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EYE ON BOLLYWOOD MAY 22, 2026 | The Indian Eye 42

After Conquering the Global Box

Office, ‘Dhurandhar 2’ Now Marches

Into the OTT Battlefield

With a Rs 3000 crore franchise, global streaming rollout and a “raw and uncut” version for digital
audiences, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ is aiming to recreate its theatrical frenzy on OTT platforms.

OUR BUREAU
Mumbai
ew Indian film franchises in recent years have
managed to blur the line between mass spec-
Ftacle and global event quite like Dhurandhar:
The Revenge. After months of dominating theatres,
smashing box office records and building a cult-like
fan following across continents, the action block-
buster is now preparing for its next big test — the
world of streaming.
And if the makers are to be believed, the digital
journey of ‘Dhurandhar’ may be just as explosive as
its theatrical run.
The film’s India streaming debut has officially
been locked. The makers announced that ‘Dhurand-
har 2’ will begin streaming on JioHotstar from June
5, with a grand digital premiere scheduled for June
4 at 7 pm. The platform teased audiences with a dra-
matic announcement on Instagram: “Aandhi banke Internationally, the Dhurandhar: The Revenge has already arrived on Netflix for audiences in the United States and Canada,
jo aa raha hai usse DHURANDHAR kehte hain.
Watch Dhurandhar The Revenge, Raw & Undekha.” where viewers are being offered a special “raw and uncut” version that was not screened in Indian theatres (File photo)
That phrase — “Raw & Undekha” — has
quickly become central to the film’s OTT strategy. Ranveer Singh, whose larger-than-life performance saying the filmmaker gave “a lot of freedom” to ev-
Internationally, the Dhurandhar: The Revenge gave the sequel its emotional and commercial centre. ery department, from actors to music, costume and
has already arrived on Netflix for audiences in the The sequel’s ensemble cast — including Arjun action teams.
United States and Canada, where viewers are be- Rampal, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun and “That was a very infectious thing. All the de-
ing offered a special “raw and uncut” version that Rakesh Bedi — further expanded the franchise’s partments had so much freedom because of Aditya
was not screened in Indian theatres. The overseas scale and appeal across generations of moviegoers. Dhar. There was so much openness in his mind,”
streaming release came nearly eight weeks after Rampal, who played Major Iqbal in the film, re- Rampal said.
the theatrical launch, signaling how carefully the cently reflected on the significance of being associat- The music by Shashwat Sachdev has also
makers have staggered the rollout to maximize ed with a project of this size. emerged as a major driver of the film’s continu-
both box office revenue and digital anticipation. “Such a big film is a dream for people. Coming to ing popularity online, with songs and background
For a franchise that recently crossed the stag- such a film in a person’s career is very important. You themes maintaining strong traction across digital
gering Rs 3000 crore mark worldwide — becoming become part of history, in a way,” he said. “When you platforms long after the theatrical release.
the first Indian film series to achieve the milestone are a part of such a film, everyone benefits from it.” Streaming audiences behave differently from
— the OTT release is not merely an afterthought. It His comments capture how ‘Dhurandhar’ has cinema crowds. They pause, rewind, dissect and
is the beginning of a second commercial life. become more than a successful film series. Within debate. Films survive not merely through spectacle
In the streaming era, blockbuster films no the industry, it is increasingly viewed as a defining but through repeat value and online conversation.
longer end with their theatrical run. Instead, they cinematic event — one that reshaped box office ex- The decision to release an expanded “raw and un-
evolve into constantly circulating cultural products pectations for Hindi action films after years of un- cut” version appears designed precisely for that au-
— clipped into reels, turned into memes, revisited certainty in the post-pandemic era. dience — fans eager for deleted scenes, extended
through binge watching and rediscovered by inter- Rampal also revealed how Dhar approached action sequences and a more immersive experience.
national audiences. ‘Dhurandhar’ seems perfectly him for the role of Major Iqbal. For now, all signs suggest that ‘Dhurandhar’ is
designed for that ecosystem. “I asked him how he saw me in this role when he not done making history.
Directed by Aditya Dhar and backed by Jio was narrating the script to me,” Rampal said. “He After conquering the box office, the franchise is
Studios and B62 Studios, the franchise has blended said, ‘I have seen all your films. I know that whatever now entering living rooms, mobile screens and glob-
large-scale action, patriotic drama and emotional in- you bring in this role will be very different.’ That is al streaming charts — proving that in modern cine-
tensity with a slick international visual style. Much of how our journey started. Everything else is history.” ma, the real blockbuster journey often begins after
its success has also rested on the screen presence of The actor praised Dhar’s collaborative style, the curtains fall in theatres.Top of Form

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