Will Dhurandhar: The Revenge rewrite India’s box office records? Trade bets on a blockbuster opening

India’s theatrical exhibition sector may be on the cusp of its biggest box office event in recent times, with Dhurandhar: The Revenge building extraordinary pre-release momentum. Backed by robust advance bookings, a multi-language rollout, and a favourable holiday window, the sequel is widely expected to outperform its predecessor and potentially reset opening weekend benchmarks. 

Trade analysts attribute the strong pre-release buzz to the success of the first film and the continuity in storytelling. Notably, both parts were shot together—an approach that reduces creative variability and enhances narrative consistency. 

“Expectations are sky high—and not without reason,” said film trade analyst Komal Nahta. “If the first part worked extraordinarily, the second should follow through. The advance booking itself indicates a flying start.” 

The built-in audience base from the first instalment, coupled with sustained social media engagement, has created what industry insiders describe as a “front-loaded blockbuster”—a film expected to open big regardless of reviews, with long-term performance hinging on word-of-mouth.

This confidence is echoed by Jio Studios’ president Jyoti Deshpande, who believes the sequel will scale even higher than the original. “We believe Dhurandhar-2 would be bigger than the first part… the success of the first film has been unprecedented, driven by the sheer connection the story made with audiences,” she said in an earlier interaction with Fortune India. 

PVR INOX, the country’s largest multiplex chain, has already recorded over one million tickets sold in advance, with paid preview screenings—scheduled a day ahead of release—witnessing strong demand across premium formats. 

“At PVR INOX, we are observing keen interest in Dhurandhar: The Revenge across our theatres. The quick sell-out of preview seats reflects audiences’ preference for premium screenings of high-stakes action films,” said Gautam Dutta, CEO – Growth and Revenue, PVR INOX Ltd. He added that the film is “well-positioned to outperform the first instalment and set new benchmarks at the box office.” 

What do strong signals from advance sales indicate? 

The scale of pre-release traction underscores a broader trend: tentpole films continue to drive theatrical footfalls in a post-pandemic market increasingly dependent on event cinema. 

“The response to Dhurandhar 2 has been strong. Previews alone have crossed ₹13 crore, the highest ever for a Bollywood title. Advance bookings across our 491 screens are trending well ahead of what we saw for the first film, and we are projecting over 10 lakh admissions across the four-day festive weekend, with occupancy expected to cross 80%,” said Ashish Misra, Head of Commercialisation, Cinepolis India. 

The film’s pan-Indian release across Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam has further widened its addressable market, ensuring strong traction not just in metros such as Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai, but also in Tier-II cities, including Pune, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Coimbatore.

How are franchise recall and continuity driving demand? 

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh echoed the bullish sentiment, predicting record-breaking numbers across formats. “This film is going to rewrite the record books. From paid previews to opening weekend, we are looking at unprecedented numbers,” he said. 

Are trade bets pointing to historic numbers? 

Industry estimates for the opening weekend are equally bullish. Film business expert and producer Girish Johar expects the film to deliver over ₹300 crore in India during the extended opening weekend, aided by a cluster of holidays. 

“The festive convergence of Eid, Ugadi, and Gudi Padwa creates a rare four-day holiday window that pulls in audiences across demographics and markets. For exhibitors, that translates into sustained footfalls across the weekend, not just a Day 1 spike,” said Ashish Misra. 

“The advance booking has already breached the ₹100-crore mark. With a strong holiday window and massive anticipation, ₹300 crore over the extended weekend is almost a given,” Johar said.

How are exhibitors driving ancillary revenues beyond ticket sales? 

For exhibitors, the film represents more than just box office collections. Multiplex chains are leveraging the release to boost in-cinema spending through curated food and beverage experiences and premium screenings. 

“On the experience side, we have curated special F&B pairings for the Dhurandhar 2 release. Our Blockbuster Food Festival is also live across our cinemas, giving audiences access to a wider menu beyond standard concessions. For us, big film moments are about elevating the overall outing, where great content and immersive cinema come together for our patrons,” said Ashish Misra. 

Cinépolis has introduced themed F&B offerings alongside its “Blockbuster Food Festival”, reflecting a broader industry push to increase per capita spend.

Why is this a litmus test for theatrical scale? 

The performance of Dhurandhar: The Revenge will be closely tracked as a barometer for the theatrical business in 2026. With streaming platforms continuing to compete for audience attention, large-scale, franchise-driven films remain critical to sustaining footfalls and driving revenue growth for exhibitors. 

If current trends hold, the sequel could emerge as one of the highest-grossing openings in Indian cinema history, offering both validation for the franchise model and a much-needed boost to the exhibition ecosystem. 

For now, all eyes are on March 19. Early indicators suggest that Dhurandhar: The Revenge may not just meet expectations—but potentially redefine them.