Dhurandhar 2 Box Office: Ranveer Singh's Spy Thriller Smashes Records with Mega Advance Bookings and RGV's 'Sholay x 100' Verdict
If you thought the buzz for Dhurandhar 2 was loud, just wait until you see what the box office is shouting. Ahead of its official release on March 19, the Aditya Dhar-directed spy thriller, also known as DHURANDHAR – 2, has already stormed the ticket counters, pulling in numbers most films can only dream of over their entire run. Industry insiders are calling it a phenomenon, and it hasn't even properly launched yet.
Rs 200 Crore Before Release? Absolute Madness
Just let that sink in for a moment. Dhurandhar 2 has shattered every record in the book by grossing over Rs 200 crore (around £18.5 million) in worldwide advance sales alone. The paid previews on Wednesday evening (March 18) pushed the film past the Rs 50 crore mark just in India, meaning the sequel is effectively a blockbuster before the official first frame rolls on Thursday.
We're talking about a film that has smashed records on major ticketing platforms, selling a staggering 1.48 million tickets on a single platform in one window. Cinemas in Mumbai, Pune, and Ahmedabad aren't just running midnight shows; they've opened bookings for post-midnight and early morning screenings to cope with demand. This isn't just a movie release; it's a full-blown cultural event.
RGV's Verdict: "Spielberg and Nolan Should Catch the First Show"
And then there's the review that broke the internet. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, never one to mince his words, watched Dhurandhar 2 on Tuesday night and dropped a bombshell on social media that has gone absolutely viral. RGV declared the film's impact is "Sholay times 100 level magnificence" and that it will make every great film made so far, starting with Mughal-e-Azam, look like "TV serials."
He didn't stop there. He claimed this is the "BIRTH of a NEW CINEMATIC ORDER" and went on to say, "it would be prudent and wise for even Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan to drop everything they're doing and catch Dhurandhar 2 — First Day, First Show." Love him or hate him, when RGV talks cinema, the industry listens. And right now, he's placed Dhurandhar 2 on a pedestal usually reserved for the gods of global cinema.
A 'Tsunami' at the Box Office
The praise isn't just coming from RGV. Industry heavyweight Abhishek Agarwal, the man behind The Kashmir Files, called the film a "tsunami at the box office." He lauded director Aditya Dhar as a "true producer's director," adding that "only Aditya can surpass Aditya." With this kind of backing from the film world's elite, the buzz feels less like marketing and more like a genuine seismic shift.
What Makes Dhurandhar 2 Tick?
So, what's all the fuss about? Dhurandhar: The Revenge picks up with Ranveer Singh's undercover agent, Jaskirat Singh Rangi, aka Hamza Ali Mazari, as he deepens his infiltration into the Karachi underworld. The film boasts a killer ensemble cast that has everyone picking their favourite:
- Ranveer Singh in what's being called the performance of a lifetime.
- Arjun Rampal as the ISI's Major Iqbal.
- Sanjay Dutt as the fierce SP Chaudhary Aslam.
- R. Madhavan as Ajay Sanyal, the mastermind at the top.
- Akshaye Khanna in a powerful flashback appearance.
But it's the sheer scale that has everyone talking. The film clocks in at a massive 3 hours and 49 minutes, having cleared the CBFC with an 'A' certificate. It's reportedly six minutes shorter than its overseas cut, meaning the international audience is in for an even longer ride. The film even features an end-credits scene, so don't even think about leaving your seat early.
With a budget reportedly shot back-to-back with the first part, this is Indian cinema aiming for the stars. And if the advance bookings of over Rs 200 crore and RGV's "new cinematic order" prophecy are anything to go by, Dhurandhar 2 isn't just aiming—it's landing.
Book your tickets if you still can, folks. The revenge is real, and it's glorious.