods of recession, movies have performed well since they offer some hope in an environment of gloom and doom. Looking at the extraordinary advance booking for Dhurandhar 2 and the hype surrounding it, it looks like it should provide the necessary cheer that is desperately needed,” said Vivek Menon, NV Capital.
For now, even as the world grapples with conflict and disruption, Indian audiences seem to have found their refuge—in darkened theatres, cheering a larger-than-life spectacle.
