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EYE ON BOLLYWOOD DECEMBER 26, 2025 | The Indian Eye 31

‘Dhurandhar’ Roars Past Records

as Audiences Turn the Spy Thriller

into a Cultural Moment

Packed theatres, thunderous applause and a cast firing on all cylinders have turned Aditya Dhar’s

‘Dhurandhar’ into more than a box-office hit — it has become an audience-driven phenomenon.

OUR BUREAU
Mumbai
hen Dhurandhar opened in theatres,
expectations were high. Two weeks lat-
Wer, they have been completely eclipsed.
Ranveer Singh’s spy thriller has not only rewritten
box-office records but also rekindled a rare kind of
collective excitement — the kind that spills out of
theatres, lights up social media and pulls audiences
back for repeat viewings. Its historic second Satur-
day collection of Rs 53.70 crore, the highest ever for
a Hindi film, is now the headline statistic, but the
story of Dhurandhar lies as much in packed halls
and audience reactions as in numbers on a trade
chart.
Across metros, heartland centres and smaller
towns, the film has triggered an old-fashioned rush
to cinemas. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh described
its run as “demolishing every record in sight”, with
the film racing past Rs 306 crore in just two weeks.
More striking, however, has been its consistency.
Unlike films that peak early and taper off, Dhu-
randhar has grown stronger with time, overtaking
recent blockbusters such as Pushpa 2, Chhaava,
Stree 2 and Animal on second-Saturday collections
— a clear sign of sustained word-of-mouth. Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh and actress Sara Arjun perform during the music launch of their film ‘Dhurandhar’ in Mumbai (ANI)
That word-of-mouth has been loudest in places
where theatrical footfalls had been uncertain in re- rounds Singh. Akshaye Khanna’s turn as Rehman a broader sentiment within the fraternity: that the
cent years. In Jammu and Kashmir, including towns Dakait has emerged as one of the film’s most talk- film’s success feels like a collective win at a time
like Shopian and Pulwama where multiplexes are ed-about performances. Fans and critics alike have when theatrical business has been unpredictable.
absent, Dhurandhar has played to houseful shows. singled him out for bringing quiet menace and intel- Director Aditya Dhar’s storytelling choices
Small-format theatres operated by Citara Plex have ligence to the role, reaffirming his reputation as one have clearly resonated with audiences. Drawing in-
emerged as unlikely heroes of this story, proving of Hindi cinema’s most versatile actors. Even actor spiration from real-life events such as the 2001 Par-
that affordable, right-sized cinemas can still draw Akshay Kumar joined the chorus, publicly praising liament attack and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks,
crowds when the content connects. “Audiences will Khanna and the film’s hard-hitting storytelling. Dhurandhar blends political tension with emotional
come when the experience is accessible and close Arjun Rampal, who plays a pivotal role, has stakes. The result is a narrative that feels both fa-
to home,” said Citara’s managing director Rahul been equally vocal about the film’s impact. In an miliar and urgent, allowing viewers to engage with
Nehra, summing up a shift the industry has been emotional social media post, he called Dhurandhar the story beyond spectacle alone.
watching closely. the vision of director Aditya Dhar and thanked au- Perhaps the clearest measure of Dhurandhar’s
At the centre of this audience frenzy is Ranveer diences for turning it into what he described as a impact is how it has reignited cinema-going as an
Singh, whose portrayal of Indian spy Hamza has “cult” in the making. Rampal’s note read like a roll event. From national chains in big cities to modest
drawn praise for its intensity and discipline. Known call of gratitude — to co-stars Sanjay Dutt, R. Mad- screens in smaller towns, audiences have shown
for flamboyance, Singh here channels restraint and havan, Akshaye Khanna and a young cast member, up in numbers, applauded performances and rec-
focus, earning appreciation even from peers. His Sara Arjun — underlining the collaborative effort ommended the film widely. With Dhurandhar Part
understated social media post on destiny, faith behind the film’s success. Two already announced for March 19, 2026, the
and patience during the film’s record-breaking run Veteran actor Rakesh Bedi, who plays a politi- buzz shows no signs of fading.
struck a chord with fans, reinforcing the sense of an cian in the film, captured the industry’s mood when For now, Dhurandhar stands as a reminder
actor fully immersed in the moment rather than cel- he called Dhurandhar an inspiration. Pointing to of cinema’s enduring power: when the right story
ebrating it loudly. the addition of late-night and early-morning shows, meets committed performances and receptive au-
Yet Dhurandhar is not a one-man show, and Bedi said such overwhelming response was what diences, records are not just broken — they are for-
much of its appeal lies in the ensemble that sur- every filmmaker dreams of. His comments echoed gotten.

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